EDINBURG — A handful of candidates for the upcoming March Primary filed last-minute applications with their respective parties just before the Monday deadline.
In House District 15, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez will face a familiar opponent in the November General Election. No one in the Democratic Party filed to run against the freshman congressman for the March Primary, but he will face Republican opponent Tim Westley in November. Westley ran unsuccessfully against Gonzalez in 2016.
The same goes for U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela in District 34. Vela will run unopposed in March, but will face Republican challenger Rey Gonzalez in November.
The race just got a bit tighter for incumbent Bobby Guerra, who represents District 41 in the Texas House of Representatives. Guerra will face Democratic challenger Michael L. Pinkard Jr. in March, and the winner of that race will face Republican Hilda Garza DeShazo in November. DeShazo unsuccessfully challenged Guerra in 2016.
In Hidalgo County politics, former county judge Eloy Pulido filed to run for the seat he once held. Pulido will run against McAllen Commissioner Richard Cortez, and the winner will face off against Republican candidate Jane Cross in November.
In Hidalgo County Precinct 2, Commissioner Eddie Cantu will run unopposed in March and November, guaranteeing he will remain in office for another term.
The race for Hidalgo County treasurer doubled in size, going from two candidates vying for the office to four. Eloy Avila and San Juan Commissioner Raudel “Raudy” Maldonado added their names to the list that also includes Lita Leo and David Salazar Jr.
The race for the newly reinstated Hidalgo County Precinct 5 Constable’s office also became more competitive after Cesar Gutierrez filed to run. Gutierrez and Danny Malicharlar, both of Elsa, will vie for the seat in March.
Incumbent Judge Arnoldo Cantu, who is seeking re-election for Hidalgo County Court at Law No. 5, will have to fight for his seat against Democratic challenger Armando Marroquin in March.
And lastly, the Democratic Party in Hidalgo County will have a new chair after Ric Godinez decided to step down. Danny Diaz and Norma Ramirez are gunning for the position
nlopez@themonitorcom
The story has been updated to reflect that Norma Ramirez is running for Hidalgo County party chair as a democrat.
