GOP prevails in Texas congressional district

When U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Texas, died of COVID-19 in February, Democrats hoped to seize his House seat, long controlled by Republicans. President Donald Trump’s support in the Arlington-area district declined between 2016 and 2020. But Saturday’s special election results showed two GOP candidates edging out Democratic challenger Jana Lynne Sanchez in a field of 23 hopefuls to qualify for a runoff. Voters will decide between Republicans Susan Wright and Jake Ellzey at a runoff election at an unannounced future date.

Who are the runoff candidates? Susan Wright is the late congressman’s widow and a favorite to win. Jake Ellzey is a state lawmaker who almost clinched the Republican nomination for the district in 2018 with support from former Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

Dig deeper: Read Jaime Dean’s report on Republicans’ fight to keep control of the Senate in 2020.