Who will take Jake Ellzey’s vacant seat?

ELLIS COUNTY –  Early voting continues from Thursday, Aug. 26 to Friday, Aug. 27 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and one District 10 candidate has dropped out of the special election held Aug. 31.

When newly elected Texas State Representative Jake Ellzey, District 10 decided to run for the 6th Congressional District seat and winning that race last month, it left the need for a special election to replace him in the Texas house.

There were eight candidates; five Republicans, one Democrat, one Libertarian and one Independent on the ballot.

Four of those on the ballot are from Midlothian including Republican John Wray, who has sat in the seat in the past; Clark Wickliffe, a current Midlothian city councilmember and a Republican; and Republicans Kevin Griffin and Brian Harrison.

Waxahachie resident Scott Goodwin is running as an Independent in the election, and Waxahachie resident Susan Hayslip, a Republican, has stepped down.

Democratic candidate Pierina Otiniano is from Ennis, and Libertarian Matt Sorvino from Seven Points is also seeking to win the seat.

But Hayslip released a statement Monday that she is dropping out.

“I decided to run for the Texas House of Representatives, District 10, vacated when Jake Ellzey won the July 26 runoff election replacing Ron Wright in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Hayslip wrote in her statement.

“I signed up to run against John Wray, the incumbent, who abruptly decided not to run in the 2020 election stating he never intended to, and it was never meant to be a career position.

“It now appears that for some unknown reason, Mr. Wray has changed his mind, or could it possibly be that with the shortest election in history, Mr. Wray saw an easy path to regain his former title.

“My mailbox has been flooded with John Wray’s flyers stating all the great things he has done in the past and why we should not vote for the other seven candidates who ‘signed up at the last minute to confuse the issue and force a runoff election so District 10 won’t be represented in this important special session.’”

Hayslip said the GOP was made aware of her decision not to run on Friday, Aug. 20.

She said she is encouraging all her supporters to vote for Brian Harrison.

“Brian Harrison and I share many of the same viewpoints on key subjects, and I agree with John Wray that my remaining in this race might cause some confusion,” Hayslip concluded.