The 2021 Texas's 6th congressional district special election was held on May 1, 2021. The seat became vacant after incumbent Republican Ron Wright died on February 7 of COVID-19.

Ron Wright's widow, Susan Wright from Arlington, who was endorsed by former president Donald Trump, and Jake Ellzey (who lost the Republican primary for this seat to Ron Wright in 2018) of Waxahachie, who served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives starting on January 12, advanced to the runoff. Ellzey finished ahead of Democrat Jana Lynne Sanchez of Fort Worth for the second place by just 354 votes. Sanchez conceded defeat to Ellzey the day after the election. The district was a Republican hold due to two Republicans advancing to the runoff.

The special election was expected to be competitive, due to the district trending Democratic in recent years and its suburban nature. A nonpartisan blanket primary took place, in which all candidates were listed on the same ballot. Since no candidate had received over 50 percent of the vote, the race proceeded to a runoff between the top two candidates in the first round, resulting in two Republicans advancing to the runoff. The runoff took place on July 27. Ellzey won the runoff election, earning 53.3% to Wright's 46.7%.

Candidates

Republican Party

Declared Michael Ballantine, business and English lecturer John Anthony Castro, attorney and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 Mike Egan, former U.S. Army Special Forces Officer (Green Beret) and businessman Jake Ellzey, state representative (2021) and candidate for in 2018 Brian Harrison, former chief of staff of Department of Health and Human Services (2019–2021) Sery Kim, former SBA official Travis Rodermund, police officer Daniel Rodimer, former WWE professional wrestler and nominee for Nevada's 3rd congressional district in 2020 Jennifer Garcia Sharon, volunteer caregiver and nominee for Texas's 35th congressional district in 2020 Michael Wood, major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Susan Wright, widow of former U.S. Representative Ron Wright and a committeewoman for the Texas State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) for District 10.State Republican Executive Committee, The Republican Party of Texas, TexasGOP.org, Austin, Texas.

Filed paperwork Monty Markland, writer and producer Asa Palagi, former candidate for Governor of Washington in 2020

Declined Joe Barton, former U.S. Representative for David Cook, state representative (2021–present) David Hill, Mayor of Waxahachie Cary Moon, Fort Worth city councillor Andy Nguyen, deputy chief of staff for Ron Wright Adrian Mizher, banker (ran as an Independent) Katrina Pierson, former national spokesperson for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and senior advisor to Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign Manny Ramirez, President of the Fort Worth Police Officers Association Tony Tinderholt, state representative (2015–present) Bill Waybourn, Tarrant County sheriff Jeff Williams, Mayor of Arlington (2015–2021) (endorsed Wright)

Democratic Party

Declared Lydia Bean, small business owner, former state House candidate Daryl J. Eddings, business owner Matthew Hinterlong, developer Tammy Allison Holloway, attorney Shawn Lassiter, Leadership ISD Chief of Equity and Inclusion Patrick Moses, former assistant director for Field Operations, Department of Homeland Security and Minister Jana Sanchez, commentator, activist, and nominee for in 2018 Manuel R. Salazar, realtor Brian K. Stephenson, systems engineer Chris Suprun, paramedic and Republican faithless elector in 2016

Declined Stephen Daniel, attorney and nominee for in 2020 Kim Olson, former candidate for in 2020 Chris Turner, Minority Leader of the Texas House of Representatives

Libertarian Party

Declared Phil Gray, property manager

Independent

Declared Adrian Mizher, banker

Endorsements

Primary

Polling

Graphical summary

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Other UndecidedData for Progress (D)Data for Progress (D)April 5–12, 2021344 (LV)± 5.0%––9%–––13%–10%––10%2%––––16%––––22%2%14%Global Strategy Group (D)Global Strategy Group (D)March 11–16, 2021500 (LV)± 4.4%––6%–––8%–6%––4%–2%–1%–9%––––18%–45%Victoria Research (D)Victoria Research (D)March 9–12, 2021450 (LV)± 4.6%––5%–––8%–––1%3%3%2%–––17%––––21%3%39%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report March 19, 2021 Inside Elections April 23, 2021 Sabato's Crystal Ball April 15, 2021

Results Susan Wright came in first in the primary with 15,077 (19.2%) votes to Ellzey's 10,865 (13.8%) and Sanchez's 10,518 (13.4%). On Sunday, May 2, 2021, Sanchez conceded the race to Ellzey. Since no candidate received a majority, the top two candidates, Wright and Ellzey, proceeded to a runoff.

Runoff A runoff was held on July 27 between Susan Wright and Jake Ellzey. In the campaign prior to the runoff, Wright relied heavily on Trump's endorsement in order to further her candidacy, but was considered to have run a poor campaign. The Club for Growth spent heavily in the runoff, buying US$1.2 million in advertisements that supported Wright and attacked Ellzey. The heavily negative tone taken by the Club for Growth ads towards Ellzey frustrated many Republican officials, some of whom backed Ellzey in protest. Ellzey's campaign also engaged in strategies that were suspected as being designed to appeal to Democrats, with him declaring himself a "champion of public education" in text messages to Democratic-leaning potential voters, as well as noting that Wright was endorsed by former president Donald Trump. Defending Main Street, a Super PAC that was supporting Ellzey, targeted Democrats with advertisements, but Ellzey himself denied that he was specifically targeting Democrats, instead claiming that his statements were designed to be bipartisan.

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report July 9, 2021 Inside Elections June 18, 2021 Sabato's Crystal Ball July 21, 2021

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error SusanWright (R) JakeEllzey (R) UndecidedAmerican Viewpoint (R)July 19–21, 2021400 (LV)± 4.9%44%34%12%American Viewpoint (R)American Viewpoint (R)June 1–3, 2021400 (LV)± 4.9%49%34%11%

Susan Wright vs. Jana Sanchez Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error SusanWright (R) JanaSanchez (D) UndecidedData for Progress (D)April 5–12, 2021344 (LV)± 5.0%53%43%5%

Results

By county CountyJake EllzeyRepublicanSusan WrightRepublicanMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Ellis6,78456.68%5,18543.32%1,59913.36%11,969Navarro1,39843.87%1,78956.13%-391-12.27%3,187Tarrant 12,65552.82%11,30547.18%1,3505.63%23,960Totals20,83753.27%18,27946.73%2,5586.54%39,116

Notes

Partisan clients

References

External links Official websites of candidates Jake Ellzey (R) for Congress Susan Wright (R) for Congress