Who out of 18 candidates will succeed Lamar Smith? CD 21 forum makes picture clearer

The Travis County Republican Party and the Hays County Republican Party teamed up to provide a candidate forum for Congressional District 21. Congressman Lamar Smith is stepping down after this term, and 18 candidates have rushed to fill his shoes in the GOP primary. 

While forums like these have taken place more than once in the heart of the district, up in the eastern "peninsula" -- population-heavy but removed by distance -- meeting the candidates can be a trick. So the Hays GOP and the Travis GOP met on the county line (at the TDS Exotic Game Ranch -- the most creative use of a landfill you'll ever see) to host the event on Thursday, Feb. 1.  Twelve showed up, which isn't bad at all considering the large field.

You can watch the archived Facebook livestream here.

"With Travis County comprising a small but heavily populated corner of CD 21, it only made sense to join with our friends in Hays County so the voters in the southern portion of the Austin metro area can have a single event to attend," said Travis GOP Chairman Matt Mackowiak in a press release.

Candidates (in Travis GOP ballot order) who attended were: Chip Roy, Ivan Andarza, Susan Narvaiz, Samuel Temple, William Negley, Jason Isaac, Al Poteet, Ryan Krause, Peggy Wardlaw, Jenifer Sarver, Robert Stovall, Francisco "Quico" Canseco, Anthony White, and Matt McCall.  Eric Burkhart, Mauro Garza, Autry Pruitt, and Foster Hagen did not attend.

Half the size of Massachusetts, but kinda looks like it.

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Photo credit: "Paparazzo Bob" Green
Map image credit: Wikipedia (I know, I know ...)