Jake Ellzey Wins Texas Special Election, Upsetting Trump-Endorsed Candidate

GOP state Rep. Jake Ellzey won a special election runoff in Texas on Tuesday, unexpectedly defeating the widow of the GOP lawmaker he will replace in the U.S. House, according to the Associated Press.

Republican Susan Wright had been favored to win the runoff after being endorsed by former President Donald Trump to represent the district south of Dallas. Her late husband, Ron Wright, died in February at the start of his second House term after battling Covid-19 and cancer.

Mr. Ellzey’s victory was seen as a repudiation of the power of Mr. Trump’s endorsement in a runoff race between two GOP candidates. However, political analysts noted that Democrats and Republicans opposed to Mr. Trump were likely at least partially responsible for boosting Mr. Ellzey in reaction to the former president’s backing of Mrs. Wright.

“It’s not the cleanest test of a Trump endorsement in a GOP primary because while both candidates were Republicans, the special election was open” to independents and Democrats,” Jacob Rubashkin, an analyst at the nonpartisan Inside Elections said on Twitter Tuesday night. “But it’s a reminder that Trump’s endorsement isn’t always a ticket to DC.”

Turnout in the runoff was low, according to the Cook Political Report.

Mrs. Wright finished first among 23 candidates in the May 1 special election, with just over 19% of the vote, topping Mr. Ellzey’s roughly 14% share, according to the Texas Secretary of State. Mr. Trump endorsed Mrs. Wright in late April and reiterated his support for her at a virtual tele-rally Monday night.