2010: Kip Averitt Drops Senate Reelection Bid

The Waco Tribune-Herald is reporting this morning that incumbent Republican senator Kip Averitt has unexpectedly ended his bid for reelection, citing health reasons. As it is more than a week after the filing deadline, the field of candidates currently slated to run remains as is, leaving Averitt's Republican challenger Darren Yancy, a Burleson insurance agent who had pledged to run to Averitt's right in the upcoming GOP primary, as the sole major party aspirant in the race; no Democrat filed for the district, which stretches across McLennan, Coryell, Falls, Bosque, Hill, Navarro, Somervell, Hood, Johnson and Ellis counties. A Libertarian candidate will be chosen at the party's convention in June.