​Susan Wright, widow of recently deceased Texas US Rep. Ron Wright (R-Arlington), as expected announced yesterday that she will run to succeed her late husband.  She begins the race as the favorite to win.  Two Democrats also made their candidacies official: businesswoman and non-profit organization founder Lydia Bean and real estate developer Matt Hinterlong.  They join previously declared candidates Jana Lynne Sanchez, the 2018 Democratic congressional nominee, and local school district official Shawn Lassiter. 
 
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has scheduled the jungle primary for May 1st.  If no candidate receives majority support, the Governor will then schedule the runoff election once the top two finishers become known. 

​Orlando area state Senator Randolph Bracy (D) is testing the waters about entering the 2022 Governor’s race.  Mr. Bracy was first elected to the state Senate in 2016 after serving two terms in the Florida House of Representatives. 
 
Should he enter the race, the state legislator will possibly face primary competition from State Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Commissioner Nikki Fried, Florida’s only Democratic statewide official, US Rep. Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) who previously served one term as Governor when a member of the Republican Party, and state Sen. Annette Taddeo (D-Miami).  Ms. Taddeo was Mr. Crist’s running mate when he ran unsuccessfully for Governor under the Democratic ballot line against then-incumbent Rick Scott (R) in 2014.

​Earlier this week, we reported that Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning) is seriously considering initiating a campaign for Governor next year.  Now, other delegation names have popped up, including Reps. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) and Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville), neither of whom are closing the door on such a race.  With Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) facing problems, the 2022 NY Governor’s race could yield a much different campaign than what we’ve seen in the recent past.

​Virginia is unique in that the nominating system for each party can internally change at will.  Republicans have been in a major fight over whether to hold a nominating convention or a straight primary for the 2021 elections.  Now, they have decided on a compromise.  A “drive-through” convention to nominate its candidate for Governor, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General will be held at Liberty University on Saturday, May 8th, if the school authorities agree.  Delegates from around the state are expected to drive to Lynchburg and drop off their ballots. 
 
For a minority party that is losing support in a state, this type of system appears a disincentive toward encouraging new supporters to participate.  The eventual nominee will begin in a clear underdog position to the likely Democratic nominee, former Governor and Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe.  The major Republican candidates are former State House Speaker Kirk Cox, businessmen Pete Snyder, Paul Davis, and Glenn Youngkin, along with state Sen. Amanda Chase (R-Midlothian).

​Last week, it appeared that former Sen. David Perdue (R) was preparing to challenge Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) in 2022 when last November’s special election winner stands for a full six-year term.  Saying it is a personal and not a political decision, Mr. Perdue indicated yesterday that he will not re-enter the political arena. 
 
The former Senator leaves a wide-open Republican nomination battle in his wake, which could include former Sen. Kelly Loeffler, ex-Representative and 2020 Senate candidate Doug Collins, Attorney General Chris Carr, and former US Ambassador Randy Evans, among others.

​There are 15 candidates on the jungle primary ballot attempting to succeed resigned Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-New Orleans) in the March 20th special election, but one contender, state Sen. Troy Carter (D-New Orleans), who already has former Rep. Richmond’s endorsement, attracted an interesting supporter yesterday.  Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng added her name to Sen. Carter’s endorsement list.  What makes her unique is that she a Republican, meaning cross-party confirmation. 
 
While Ms. Sheng may not help Sen. Carter in a typical Democratic primary, the jungle primary where all voters participate, is a different story.  This could be a very significant support development if Sen. Carter advances to a runoff election with another Democrat, which is a likely scenario.

​State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville/ southeastern Illinois), an outspoken opponent of the Illinois pandemic shutdown requirements, announced that he will enter the Republican gubernatorial primary next year.  The chances of any Republican ousting Gov. J.B Pritzker (D) are slim, and while Sen. Bailey may have the opportunity of doing well in the GOP primary, he appears to face a very uphill climb in the general election.

​Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley (D) is ineligible to seek re-election in the May 4th non-partisan primary, and nine contenders had filed to run.  The list was reduced to eight yesterday, however, as City Councilman Wendell Young was disqualified for submitting an inadequate number of valid petition signatures.  

​Former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D), who many believed would enter the race to succeed term-limited Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), said yesterday that she will not.  The field of candidates is already large, ten announced contenders, with at least four in strong position. 
 
At this point, former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan appear to comprise the top tier of candidates.  The Democratic primary, which is thought to be tantamount to winning the office in the November general election, is scheduled for June 22nd.

​Birmingham area Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D), who has run unopposed in the last four consecutive elections, confirmed that she is considering entering the open 2022 US Senate contest.  The Republicans expect a crowded field to succeed retiring Sen. Richard Shelby (R), while no Democrat has yet officially come forward to declare a candidacy.