Certified Progressive 2020: Our list of Texas progressives running in competitive districts
Note: This blog has been updated to reflect the results of the March Democratic primary election.
For the past 10 years, Progress Texas has given voice to the progressive movement in our state. In support of that mission, we also bring attention to candidates who proudly stand for progressive values - that’s where the questionnaire and the list come in.
To ensure that true progressives make it onto the ballot in the most competitive congressional and state legislative — and all the statewide — races this November, we asked candidates to answer a 10-point survey. If a candidate pledged to fight for Texans’ progressive values and stand with us on the issues, they’re listed here with a link to their website and are deemed “Certified Progressive”. This is their promise to fight for you and join us in shaping the future of our state.
Read the 10-point survey here
This list does not include endorsements on behalf of Progress Texas. All Democratic candidates in races we’re watching that have officially filed are listed.
For more information on our plan for flipping Texas in 2020, view our Special Report and sign up for updates.
U.S. Senate
Incumbent: Sen. John Cornyn (R) since 2002.
Mary "MJ" Hegar (Will advance to primary runoff)
Royce West (Will advance to primary runoff)
Victor Hugo Harris did not return the questionnaire.
Sema Hernandez did not return the questionnaire.
D.R. Hunter did not return the questionnaire.
U.S. Congress
District 7 (Houston) - Targeted by Republicans
Lizzie Pannill Fletcher (incumbent since 2019) did not return the questionnaire. (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 10 (Austin) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Michael T. McCaul (R) since 2005.
Dr. Pritesh Gandhi (Will advance to primary runoff)
Mike Siegel (Will advance to primary runoff)
District 21 (Austin) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Chip Roy (R) since 2019.
Wendy Davis (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
District 22 (Sugar Land) - Flippable District
Open seat vacated by Pete Olson (R).
Chris Fernandez did not return the questionnaire.
Sri Preston Kulkarni (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
Nyanza Davis Moore did not return the questionnaire.
Carmine Petricco III did not return the questionnaire.
Derrick A. Reed did not return the questionnaire.
District 23 (Helotes) - Flippable District
Open seat vacated by Will Hurd (R).
Rosalinda "Rosey" Ramos Abuabara
Gina Ortiz Jones (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
District 24 (Coppell) - Flippable District
Open seat vacated by Kenny Marchant (R).
Kim Olson (Will advance to primary runoff)
Richard Fleming did not return the questionnaire.
Crystal Fletcher did not return the questionnaire.
Candace Valenzuela did not return the questionnaire. (Will advance to primary runoff)
District 25 (Austin) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Roger Williams (R) since 2013.
Julie Oliver (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
District 28 (Laredo) - Interesting Race
Henry Cuellar (incumbent since 2005) did not return the questionnaire. (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
District 31 (Round Rock) - Flippable District
Incumbent: John Carter (R) since 2003.
Dr. Christine Eady Mann (Will advance to primary runoff)
Donna Imam did not return the questionnaire. (Will advance to primary runoff)
Michael Edward Grimes did not return the questionnaire.
Dan Janjigian did not return the questionnaire.
Tammy Young did not return the questionnaire.
District 32 (Dallas) - Targeted by Republicans
Colin Allred (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
Texas Railroad Commissioner
Incumbent: Ryan Sitton (R) since 2014.
Chrysta Castañeda (Will advance to primary runoff)
Roberto Alonzo did not return the questionnaire. (Will advance to primary runoff)
Mark Watson did not return the questionnaire.
Texas Senate
District 19 (Pleasanton) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Pete Flores (R) since 2018.
Roland Gutierrez (Will advance to primary runoff)
Xochil Peña Rodriguez did not return the questionnaire. (Will advance to primary runoff)
Belinda Shvetz did not return the questionnaire.
District 27 (Brownsville) - Interesting Race
Sara Stapleton Barrera (Will advance to primary runoff)
Eddie Lucio Jr. (incumbent since 1991) did not return the questionnaire. (Will advance to primary runoff)
Texas House
District 26 (Sugar Land) - Flippable District
Open seat vacated by Rick Miller (R).
L. "Sarah" DeMerchant (Will advance to primary runoff)
Dr. Suleman Lalani did not return the questionnaire. (Will advance to primary runoff)
District 28 (Richmond) - Flippable District
Open seat
Dr. Elizabeth “Eliz” Markowitz (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 32 (Corpus Christi) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Todd Hunter (R) since 2009.
Eric Holguin (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 45 (Driftwood) - Targeted by Republicans
Erin Zwiener (incumbent since 2019) (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
Liliana Posada did not return the questionnaire.
District 47 (Austin) - Targeted by Republicans
Vikki Goodwin (incumbent since 2019) (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 52 (Round Rock) - Targeted by Republicans
James Talarico (incumbent since 2019) (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 54 (Killeen) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Brad Buckley (R) since 2019.
Likeithia "Keke" Williams did not return the questionnaire. (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 64 (Denton) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Lynn Stucky (R) since 2017.
Angela Brewer (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 65 (Carrollton) - Targeted by Republicans
Michelle Beckley (incumbent since 2019) (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
District 66 (Plano) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Matt Shaheen (R) since 2015.
Sharon Hirsch (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
District 67 (Plano) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Jeff Leach (R) since 2013.
Tom Adair (Will advance to primary runoff)
Lorenzo Sanchez (Will advance to primary runoff)
Rocio Gosewehr Hernandez did not return the questionnaire.
Jenna Royal did not return the questionnaire.
DIstrict 76 (El Paso) - Interesting Race
Open seat vacated by Cesar Blanco (D).
Claudia Ordaz Perez did not return the questionnaire. (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
District 89 (Allen) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Candy Noble (R) since 2018.
Sugar Ray Ash did not return the questionnaire. (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
District 92 (Bedford) - Flippable District
Open seat vacated by Jonathan Stickland (R).
Jeff Whitfield did not return the questionnaire. (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
District 93 (Fort Worth) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Matt Krause (R) since 2013.
Lydia Bean (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 94 (Arlington) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Tony Tinderholt (R) since 2015.
Alisa Simmons (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 96 (Arlington) - Flippable District
Open seat vacated by Bill Zedler (R).
Joe Drago did not return the questionnaire. (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 97 (Fort Worth) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Craig Goldman (R) since 2013.
Elizabeth Beck did not return the questionnaire. (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
Dan Willis did not return the questionnaire.
District 102 (Richardson) - Targeted by Republicans
Ana-Maria Ramos (incumbent since 2019) did not return the questionnaire. (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 105 (Irving) - Targeted by Republicans
Terry Meza (incumbent since 2019) (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 108 (Dallas) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Morgan Meyer (R) since 2015.
Joanna Cattanach (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
Shawn D. Terry did not return the questionnaire.
District 112 (Richardson) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Angie Chen Button (R) since 2009.
Brandy Chambers (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 113 (Garland) - Targeted by Republicans
Rhetta Andrews Bowers (incumbent since 2019) (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 114 (Dallas) - Targeted by Republicans
John Turner (incumbent since 2019) did not return the questionnaire. (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 115 (Carrollton) - Targeted by Republicans
Julie Johnson (incumbent since 2019) did not return the questionnaire. (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 121 (San Antonio) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Steve Allison (R) since 2019.
Celina Montoya (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
Jack Guerra did not return the questionnaire.
District 126 (Spring) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Sam Harless (R) since 2019.
Natali Hurtado (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
Dr. Undrai Fizer did not return the questionnaire.
District 128 (Deer Park) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Briscoe Cain (R) since 2017.
Mary E. Williams (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
District 132 (Katy) - Targeted by Republicans
Gina Calanni (incumbent since 2019) (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 134 (West University Place) - Flippable District
Incumbent: Sarah Davis (R) since 2011.
Ann Johnson (Won primary. Will continue to November election.)
District 135 (Houston) - Targeted by Republicans
Jon E. Rosenthal (incumbent since 2019) (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 136 (Austin) - Targeted by Republicans
John Bucy (incumbent since 2019) (Uncontested. Will continue to November election.)
District 138 (Houston) - Flippable District
Open seat vacated by Dwayne Bohac (R)
Akilah Bacy (Will advance to primary runoff)
Jenifer Rene Pool did not return the questionnaire. (Will advance to primary runoff)
This list does not include endorsements on behalf of Progress Texas. All Democratic candidates in races we’re watching that have officially filed are listed.
For more information on our plan for flipping Texas in 2020, view our Special Report and sign up for updates.
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