Dickinson City Councilman William H. King will make a bid to replace Galveston County Judge Mark Henry in November’s general election.
King filed for a place on the March Democratic Party primary ballot.
He’s the only Democrat running for the position. Henry is the only Republican. That means the two will meet in the November 2022 general election.
“I feel in Galveston County we need to return to restoring democracy,” King said Wednesday. “We need to have more focus on the people in Galveston and services in Galveston County.”
King is the pastor at Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and has been a member of the Dickinson City Council for 21 years.
King is the second Democrat to announce a bid for the judge’s office but will be the only person on the ballot. Texas City Councilman Keith Henry in August announced he was running for county judge but changed his plans to run for state House District 23.
King won’t have to resign his position on Dickinson council. His term expires in May and he won’t seek reelection to the council, he said.
The 2022 primary will be the first time Mark Henry won’t face a Republican primary challenger since he was elected in 2010. Henry was opposed by Michelle Hatmaker in 2014 and Lonnie Cox in 2018. It’s also the first time he’ll have a Democratic opponent since he defeated William F. Young in 2014.
MIDDLETON PICKS UP FIRST BIG ENDORSEMENT
State Rep. Mayes Middleton’s campaign for state Senate got a prominent endorsement Tuesday.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced he was endorsing Middleton in the race to replace state Sen. Larry Taylor.
“I’ve known Mayes Middleton for more than a decade,” Patrick said in a press release. “He has always proven himself to be a conservative stalwart and liberty-minded individual.”
Middleton is facing three other Republicans in the state Senate race.
Patrick is the second high-ranking state Republican to make an endorsement in the race. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has endorsed Robin Armstrong for the senate seat.
Middleton, meanwhile, in November endorsed U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert as a Republican replacement for Paxton. Gohmert is one of three Republicans running a primary challenge against Paxton.
DEMOCRATS FIELD FEW CANDIDATES
For Galveston County Democrats looking for primary candidates, the choices are few.
Only nine Democratic Party candidates have declared for 23 positions open to primary candidates. Monday was the deadline to file for spots on the ballot.
Of those positions only one, the primary race for Texas Congressional District 14, is contested.
The number of Democrats actually exceeds the number who ran in 2018, the most recent similar election. That year, only six races included Democratic candidates.
“I’m excited about the slate we have and am just looking forward to getting the work done,” said Galveston County Democratic Party Chairwoman Tierr’ishia Gibson. “My expectation is for us to win. But if that’s not the case, we’re definitely letting it be known that we’re here.”
NOTEBOOK
U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Randy Weber all voted against the resolution raising the U.S. debt limit by $2.5 billion. The resolution on Tuesday passed the Senate by a vote of 50-49 and the House by a vote of 221-209. ... There are 76 days until the March 1 primary election. The last day to register to vote in the election is Jan. 31.
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