Last Updated on March 2, 2022
U.S. Rep. Van Taylor will square off against former Collin County Judge Keith Self in a May 24 run-off election after the incumbent narrowly missed the threshold required to avoid such a scenario. Taylor’s election woes come just days after National File’s bombshell story revolving around an alleged extramarital affair between Taylor and former “ISIS bride” Tania Joya. A banking statement obtained by Breitbart News allegedly demonstrates that Taylor paid Joya $5,000 in order to keep her quiet.
Roughly 800 votes kept Taylor just short of the 50% required to avoid a runoff. The incumbent faced four primary challengers, with the most notable being former Collin County Judge Keith Self and businesswoman Suzanne Harp. Self ultimately edged out Harp for second place and will challenge Taylor in the runoff after garnering 27.1% of the vote to Harp’s 20.43%. Taylor, the incumbent, received 48.81% of the vote.
In addition to the recent ISIS bride scandal, Van Taylor was targeted for his voting record. The congressman voted to certify the 2020 election and was also one of 35 Republicans to vote for the establishment of a January 6 commission.
In other notable Texas races, Republican Reps. Dan Crenshaw and Chip Roy survived primary challenges. Texas Governor Greg Abbott also survived his primary after beating out challengers Allen West and Don Huffines.
Additionally, incumbent Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was forced into a run-off with George Prescott Bush. Trailing at a distant fourth place was U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, who launched a late bid for the AG position in November. Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran handily won the GOP primary for Gohmert’s TX-1 seat.
