Fort Worth voters chose Democrat Ericka Lomick for Texas House District 93 on Nov. 3, but the race remains unsettled after Republican Alan Blaylock demanded a legal review of her eligibility. Lomick suspended her campaign in late September following accusations that she had been convicted of federal felonies, yet her name stayed on the ballot and she won by a narrow margin of 38,972 to 38,162 votes.
County court action
The Tarrant County Commissioners Court met on Friday to canvass the election results. After discussion, the three‑member panel – County Judge Tim O’Hare, Commissioner Matt Krause and newly elected County Judge Alisa Simmons – voted 3‑0 to accept the results without adding any amendment regarding Lomick’s eligibility. “It doesn’t change anything. The results are canvassed,” O’Hare said.
Blaylock, who did not attend the meeting, issued a release demanding that state officials follow the law and ensure the district is represented by someone legally eligible. “Anything less is a fraud,” he wrote, emphasizing that Texas law provides a process for declaring an ineligible winner and calling a special election.
Legal background
Texas Election Code allows a canvassing authority to declare a candidate ineligible before certifying results. The Texas Constitution further gives the House of Representatives the authority to judge the qualifications of its members, while Article 3, Section 13 requires the governor to call a special election if a vacancy occurs.
Blaylock argued that Lomick’s federal felony convictions – mortgage fraud conspiracy, bank fraud, and money‑laundering conspiracy – disqualify her under state law, which bars anyone convicted of a felony without a pardon or restoration of civil rights from holding public office. He cited a $300,000 federal lien recorded in Tarrant County in 2024 as evidence that restitution remains unpaid.
Democratic response
Allison Campolo, chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party, said she expected the court’s vote and noted that Lomick has already received a welcome letter from House Speaker Dustin Burrows and is preparing to be sworn in when the new session begins in January. “She’s at orientation and ready to be seated as a member of the House,” Campolo said.
Campolo also reported that Lomick’s attorneys claim she has been fully released from the disabilities resulting from her convictions, though she did not provide details on the legal mechanism – whether a pardon, clemency, or a certificate of restoration of civil rights.
Next steps
The dispute now moves to the Texas House, which will determine whether Lomick can legally take the seat. House officials could declare the seat vacant and trigger a special election, or they could accept Lomick’s claim of restored rights and allow her to be sworn in.
Blaylock said he is prepared to make his case to voters again if a new election is called. “This isn’t about party or about me. It’s about following the law and making sure District 93 has a representative who can lawfully serve,” he affirmed.
The outcome will set a precedent for how Texas handles candidates who suspend campaigns after legal challenges, and it underscores the importance of strict adherence to election law to preserve public trust.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
