CD 31 & CD 11: Challengers For Conaway & Carter

We’ve found out about a couple of challengers (well, a challenger and a potential challenger) for Congressmen Mike Conaway (R-Midland) and John Carter (R-Round Rock).

First, the potential challenger for Conaway, now that Brad Vincent has bowed out:

WASHINGTON — Democrat Brad Vincent of Snyder is bowing out of the 11th Congressional District race against U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland.

The Rev. Floyd Crider, 58, a San Angelo Democrat, said he is considering entering the race to represent a district that includes a wide swath of the southern Big Country.

To get a place on the ballot in Texas, a congressional candidate must either pay a $3,125 filing fee to his party or produce a petition with at least 500 signatures of registered voters in his district, officials said.

Crider says he wants to gauge his support in the district before committing to the race.

“I think 500 signatures from registered voters can be done,” Crider said.

Linda Shoemaker, Tom Green County chairwoman for the Democratic Party, said she received a letter from Vincent explaining his departure from the race and the return of a campaign contribution.

Vincent, an educational consultant, is moving from Texas to take a position as an administrator for public schools in New York City, according to the letter Shoemaker received.

So far, no Republican has stepped up to challenge Conaway.

In a letter to supporters, Vincent spoke favorably about Crider, who is a high school counselor at Central High School in San Angelo and Southern Baptist minister.

Crider had considered running against Conaway in 2008, but he met and liked Vincent, Shoemaker said.

We’d previously missed that Brian Ruiz has decided to challenge Carter in CD 31. This is a district which could be prime for a flip, especially given that its incumbent is such a Bush lapdog. Mary Beth Harrell ran a credible campaign in 2006 but was unable to break 40 percent; that race, quite simply, needs a lot of money to help the flip.

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