TX Gov. Greg Abbott Sets Special Election Date  
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has scheduled the special election to replace the late Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) to coincide with the regular odd-year general election date, November 4, 2025. Under Texas special election procedure, the Governor calls the vote under the jungle format, where all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of political party affiliation. If no one receives majority support on November 4th, the Governor will then schedule a runoff between the top two finishers for a later date. Typically, six weeks are allowed for a runoff election cycle meaning the final vote will likely be scheduled on December 16th.
Ex-Gov. Chris Sununu Won’t Run for NH Senate 
US Rep. Chris Pappas (D-Manchester) declared that he will run for the Senate in hopes of succeeding retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D). For the Republicans, despite encouragement from President Trump, former Governor Chris Sununu (R) announced he will not run for the Senate.
The development makes Rep. Pappas the early favorite to win the general election. Republicans, however, still believe they will be competitive in the race. The most likely major candidate is former Massachusetts US Senator and 2014 NH Republican Senate nominee Scott Brown who NH political insiders believe will run. If he does, we can expect a formal announcement to come during the summer.
Virginia Gov Election Already Set 
The general election nominees for Governor are set once the state’s signature petition deadline expired. The only two qualifiers are former Democratic Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears. The lack of other qualifiers under the state’s onerous petition signature gathering requirements mean Virginia’s June primary will be meaningless in the Governor’s race. Therefore, we will effectively see a much longer general election cycle this year. The election is scheduled for November 4, 2025.
 Rep. John James Announces MI Gov Campaign 
As expected, two-term US Rep. John James (R-Farmington Hills) announced that he will enter the open 2026 Governor’s race, striving to succeed term-limited incumbent Gretchen Whitmer (D).
Mr. James has twice run statewide. In 2018, he challenged US Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) and then ran again two years later opposite Sen. Gary Peters (D). Mr. James drew national attention in holding Sen. Stabenow to a tighter than expected 52-46% margin spread. In 2020, the political battle ended in even closer fashion, 50-48%, in Sen. Peters’ favor. The following year redistricting created an open US House seat in his home area. Mr. James would win a ½ point 2022 victory over former local judge and prosecutor Carl Marlinga (D), and then scored a six-point re-election victory this past November against the same opponent.
The 2026 Michigan Governor’s race will likely be unique among all statewide elections in that it has the chance of becoming a legitimate three-way contest. It will feature a Republican, very possibly Rep. James, a Democrat, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is the leading candidate to date, and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan running seriously as an Independent candidate.
TX AG Ken Paxton to Oppose Sen. Cornyn 
Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) announced that he will challenge Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in the state’s Republican primary early next year. The move had been anticipated ever since Mr. Paxton survived an impeachment move in the legislature back in 2023. Early polling suggests that Paxton, despite his past scandals that almost cost him his current position, is favorable to his challenge.
Fabrizio Lee & Associates (1/28-2/2/25; 600 TX likely Republican primary voters; live interview & text) released a shocking poll showing Sen. Cornyn trailing AG Paxton 65-35% in a hypothetical Senate Republican primary. While other polls have shown Sen. Cornyn to be trailing, none with a margin as large as this. The fact that there is no undecided/refused to respond accounted for in the Fabrizio result suggest that some soft push questions were used even in the initial ballot test question.
Additionally, US Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Houston) is also looking like a Senate candidate. He raised $1.5 million in 1st Quarter 2025 and a Super PAC is currently spending more than $1 million airing positive ads about the Congressman in major media markets outside of the Congressman’s home in Houston.

*A friendly reminder: We've done our research, but you should, too! Check reliable sources for the most up to date information.   *

Posted: 2025-04-11 17:23:19