While Texas politicos have their eyes glued to the high-profile races shaping up ahead of the March 5 primaries, three local Dallas-area contests are simmering below the radar, potentially set to have a significant impact on the region's political landscape. In the skirmish for the Republican House District 108, incumbent Morgan Meyer is going head-to-head with challenger Barry Wernick, a Dallas lawyer endorsed by Attorney General Ken Paxton, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. Meyer, who enjoys support from Governor Abbott, has repeatedly fended off Democratic adversaries despite demographic shifts that conceivably make his seat more vulnerable.
Dems might find a glimmer of hope in Wernick's hard-right leanings, which could alienate moderate constituents. Meyer, who has a robust connection with his district, could face a stiffer challenge this time around if Wernick secures the GOP nod—rendering the Park Cities, downtown Dallas, Uptown area where the demographics increasingly skew purple, a battleground come November.
On the Democratic side in House District 100, first-term Rep. Venton Jones, who bears the distinction of being Texas’s first openly HIV-positive state lawmaker and a staunch advocate for black gay men, is bracing for a fight against Barbara Mallory Caraway. Caraway — a former state representative and Dallas City Council member with substantial name recognition — is launching another political offensive following six bids for Congress, according to details shared by ReformAustin. However, Jones isn't facing this challenge on an empty war chest, boasting upwards of $90,000 in campaign funds.
The countdown is also on in the tussle for the Dallas County Republican Party chair, where incumbent Jennifer Stoddard-Hajdu is squaring off against Allen West, a conservative icon known for pulling the Texas GOP to the right during his brief 2020 tenure. West, who previously served as a congressman from Florida, could pivot the local party even further starboard at a time when Dallas is increasingly donning Democratic blue. The primary's outcome could serve as both a barometer for Republican standing in urban strongholds and a blueprint for the party's strategic compass in county politics.
