TEXAS LEGISLATURE
State rep holding off challenge from Abbott-backed candidate Dokupil
Early returns show state Rep. Sarah Davis of West University Place leading her Abbottbacked opponent.
AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott won his Republican primary without breaking a sweat, but early-voting returns showed him losing his effort to knock out Houston state Rep. Sarah Davis, the moderate he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to defeat in a GOP primary.
Early-voting returns showed Davis with a solid lead over Susanna Dokupil, a conservative businesswoman backed by Abbott in his attempt to wipe out House Republican incumbents who didn’t embrace his hardright agenda.
The Texas House District 134 race has been one of the most closely watched in Texas, serving as ground zero in the fight for the heart and soul of the Texas GOP. The governor, who has grown more conservative this term, spent more than $223,000 running campaign ads against the fiercely independent Davis, now in her fourth term. Some of that money has also gone toward ads in favor of Dokupil, who vowed to help the governor advance his agenda.
Davis, a lawyer from West University Place, is a member of the Texas House’ moderate leadership team, which has blocked several of Abbott’s priorities, such as a bill that would block
transgender people from using the bathroom corresponding with their gender identity. Davis drew the ire of the governor last year when she questioned his commitment to ethics reform during a special legislative session in 2017.
The winner of the Republican primary election will face a Democrat in the November election, in what is expected to be another tough race in the swing district.
Early-voting totals show Allison Lami Sawyer, a businesswoman, comfortably ahead of perennial candidate Lloyd Wayne Oliver for the Democratic nomination.
Eileen Glaser, a voter at Davis’ election-night party, said she
saw “nasty” postcards against Davis, a lawmaker she’s respected for her moderate record. Then Glaser, who has worked for an advertising agency, took out a magnifying glass to see who was behind the messaging.
“I think it’s very seedy for the governor to get involved,” she said.
A half mile away, Dokupil’s supporters said Abbott’s involvement in the race showed courage.
Davis is “too liberal for my liking,” said Peter Calkins, an investor who said property taxes is a key issue for him. He said he saw Abbott’s endorsement in the race as a way to remove obstructions in the way of getting
his agenda passed.
Davis isn’t the only Republican that Abbott targeted. The governor endorsed opponents to Galveston Rep. Wayne Faircloth and San Antonio Rep. Lyle Larson.
Early returns suggested Abbott could go one for three with his preferred challengers. While his favorite Mayes Middleton led Faircloth, his candidate to go after Larson, Chris Fails, trailed in early-voting totals.
Here’s how other important legislative races were shaking out:
State Sen. Joan Huffman, a Houston Republican and former district judge, led in a spirited primary against Kristin Tassin,
the president of Fort Bend ISD’s board of trustees.
The wife of Attorney General Ken Paxton took the early lead in a fierce race for a state Senate seat north of Dallas. Angela Paxton, a former educator, is running against Phillip Huffines, who owns a series of auto dealerships.
State Rep. Ron Reynolds, the Missouri City Democrat who last year lost his appeal to a 2016 conviction to five misdemeanor charges related to ambulancechasing, led early against Houston attorney Wilvin Carter in that primary election.