![The Sergeant at Arms of the Texas House removes state Rep. Brian Slaton's name card from the House voting board after the House voted to expel Slaton at the state Capitol in Austin on May 9, 2023.](https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/BuBcoyHm_WOAYH6bMKEdEOjC8aY=/1200x804/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f6e86af02814a4f68c56e05728e2b585/0509%20Slaton%20Expelled%20EL%20TT%2003.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that Nov. 7 will be the date of a special election to fill the seat of disgraced former state Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City.
The House voted to expel Slaton less than a month ago after an internal investigation found he had sex with a 19-year-old aide after getting her drunk.
The candidate filing deadline for the special election is Sept. 6, with early voting to start Oct. 23.
Nov. 7 is already the date of local elections across Texas, including the Houston mayoral contest.
The seat in House District 2 is solidly Republican and covers three rural counties in Northeast Texas.
At least five Republicans have already announced they are running — Jill Dutton, president of the Republican Women of Van Zandt; Heath Hyde, a Sulphur Springs lawyer; Brent Money, a Greenville lawyer; Doug Roszhart, vice chair of the Hunt County GOP; and Buck VanTrease, a veterinarian from Wills Point.
The House unanimously voted to expel Slaton on May 9. He was the first member of the Texas Legislature to be removed from office since 1927. Slaton submitted his resignation a day earlier, but the House moved forward with expulsion anyway.
Stories like the one you just read come to life at The Texas Tribune Festival, the Tribune’s annual celebration of big, bold ideas happening Sept. 21-23 in downtown Austin. For just a little bit longer you can grab a discounted ticket to this year's event, but act fast — savings end on May 31! Buy now and save.