NRCC MEMO: TEXAS 23RD PRIMARY RESULTS

TO: INTERESTED PARTIES
FROM: NRCC POLITICAL and NRCC COMMUNICATIONS
DATE: MARCH 02, 2016
SUBJECT: TX-23 PRIMARY RESULTS

Now that the votes have been tallied in Texas’ congressional primaries, the race for the 23^rd District is set to be a rematch of one of the top contests in the country from last cycle. Congressman Will Hurd will face off against former Congressman Pete Gallego, whom he unseated in 2014 after fighting through a competitive GOP primary. This time, Hurd enters the general election in a much more formidable position and with a huge cash advantage.

TX-23: Will Hurd, R vs. Pete Gallego, D

After a wildly successful first year in Congress, Will Hurd was given a resounding endorsement by voters in Texas’ 23^rd District GOP Primary with 82.23% of the vote. Using his experience from his years in the CIA, Hurd has established himself as a leading expert on vital national security issues, including protecting the southern border, combating the rise of ISIS, and addressing new and varied cybersecurity threats. In a sharp contrast to Gallego’s lackluster tenure in Congress, Hurd had multiple bipartisan bills signed into law after just a few months in office. On the campaign front, Hurd sports a sizeable war chest of more than $1 million – more than twice Gallego’s haul – and has made his presence felt all across the expansive 23^rd District.

On the Democrat side, Pete Gallego was forced to face off against primary opposition despite early support from the Democrat establishment. Even with the backing of Washington Democrats, Gallego has fallen badly behind Hurd in fundraising, with only $410,000 cash on hand to Hurd’s $1 million. On the issues, Gallego will toe the party line on multiple fronts that put him crossways with the voters of the 23^rd District, including higher taxes, support for the president’s disastrous health care law, and siding with extreme environmentalists over the wellbeing of the Texas economy.

Geography: PVI: R+3; Romney 51%; both Cook Political Report and Rothenberg Political Report rate this race as Toss Up.  

STATEWIDE ROUNDUP

The following are the unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary election in Texas.

*Indicates Winner determined by AP

TX-23 – GOP Primary    

300 of 300 Precincts Reporting (100%)

Will Hurd*                                           82.23%

William Hart Peterson                    17.76%

TX-23 – DEM Primary   

328 of 328 Precincts Reporting (100%)

Pete Gallego*                                    88.37%

Lee Keenen                                        11.62%