June 24, 2019      4:54 PM

JR: Stickland departure leaves wide open race in suburban Texas, where Democrats are ascendant

With Stickland gone, which wing of the Republican Party will be back with more friends? The beginnings of an answer may be taking shape in Tarrant County

FORT WORTH – Bedford Rep. Jonathan Stickland’s retirement announcement this morning leaves open a seat representing a rapidly changing area that many Democrats had previously written off: Northeast Tarrant County. The district has seen as influx of new residents in recent years thanks to its location in the suburbs between Dallas and Fort Worth and is changing demographically at rapid pace.

Last cycle, the four-term Republican beat Democrat Steve Riddell by 49-47. Eric Espinoza, the Libertarian in the race, got the remaining 2 percent. Stickland won his race with the second lowest percentage of any Texas House member in 2018, just behind Rep. Gina Calanni, D-Katy.

The district, which includes Bedford, Euless and Hurst, had been solidly Republican before the bomb thrower was elected in 2012. He succeeded former Rep. Todd Smith, also of Bedford, who ran for the open Senate District 12 seat vacated by Chris Harris of Arlington. Smith was ultimately defeated by Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills. It’s been rumored Stickland might challenge Sen. Hancock, by the way.

Stickland’s message to supporters seemed to close the door on elected office, though. At least for now.

By James Russell

Copyright June 24, 2019, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved