Middleton Dives into Senate Race
Before the Ink on Taylor Exit Dries

Capitol Inside
November 30, 2021

GOP State Rep. Mayes Middleton of Wallisville launched an unexpected bid for a promotion on Tuesday about the same time veteran State Senator Larry Taylor of Friendswood announced that he wouldn't be a candidate for re-election in 2022.

The timing of the Middleton campaign kickoff and Taylor's bowing out raised the specter that the separate but related events has been coordinated by the coastal pair to keep the competition to a minimum in an open Senate District 11 race next year.

Middleton was ready to hit the ground running in SD 11 before Taylor broke the news - a potential sign of a collaborated passing of the torch to the representative who represents almost half of Galveston County where the outgoing senator is based. Middleton's home base is across Galveston Bay in Chambers County.

Middleton and Taylor haven't appeared to be close allies on the surface. Middleton is one of the most conservative Republican legislators in Texas while Taylor has been among the least in a long career that featured 10 years in the House before his initial election to the upper chamber in 2012. Taylor has been one of the most popular lawmakers at the statehouse in Austin. Middleton not so much.

The upcoming Senate vacancy could prompt other Republicans on the coast to consider a switch to a campaign for SD 11. GOP State Rep. Greg Bonnen of Friendswood has had more in common politically with Taylor - as an example the powerful senator had hoped to handpick a replacement. The list of House Republicans who could weight SD 11 bids includes State Reps. Briscoe Cain of Deer Park and Ed Thompson of Pearland.

But few might be inclined to mess with Middleton given his ability to bankroll a campaign with family wealth. Middleton had been accused of buying the House District 23 seat when he ousted incumbent Republican Wayne Faircloth of Galveston in the GOP primary election in 2018.

Middleton's shift to a Senate race will likely spark a belated scramble for the HD 23 that he'll be giving up. The districts that Taylor and Middleton represent were beefed up with Republicans on the House map that the Legislature approved in a third special session last month.

The deadline for filing for places on the primary ballot is December 13.

more to come ...

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 

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