Filing Ends for Special Election in Senate District 18

Three Republicans and two Democrats have filed to run in a special election for Senate District 18, the seat from which Comptroller-elect Glenn Hegar resigned last week.

Filing for the race with the Secretary of State’s office ended at 5 p.m. Wednesday. State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, Gary Gates of Richmond and Charles Gregory III of Simonton filed on the Republican side. The Democrats are Cynthia Drabek, who ran unsuccessfully for a House seat in the most recent election, and Christian E. Hawkins.

Kolkhorst and Gates began campaigning with advertisements and mailers months before Hegar was elected comptroller and Texas Gov. Rick Perry called the special election. Gregory has not campaigned as much.

Kolkhorst has drawn endorsements from Republican county chairs and PACs, including the Conservative Republicans of Texas PAC. Former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul endorsed Gates, who has campaigned as an anti-establishment candidate. 

Election day for the seat is Dec. 6 ,and early voting begins on Wednesday, Nov. 26.