Goldman, O’Shea headed to runoff in Republican primary for TX Congressional District 12

Republicans Craig Goldman and John O’Shea are headed into a runoff in the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Kay Granger.

Democrat Trey Hunt won his party’s primary. .

Goldman, a member of the Texas House of Representatives, has 44.35% of votes in the Republican primary, according to unofficial results from the Texas Secretary of State’s office. Behind him is O’Shea with 26.39%.

Hunt has 58.08% of votes in the Democratic Primary, the results from the Texas Secretary of State’s office show.

Granger has represented Congressional District 12, which covers much of Tarrant and Parker counties, since 1997, when she made history as the the first Republican woman to represent Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives. Over years, she rose in ranks to the powerful position of House Appropriations chairwoman.

Granger announced in November that she wasn’t seeking reelection, opening up the seat for candidates in 2024.

The race has drawn five candidates in the Republican primary: In addition to Goldman, the candidates are Anne Henley, who is retired; O’Shea, an investment firm owner; Shellie Gardner, engineer and lighting business owner; Clint Dorris, an engineer. If a single candidate doesn’t get more than 50% of votes, the race moves into a runoff.

Small Business Owner Sebastian Gehrig and Hunt, a homeless housing coordinator, are running as Democrats. The winner Tuesday will advance to the November general election.

Goldman has raised the most of any Republicans in the race — roughly $1.5 million — and has spent the most, more than $705,000, according to Federal Election Commission records. Behind him is Gardner, with nearly $271,000 in receipts and nearly $245 spent, and O’Shea with almost $267,000 in receipts and about $236,000 spent, FEC records show.

Democratic fundraising has been far-less robust. Hunt has reported about $5,300 in receipts and spending about $3,700, according to the FEC. Gehrig has not reported fundraising numbers to the FEC, but noted in memos that he’s raised less than $5,000.

O’Shea has received the endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, after Goldman supported Paxton’s impeachment in the Texas House of Representatives. Paxton was ultimately acquitted in the Texas Senate’s trial.

Notable Goldman endorsements include Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov, Dan Patrick, former Gov. Rick Perry, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, as well as several other Tarrant County state lawmakers.

Goldman, O’Shea and Gardner both listed border security as a top priority in their Star-Telegram candidate questionnaires. Goldman’s list also included ending “wasteful government spending” and passing a balanced budget and making sure the U.S. funds the building of F-35s.

O’Shea’s other priorities included ending government subsidies for “green energy” and ending government deficit spending, and restoring “our Constitution” and returning “the power back to the American citizens.” Gardner named cutting federal spending and paying down the deficit and growing the economy among her priorities.

Gehrig’s top three priorities are education, immigration and border security, women’s rights and LGBTQ rights, according to his questionnaire. Hunts include “transitioning the military-industrial complex into the builders of green technology and public transportation vehicles,” criminal justice reform and increasing housing through public-private partnerships.