Jake Ellzey wins Texas special election race over Trump-endorsed candidate

Republican Texas state Rep. Jake Ellzey won Texas’s suburban Dallas-area 6th congressional special election runoff race Tuesday to replace Rep. Ron Wright, who died after contracting COVID-19. Ellzey defeated Susan Wright, the late congressman’s widow who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

The result is a concerning sign for Trump, who is eager to retain his influence over the party.

Ellzey, who was endorsed by Energy Secretary Rick Perry, vastly outraised Wright $1.7 million to $740,449 through the end of June.

TRUMP PUMPS UP SUSAN WRIGHT, WIDOW OF LATE CONGRESSMAN, PREVIEWING 2022 THEMES

It’s also a blow to pollsters attempting to test the race. Wright led internal polls ahead of the runoff, with two polls showing her with double-digit leads.

Democrats hoped they could win the suburban district in the special election called after Ron Wright’s death but were somewhat blindsided after they were locked out of the initial May special election in a 23-way race.

Wright had the endorsements of Trump and other influential Republicans, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the No. 3 House Republican.

But some other Texas Republicans, notably Rep. Dan Crenshaw, supported Ellzey because of concerns that ads run against him were “dishonest” and were “lying” about his positions.

Wright also had the support of outside spending groups — including the Club for Growth, Trump’s Make America Great Action PAC, and House Freedom Action — which sent mailers and ran television ads that concerned some Republicans.

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Wright would have been the second Republican to join the House and replace a husband who died from the coronavirus. Louisiana Rep. Julia Letlow, the wife of the late Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, joined the House in April after her husband died in December 2020 at age 41 before being sworn in.

When Ellzey is sworn in, Republicans will have 212 Republican members to 220 for Democrats in the House. The three other vacancies are for the Ohio district formerly held by Democrat Marcia Fudge; Florida Democrat Alcee Hastings, who died in April; and Ohio Republican Steve Stivers, who resigned in May. The Ohio vacancies will be filled in a Nov. 2 special election, and the Florida one will be filled in a Jan. 11 special election.

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