For Dallas Democrats, the 2016 election revealed a chink in the armor of a few Republican held political seats.

Texas’ 32nd Congressional District is ridiculously drawn district that looks like a goat drinking out of Lake Ray Hubbard. Hilary Clinton won the district last November in what had been a consistently Republican stronghold. Locally, Texas House District 108, which covers the Park Cities, Central, and East Dallas, also went for Clinton in 2016, despite having Republican representatives for decades.

In response, a number of Democratic challengers have thrown their hat in the ring over a year in advance of the election in November of 2018. There are some power players, political newcomers, and long shots, all vying to seize the anti-Trump sentiment that seemed to flow through the veins of Dallas urbanites. Candidates can still become a nominee for office until December. Don’t be shy!

Texas’ 32nd Congressional District

Incumbent

Pete Sessions– This son of a former FBI director has been in Congress since 1997 and hasn’t had a serious challenger since 2004.

Challengers

Collin Allred– This former Hillcrest High School and Baylor graduate  played in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans for five years before going to law school at Cal Berkeley and working as a special assistant at the Housing Department under Barack Obama.
Todd Maternowski– This small business owner and former Republican has not been involved in politics before, and has done everything from janitor to ballroom dance instructor.
Ed Meier–  This interim executive director of a Dallas education nonprofit called Big Thought was a former State Department official and policy adviser for Hilary Clinton’s campaign.
Danielle Pellett– This transgender candidate is a political activist who runs Petition Resolutions to Enact on the Platform, and graduated from the University of North Texas.
George Rodriguez– This lawyer is the son of Cuban immigrants, and runs a law firm with his wife after attending Dallas ISD schools throughout his youth.

Texas House District 108

Incumbent

Morgan Meyer– This lawyer was elected after longtime District 108 representative Dan Branch ran for Texas Attorney General.

Challengers
Joanna Cattanach– This former foster child was a reporter for the Dallas Morning News before becoming a journalism professor at the University of North Texas.
Zac Duffy– This is an intellectual property lawyer whose wife is a Spanish teacher for Dallas ISD.