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Voters go to polls Tuesday in race between Shelley Luther, Drew Springer for North Texas senate seat

The seat is being vacated by Sen. Pat Fallon, a Republican who is running for Congress.

AUSTIN — Voters go to the polls Tuesday to choose a new state senator in North Texas.

Dallas hair salon owner Shelley Luther, state Rep. Drew Springer and Denton Mayor Chris Watts — all Republicans — are among six candidates vying to win in the solidly red district. The others include business owner Craig Carter of Nocona and software engineer Andy Hopper of Decatur, both of whom are running as Republicans. Jacob Minter, an electrician from Anna, is the lone Democrat.

Special elections typically draw low turnout and with so many candidates, the race could be pushed into a runoff.

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The winner will replace outgoing Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper, who is running for Congress.

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The mostly rural Senate District 30 wraps around Dallas-Fort Worth to the northwest and includes parts of Collin and Denton counties.

While the seat will likely remain in Republican hands, leaving the party’s majority in the state Senate intact, the winner could affect the tone in the chamber.

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Luther, who made national headlines for defying coronavirus shutdown orders, has during the campaign jabbed Gov. Greg Abbott for his handling of the pandemic. Her bid for the seat is backed by a $1 million loan from conservative megadonor Tim Dunn.

Springer of Muenster boasts endorsements from dozens of fellow GOP lawmakers, including Fallon. Springer emerged from quarantine recently and posted a picture from the campaign trail. He had been at home after his wife tested positive for COVID-19.

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By Sept. 25, about 40,800 voters had cast a ballot in the special election, according to state voting data. The polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The date for a runoff election, should the need arise, would be set by Abbott.