Are you ready for the weekend? Here's what made the news this week on Teach the Vote:

• ELECTION UPDATE: Runoff spots settled in Senate District 1

• News from the nation's capital: major hearing next week on Social Security and a new Secretary of Education

• Other upcoming hearings planned

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One of the most closely watched races during the March 1 Republican primary election in Texas was the contest to succeed retiring Sen. Kevin Eltife (R) in Senate District 1. In the four-man primary race, current state representative Bryan Hughes (R) earned the most votes with 48 percent (63,844 votes), but he fell short of winning the primary outright. Next came an effort to determine which candidate would secure the second place spot and a berth in the May 24 runoff election. On election night, current state representative David Simpson (R) appeared to have edged out James K. “Red” Brown (R) by only 13 votes, which prompted nearly two weeks' worth of analysis to ensure that all provisional and military ballots were properly counted. As the process played out, Simpson and Brown exchanged positions several times with single digit margins separating the two. Ultimately, it was announced earlier this week that the counts were complete and that Simpson would keep his spot in the runoff, again by a margin of only 13 votes. In the end, Simpson carried 28,288 votes, while Brown had 28,275. Brown, who had earned several major endorsements including one from Texas Parent PAC, declined an opportunity to request a full recount, which clears the way for Simpson and Hughes to face off in May. Another Republican primary runoff continues to capture media attention in Texas and beyond. This week, the Texas Observer published an article with more information about Mary Lou Bruner (R), who nearly won the primary election outright for SBOE District 9 but instead is facing a runoff against Keven Ellis (R). Bruner has made headlines nationally for her extremist views on education and controversial remarks often delivered via social media. In yesterday's article, Patrick Michels writes about the support that Don McLeroy, another controversial and polarizing political figure who once held the same seat on the SBOE and even chaired the board before being ousted by incumbent Thomas Ratliff (R), has expressed toward Bruner. McLeroy is quoted in the article as comparing Bruner to himself and saying, "I think she'll be a great asset," if elected to serve on the SBOE. Visit our 2016 Races pages to view profiles of all candidates in races that have resulted in primary election runoffs, as well as candidates who will be on the ballot in November for seats in the Texas Legislature or State Board of Education.  

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We've been reporting extensively this week on the major news of a hearing in Washington, D.C. next week to discuss Social Security. The U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security will meet Tuesday, March 22, to discuss Social Security laws and their impact on public employees. Part of the discussion Tuesday will be about legislation filed by Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX) to get rid of a harmful offset provision that causes many public sector employees, including educators, to have their Social Security benefits reduced when they reach retirement age. Read ATPE Lobbyist Josh Sanderson's blog post this week about H.R. 711, the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act and how it would help educators upon retirement. Sanderson will be attending the Tuesday morning hearing along with ATPE's Washington-based lobby team. They'll also be meeting with members of the Texas congressional delegation to ask for their support of H.R. 711. Thirteen members of our state's congressional delegation have not yet pledged their support for H.R. 711, and we encourage you to contact them. Read yesterday's blog post for more detail, along with the phone numbers where you can reach those 13 members of Congress. Stay tuned to Teach the Vote for updates from Washington next week. In other national education news, the U.S. Senate voted this week to confirm the nomination of Dr. John B. King as the new U.S. Secretary of Education. Check out ATPE Lobbyist Kate Kuhlmann's blog post from earlier this week to learn more about King.  

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A number of hearings are the calendar in the next few weeks that relate to public education, including interim legislative hearings and another meeting of the state commission that is examining student testing and accountability.

• On Monday, March 21, the Senate Select Committee on Property Tax Reform & Relief is meeting in Lubbock, Texas. The hearing will examine two interim charges relating to property taxes, which are the primary means that public schools receive their funding.
• The calendar for Tuesday, March 22, includes two congressional hearings of interest. Of course, one is the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security meeting that we've already discussed in greater detail above. Also taking place that same day in Washington is a meeting of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce to discuss the topic, "Strengthening Education Research and Privacy Protections to Better Serve Students."
• On Wednesday, March 23, it's time for another meeting of the Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessments and Accountability to be held in Austin at the Texas Education Agency's headquarters. The agenda includes a discussion of the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which reauthorized the primary federal education law known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
• If you live in the Amarillo area, consider registering to attend the State Board of Education's next community conversation event on Thursday evening, March 24. Click here to find a registration link and more details on this opportunity to discuss testing and accountability with members of your community and state officials.
• On March 29, there will be a joint hearing with the Senate Education Committee and Senate Higher Education Committee to discuss interim charges relating to educator preparation and teacher shortages, along with preparing high school students for post-secondary education and workforce training.
• Taxes will again be the topic of discussion, along with budget strategies, when the Senate Finance Committee meets on Wednesday, March 30, in Austin.
• Later in March and April, we'll bring you details on upcoming meetings of the Joint Committee on TRS Health Benefit Plans.

As always, stay tuned to Teach the Vote for updates and follow us on Twitter for the very latest news from our ATPE lobby team.