Texans Vote To Fill Seat Left By Congressman Who Died After Coronavirus Diagnosis

Texans around Dallas will go to the polls on Saturday to fill the seat of the late Rep. Ron Wright, deciding between a field of 23 candidates — including Wright's widow — to replace the Republican in the state's 6th Congressional District.

Wright, a second-term congressman, died in February after being diagnosed with the coronavirus. He was the first sitting member of Congress to have died of the virus.

Now, the race to fill his seat has become one of the year's most closely watched contests, representing the changing demographics of many suburban congressional districts in the South, and the influence of former President Donald Trump.

Recent polls show Susan Wright, wife of the late congressman, narrowly leading the pack. But neither she nor the next leading candidate, Democrat Jana Lynne Sanchez, appear set to capture the majority of votes required to win the seat outright.