Primaries Over – Finally

In what has been a much longer and more tedious primary
season than normal due to redistricting litigation, we thankfully reached a
conclusion last week with the runoff elections on Tuesday.  Your IBAT
political action committees participated in a number of these races, and what
follows is a brief "scorecard" on the results in those races:

• Statewide -  You are no doubt aware that Ted Cruz
  defeated Lt. Governor David Dewhurst for the Republican nomination to succeed
  Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.  Dewhurst was supported by the IBAT
  FedPAC.  Additionally, Supreme Court Justice David Medina, another
  recipient of IBAT PAC funds, lost in his re-election bid to Judge John Devine.
• Congress -  The IBAT FedPAC contributed funds in three
  races, and each of the candidates won - Randy Weber (R - Surfside), Roger
  Williams (R - Weatherford) and Filemon Vela (D - Brownsville).
• Texas Senate - The IBAT PAC contributed to incumbent
  Republican Senator Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio, who was soundly defeated by
  Dr. Donna Campbell of New Braunfels.
• Texas House of Representatives -  Three incumbents
  supported by the IBAT PAC lost their seats in the Texas House.  Chuck
  Hopson (R - Jacksonville) was defeated by Nacogdoches attorney Travis Clardy in
  a close contest.  Sid Miller (R - Stephenville) lost to J.D. Sheffield of
  Gatesville, and Jim Landtroop (R - Plainview) was defeated by Ken King of
  Canadian.  Additionally, we supported Jamaal Smith, a former legislative
  staffer from Houston, who was defeated by Gene Wu in a Democratic
  contest. 

Winners supported by the IBAT PAC included Greg Bonnen (R -
Friendswood), J.M. Lozano (R - Kingsville) and Bennett Ratliff (R - Dallas).

Your government relations staff is
busy meeting with many of the newly elected candidates, and will continue this
process through the end of the year.  If you have a close relationship
with one of these individuals, please contact Mae Beth
Palone. 

We very much appreciate the involvement of the membership in
the political process, and urge you to get to know your new officeholders (if
applicable) in your area.  And, please don't forget the PAC Auction at our annual Convention on October 8.  Further information and contribution
forms are available on our website.