8 Candidates Vying To Replace Convicted Texas State Senator
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Eight candidates are competing in a bipartisan special election to replace Democratic Texas state Sen. Carlos Uresti, who stepped down in June after being sentenced to 12 years in prison on federal fraud charges.
Uresti's term doesn't expire until 2020 and his San Antonio district is heavily Democratic. But with such a crowded field, no candidate may win a majority, forcing a runoff.
Tuesday's best known hopefuls are Democrats Roland Gutierrez, a current state representative, and Pete Gallego, a former, longtime state House lawmaker who served one term in Congress. Also running is Republican Pete Flores, who Uresti beat in 2016.
Uresti was convicted of 11 felonies stemming from being general counsel and partial owner of an oilfield service company -- FourWinds Logistics -- that prosecutors say operated a Ponzi scheme to defraud investors.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)