Wray Wade Seeks Gregg County Commissioner Seat in March Primary

Wray Wade, a Longview District 3 Councilman, has officially filed to run for the Pct. 4 Gregg County commissioner seat in the upcoming Democratic primary scheduled for March 3, 2024. Wade aims to succeed Danny Craig II, who was recently appointed to fill the position following the death of his father, Danny Craig Sr., on October 29, 2023.

In a notable development, there are currently no Republican candidates vying for the Pct. 4 commissioner seat in this primary. This lack of Republican contenders could impact the dynamics of the election, making it a potentially pivotal moment for the Democratic Party in the region.

In addition to Wade’s candidacy, the Texas House District 7 Republican primary has also garnered attention. Incumbent Representative Jay Dean has filed for reelection and will face a challenge from Melissa Beckett.

Candidates for local and state offices in Texas are required to file their declarations of candidacy with their respective party chairmen. The deadline for candidates to submit their filings is set for December 8, 2023. The chairmen of the local parties are William McWhorter for the Republican Party of Gregg County and Philip Burns Sr. for the Gregg County Democratic Party.

Individuals interested in running for local office are encouraged to contact their party’s chairman for more information. The local Democratic Party’s website can be accessed at greggcountydemocrats.org, while the Republican Party’s website is greggcountygop.com.

As of now, here are the candidates who have filed to run for various offices:

Democratic Party Candidates

– Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace: Robby Cox (incumbent) and Chris Birdsong
– Pct. 4 County Commissioner: Danny Craig II (incumbent) and Wray Wade
– Pct. 4 Constable: Judy Morgan
– Pct. 4 Chair: Cedric Fricks (incumbent)
– Democratic Party Chair: Philip Burns Sr. (incumbent)

Republican Party Candidates

– State Representative, House District 7: Jay Dean (incumbent) and Melissa BeckettWilliam McWhorter (incumbent)
– County Court at Law Judge No. 1: Angie Konczak (incumbent)
– County Court at Law Judge No. 2: Vincent Dulweber (incumbent)
– County Clerk: Michelle Gilley (incumbent)
– County Commissioner Precinct No. 2: Ray Bostick (incumbent)
– County Judge: Bill Stoudt (incumbent)
– District Attorney: John Moore (incumbent) has filed
– Justice of the Peace Precinct No. 1: Donna Blalock

Other positions include various precinct chairs, most of whom are incumbents.

Looking ahead, significant dates for upcoming elections in 2024 are as follows:

The primary elections will take place on March 3, with the last day to register to vote being February 2. Early voting will commence on February 17 and conclude on February 27.

For those interested in mail-in voting, applications can be submitted between January 1 and February 20. Runoff elections are scheduled for May 26, with early voting from May 18 to May 22.

The general election will be held on November 3, with the last day to register to vote on October 5. Early voting for the general election will take place from October 19 to October 30, and the final date to apply for a mail-in ballot is October 23.

As the political landscape in Gregg County evolves, the upcoming primaries will be closely watched by both local residents and political analysts.