The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - May 20, 2026

Episode Date: May 20, 2026

The Texan’s Daily Rundown brings you a quick recap of the latest stories in Texas politics so you can stay informed with news you can trust.Want more resources? Visit The Texan for complete access to our in-depth articles, newsletters, videos, podcasts, and more.Enjoy what you hear? Be sure to follow us and leave a review!

Well, howdy folks. Today is Wednesday, May 20th, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texan senior editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, the Republican primary runoff election for the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt grew more contentious this week over alleged mortgages for illegal immigrants and a retraction demand on Tuesday. In the initial 10-way Republican primary, in March, mortgage and real estate broker John Bonk emerged in first place with 48% of the vote, just two points short of the 50% needed to avoid a runoff. Since then, businesswoman and former vice chair of the Harris County Republican Party,

Shelly DeZavalos, who took second place in the March 3rd primary with just under 19%, has been vying for support in the upcoming runoff. Last week, reporter Wayne Dolcefino published a video alleging that Bonk's firm Advert ITIN loans, which are made to persons who apply using an individual taxpayer identification number, or ITIN, instead of a social security number. This week, the DeZavalos campaign sent text messages to voters stating that Bonk had, quote, been caught providing mortgages to illegal immigrants at Colony Ridge, end quote, a controversial development in Liberty County, and the texts included a link to Dolchafino's report. On Tuesday afternoon, Bonk's attorney Eric Wang sent a cease and desist letter to

the Dezivalos campaign and demanded a retraction. Next, Democratic Party voters must decide between State Representative Vicki Goodwin and Marcos Veles, who will challenge Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who is running for his fourth term in the November general election. In the March primary, Goodwin took 48 percent of the votes cast while Veles received 31.5 percent, according to the the Texas Secretary of State. Goodwin was first elected to represent Texas House District 47 in 2018. According to her website, Goodwin was born in Dallas, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, and earned her master's in public administration from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs in 1991. Velez describes himself as a blue-collar Texas worker and labor leader who

was raised by a single mother in Houston. He is now the assistant district director of the steel workers, having started his career in the oil industry. According to the most recent campaign finance reports filed on May 18, Goodwin outraised Villas during the campaign period between the primary and the runoff. Early voting began on May 18th and extends through May 22nd, with the runoff election on May 26th. In other news, Ozia Lochoa will face Esmeralda Cantu Castle in a runoff for the Democratic nomination for Texas House District 37 on May 26. as neither candidate received over 50% in the March primary. Ochoa won 46% of the vote, and Cantu Castle received 32% in the Democratic primary. The winner will face incumbent state representative

Janie Lopez in the general election on November 3rd, as Democrats eye this district in hopes of flipping it in the midterm election under President Donald Trump. According to the Texans' Texas partisan index, HD 37 was rated D-51% in 2022, and then are 53% following the 2024 election, after Lopez flipped the seat with a 10-point win over Democrat Jonathan Grascia. Last but not least, a former Harris County clerk and the former district director for state representative Sam Harless are running in the Republican primary runoff to determine who will be the nominee

in the race for Harless's open Texas House seat. Kelly Peterson, who served as Harless's district director in House District 126 over the past four years, and Stan Stan-Stanart, who has held various Republican positions, including Harris County Clerk, are the two contenders in the GOP primary runoff on May 26th. Since Harless decided to retire from the Texas House after four terms, as announced last September, his seat is among the many included in this primary election cycle. After the March 3rd primary, Peterson and Stanart came out on top against Polly Looper, with Stanart collecting 49.3% of the vote, not quite enough, to secure a win and avoid a runoff.

Peterson trailed Stanart with 29.4% that night. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the texan.News to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.