Governor Abbott schedules special election for vacant Texas Senate seat
Gov. Greg Abbott announced a special election to fill the Texas Senate District 22 seat vacated by Brian Birdwell, with filing due Aug. 20.
Governor Greg Abbott set a special election for the remainder of the term of Texas Senate District 22, following the resignation of five-term Republican Brian Birdwell, who accepted a role as a U.S. assistant secretary of defense. Prospective candidates must file with the Secretary of State by Aug. 20, and the winner will serve until Jan. 11. Birdwell, confirmed by a 46-43 Senate vote, previously worked for the Department of the Army at the Pentagon and survived severe burns in the Sept. 11 attacks.
He announced in June that he would not run again after 15 years in the seat. In the upcoming general election on Nov. 3, Republican State Rep. David Cook, the March GOP nominee, will face Democrat Amy Martinez-Salas, a first-time candidate. Birdwell expressed gratitude to Texas senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn for aiding his nomination.
