Thread by @TexasTribune

1/ Today is the special election runoff for Texas House District 28, a battleground race that's gotten lots of attention (and money) from national Democrats.

Here's what you need to know about it. bit.ly/2O7A2ut

2/ This is a special election to fill the seat of former Republican Rep. John Zerwas, who won reelection in 2018 by 8 percentage points while @betoorourke lost the suburban Houston district by 3. bit.ly/2O7A2ut

@BetoORourke 3/ Why does this matter?

In addition to holding on to the 12 seats Democrats flipped in 2018, the party only needs to pick up nine in 2020 to win control of the Texas House. #tx2020 #txlege bit.ly/2vvxsbd

@BetoORourke 4/ Democratic candidate Eliz Markowitz is running against self-funding Republican Gary Gates.

At least three presidential candidates have come to Markowitz's aid, and state and national groups have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into her race. bit.ly/37KyePX

@BetoORourke 5/ Super PAC @forwardmajority, easily the biggest known outside spender in the race, spent over $400,000 on TV and digital ads, mailing and polling.

One TV ad highlighted a child-abuse case that has followed Gates through his several runs for office. bit.ly/315F1RI

@BetoORourke @ForwardMajority 6/ This activity might lead you to believe that #HD28 is the most competitive seat that Democrats are targeting in their quest to flip the Texas House — but it's actually far down the list of 22 seats that they have designated as pickup opportunities. bit.ly/2O7A2ut

@BetoORourke @ForwardMajority 7/ Still, today's result is highly anticipated.

The outcome will no doubt amplify discussion around the political potency of @betoorourke, who has gone all-in with efforts to flip the seat. bit.ly/2O7A2ut

@BetoORourke @ForwardMajority 8/ Republicans, meanwhile, are voicing confidence about the race after the early-vote period, raising the prospect of a decisive win that would deliver an early blow to Democrats' hopes of flipping the House. bit.ly/2O7A2ut

@BetoORourke @ForwardMajority 9/9 The four-day early voting period ended Friday, and turnout was 16,332, which blew past that of the November special election, which drew 14,270 voters.

Follow @patricksvitek and stay tuned to our website to read our reporting on tonight's results. bit.ly/2O7A2ut