Easily defeating three primary opponents, Moran received 63 percent of the vote compared to second place finisher Joe McDaniel’s 24 percent, A.D. Atholi’s 8 percent, and John Porro’s 5 percent.
“It’s official! I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the Republican nominee to represent East Texas in Congress,” Moran told supporters in a social media post just after midnight.
“Thank you to my family and supporters for everything you have done over the last several months. I’m ready to go to Congress to represent our East Texas values of Faith, Freedom, and Family.”
Jrmar Jefferson and Victor D. Dunn advanced to the May 24 runoff for the Democratic nomination. However, neither candidate is likely to win in the heavily Republican district.
CD 1 is rated R-74% on The Texan’s Texas Partisan Index. Gohmert has represented the East Texas district since 2005.
Though Moran had faced criticism for his stay-at-home order in Smith County at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he received the backing of conservative interest groups.
Moran also outraised his opponents by a long shot, reporting $196,372 in contributions in the last campaign finance report before primary day. Atholi reported $21,578, Porro reported $10,546, and McDaniel did not file a report.
Attorney General Ken Paxton and Land Commissioner George P. Bush will compete in the runoff for attorney general. Paxton and Bush defeated Gohmert and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman.
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Hayden Sparks
Hayden Sparks is a senior reporter for The Texan and a lifelong resident of the Lone Star State. He has coached competitive speech and debate and has been involved in politics since a young age. One of Hayden's favorite quotes is by Sam Houston: "Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may."
