23 file for 6th Congressional Seat

ELLIS COUNTY – There were 23 names drawn on Friday for the ballot positioning for the Special Election on May 1 to fill the 6th Congressional District seat recently vacated by the late Congressman Ron Wright (R-Arlington).

Wright’s death made a gaping hole in the 6th Congressional District, which normally leans right.

Eleven Republicans, 10 Democrats, one Libertarian and one independent are vying for the 6th Congressional District seat. 

The area covered in this seat includes parts of southeast Dallas-Fort Worth as well as Ellis and Navarro counties.

With candidates from the different parties running for the seat, there will be no primary even with the four parties represented.

There will however, likely be a runoff election since the winning candidate must secure more than 50-percent of the vote. 

What could make a runoff election interesting is the potential for a Republican and Democrat to run against each other in the runoff or even two from the same party.

While it was no surprise Wright’s wife Susan Wright chose to run, the large number of candidates took some voters by surprise.

The field is very open including a former professional Wrestler, Dan Rodimer who ran last year for Congress in Nevada. 

He reportedly arrived with less than one hour left before the deadline to file was closed.

Early voting for the seat begins April 19.

CANDIDATES WHO FILED

Republicans

Susan Wright

Jake Ellzey

Dan Rodimer

John Anthony Castro

Sery Kim

Brian Harrison

Mike Egan

Michael Wood

Jenny Garcia Sharon

Michael Ballantine

Travis Rodermund

Independent

Adrian Mizher

Libertarian

Phil Gray

Democrats

Jana Lynne Sanchez

Patrick Moses

Lydia Bean

Shawn Lassiter

Matt Hinterlong

Brian K. Stephenson

Manuel Richard Salazar III

Daryl J. Eddings Sr.

Chris Suprun

Tammy Allison