Pete Flores

Uresti resigned from his senate seat after being convicted of federal fraud and money laundering charges in February 2018, and a special election was called.[9][10] Flores ran for the seat again, and in an upset,[11][12][13][14] Flores won the September 18, 2018, special election for state senate district 19 over former state representative and U.S. Congressman Pete Gallego 57% to 43%.[15] Flores took 81% of the Medina County, Texas vote, yielding him a 3,000-vote lead, which Gallego could not overcome.[16] Flores will serve out the next two years and three months of a term formerly held by Uresti.[10] Flores was endorsed by U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, Governor Greg Abbott, and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick.[17] During the campaign he stated that his focus would be property tax reform, economic development, support for law enforcement, support for the unborn, and support for the 2nd Amendment.[5][4]

Flores wants to lower Texas's property taxes. He believes that Texas taxpayers are overtaxed and the current tax rates are unsustainable. He wants to change the way property is being appraised. He wants a uniform methodology of appraisal that is consistent throughout Texas, instead of having 254 different counties using 254 different ways, limiting the role of individual chief appraisers in the each county. He wants the appraisers to be accountable to the voters. He wants the members of the board of appraisal districts to be voted in office, instead of appointed by taxing entities, making them directly accountable to the voters, removing the buffer that separates the taxing entities and the voters that currently exists.[18] He has said, "The system is broken. We need some meaningful tax reform so you and I can keep our houses and we won’t be taxed out of our property. We want to pay our fair share, but it’s not right to have a system that’s not fair and equitable."[19]

Flores identifies as pro-life.[20]