Candidate endorsed by Pence loses Texas House primary
State Rep. Lance Gooden (R) is projected to win the Republican primary in the Texas 5th Congressional District, paving the way for him to replace retiring GOP Rep. Jeb Hensarling.
Tuesday’s runoff came after no candidate won the majority in the March primary. Gooden led Bunni Pounds, Hensarling’s former campaign manager, in the initial vote and was able to hold on again.
{mosads}Gooden carried the primary even after Pounds won the backing of a slew of top Republicans, including Hensarling, Vice President Pence and Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), who endorsed her Monday night.
Gooden, who has served three terms in office in the Texas House, framed himself as a conservative during the race. The anti-tax Club for Growth spent more than $300,000 against him, highlighting votes he took to raise taxes, while his own allied group matched that spending to defend him.
Since the Dallas-area district voted overwhelmingly for President Trump in 2016, Gooden is expected to cruise through November’s general election and become the district’s next congressman.
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