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Texas Legislature 2023

Special election to replace expelled Bryan Slaton in Texas House set for Nov. 7

At least five candidates have already announced their intention to run in the solidly Republican North Texas district.

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The Sergeant at Arms of the Texas House removes state Rep. Brian Slaton's name card from the House voting board after the House voted to expel Slaton at the state Capitol in Austin on May 9, 2023.
The sergeant at arms of the Texas House removes Bryan Slaton’s name card from the House voting board after the House expelled Slaton on May 9, 2023. Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune

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Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that Nov. 7 will be the date of a special election to fill the seat of disgraced former state Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City.

The House voted to expel Slaton less than a month ago after an internal investigation found he had sex with a 19-year-old aide after getting her drunk.

The candidate filing deadline for the special election is Sept. 6, with early voting to start Oct. 23.

Nov. 7 is already the date of local elections across Texas, including the Houston mayoral contest.

The seat in House District 2 is solidly Republican and covers three rural counties in Northeast Texas.

At least five Republicans have already announced they are running — Jill Dutton, president of the Republican Women of Van Zandt; Heath Hyde, a Sulphur Springs lawyer; Brent Money, a Greenville lawyer; Doug Roszhart, vice chair of the Hunt County GOP; and Buck VanTrease, a veterinarian from Wills Point.

The House unanimously voted to expel Slaton on May 9. He was the first member of the Texas Legislature to be removed from office since 1927. Slaton submitted his resignation a day earlier, but the House moved forward with expulsion anyway.

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Politics State government Bryan Slaton Texas House of Representatives Texas Legislature