District 2 is a house in the Texas House of Representatives. It was created in the 3rd legislature (1849âÂÂ1851).
As a result of redistricting after the 2020 United States census, beginning with the 2022 elections the district encompasses all of Hopkins, Hunt, and Van Zandt Counties. Major cities in the district include Canton, Commerce, Greenville, and Sulphur Springs. The district also contains Texas A&M UniversityâÂÂCommerce and parts of Lake Tawakoni and Cooper State Park.
The district was represented by Bryan Slaton from January 14, 2021, upon his initial election to the Texas House, until he resigned on May 8, 2023, after facing potential expulsion by the House for "an inappropriate relationship with an intern". Notwithstanding his resignation, Slaton was subsequently and unanimously expelled by the House on the following day, May 9, 2023. The incumbent of this district is Republican Brent Money.
Governor Greg Abbott announced a special election to fill the remainder of Slaton's unexpired term would take place on November 7, 2023. (A special election to fill the vacancy of a state legislator is a direct election with no primary, per Texas Election Code, Title 12 Sec. 203.002.)
By the deadline on September 6, 2023, six candidates had filed for a place on the ballot to fill the vacant seat for House District 2. Five candidates filed as Republicans (Jill Dutton, Heath Hyde, Brent Money, Doug Roszhart, and Krista Schild); Kristen Washington filed as a Democrat.
The special election took place on the same November ballot as the 2023 constitutional amendment propositions. No candidate received more than 50% of the vote, and the top two vote-getters (Dutton with 25.26% of the vote, and Money with 31.75% of the vote) will proceed to a run-off election on January 30, 2024.
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