JEFFERSON COUNTY, Texas — After a tightly contested race for Texas House District 21, the battle between Dade Phelan and David Covey has officially ended in a runoff.
"Looks like we're going to a runoff and that just gives us more time to go meet the voters," Covey told 12News.
However, Phelan is also feeling good about his chances.
"Our grassroots effort is un-parallel in I think any legislative race's history," Phelan said.
As to how the runoff will end, Lamar University political science professor, Dr. James Nelson thinks that everything will come down to 3 main issues. The first being school vouchers.
"Covey is a supporter of that plan. Phelan has said he supports the idea in some ways, but was not signing off on the Governor's plan for how to do that," Dr. Nelson said.
Nelsons second issue that needs to be addressed is the cutting of property taxes.
"The state constitution was amended very recently in a way that reduces property tax liability, but some people want to go further with that and that may become a big issue in this campaign as well," Dr. Nelson said.
The final point on Dr. Nelson's list is a hot button topic that has been vigorously debated throughout the entire country, abortion.
"Within the republican primary base there's also a group of voters who are very, very opposed to abortions," said Nelson, "The candidates could be seeking approval from that group as well."
Phelan is hoping to draw in voters by leaning on the work that he has done during his 9 years in office. Saying in part that his campaign has been, and will continue to be about the issues that matter.
Meanwhile, Covey thinks that it is time for a change.
"In the end they are gonna have to decide, do the people like what they've been getting for the last almost decade, or are they ready for change," Covey told 12News.