A candidate running for governor of Texas has been removed from the 2018 Democratic Party primary ballot after her check covering her filing fee bounced.
According to a candidate listing from the Texas Secretary of State's office, Demetria Smith, a Houston resident running against Governor Greg Abbott, was declared ineligible by the Texas Democratic Party to appear on the March 6th primary ballot. A representative for the Texas Democratic Party confirmed to Texas media outlets this week that Smith was dropped from the ballot after her $3,750 check for a spot on the ballot bounced.
The filing deadline for candidates to file for a spot on the ballot was December 11th. According to the San Angelo Standard-Times, Smith filed on the final day of the candidate filing period and was informed this week that she had been removed from the ballot. However, Smith did participate in a candidate forum hosted by the Tom Green County Democratic Party earlier this week.
As of Thursday evening, Smith's social media pages promoting her campaign were still active and a meet and greet event was still planned for January 14th.
With Smith's exit from the race, nine Democrats are left vying for the party's nomination for governor. Those still in the running for the Democratic Party's nomination are: former Dallas County sheriff Lupe Valdez; Houston businessman Andrew White; Dallas businessman Jeffrey Payne; San Antonio hospice owner Tom Wakely; retired teacher Grady Yarbrough; former Balch Springs mayor Cedric Davis; Joe Mumbach; Adrian Ocegueda and James Jolly Clark.
The remaining candidates for the party's nomination will meet in the March 6th Democratic Party primary election. If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, the top two contenders will meet in a May runoff.
Photo by Smith Campaign