Trump-Backed Covey Challenges Texas House Speaker in High-Stakes Runoff

In Texas runoff elections, Rep. Tony Gonzales, Speaker Dade Phelan, and Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores survived their races. Gonzales will face Democrat Santos Limon in November, while Phelan narrowly defeated a far-right opponent. Former Uvalde mayor Don McLaughlin Jr. won the GOP primary for House District 80 and will compete against Democrat Cecelia Castellano. Six GOP incumbents, including John Kuempel, lost their races, giving Gov. Greg Abbott enough votes to pass school choice legislation.