Special Elections: Daily Kos Elections' Matt Booker offers a detailed preview of an important special election coming up soon in the Texas State House, where Democrats have an excellent opportunity to pick up a Republican-held seat ahead of their efforts to flip the chamber next year.
Team Blue has consolidated around a single candidate, educator Eliz Markowitz. Republicans, meanwhile, are fielding six hopefuls, among them businessman Gary Gates, who has been accused of child abuse in the past. This district, located in the Houston suburbs, has been trending toward Democrats in recent years: Ted Cruz won it just 51-48 last year after carrying it by a 64-35 margin in 2012.
All candidates in this race will compete on one ballot and, if no candidate takes a majority on Nov. 5, a runoff election will be held on a date that has yet to be determined.