Abbott endorses Michael Cloud to finish term of disgraced congressman

Appearing eager to avoid a potentially expensive runoff for a special election in a coastal congressional district hard hit by Hurricane Harvey, Gov. Greg Abbott has endorsed Michael Cloud in the nine-way race to finish out the term of a disgraced former congressman.

With the resignation of former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, in April, in the wake of revelations that he had used taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment claim leveled by one of his congressional staffers, Abbott had used his emergency powers related to disaster relief to call the Saturday special election to fill out Farenthold’s term.

The Abbott endorsement comes after Cloud, the former chairman of the Victoria County GOP, won the backing of Bech Bruun, Cloud’s chief Republican primary opponent. In May, Cloud beat Bruun decisively in the runoff to be the Republican nominee in the conservative district in the November general election.

“With Michael Cloud, the voters of the 27th District will be sending a proven conservative to Washington who will represent their interests and restore integrity to the office,” Abbott said in a video endorsement message.

Abbott said he called the election to make sure the district had a voice in Washington as it vies for Harvey relief money, but critics of the election, including Farenthold, said it’s unnecessary and costly. The election could cost as much as $200,000. And if none of the nine candidates wins more than 50 percent of the vote, the 13 counties in the district, including Bastrop and Caldwell, will have to pay again to hold a runoff, likely in September.

Read more: https://www.mystatesman.com/news/abbott-endorses-michael-cloud-finish-term-disgraced-congressman/Dx1INCLessuMFlknz7GymN/

No thank you, Gov. Abbott. I will be voting for the Democratic nominee, Eric Holguin, to replace "Duck-Jammies" Farenthold.