Longtime Republicans vs. newcomer Democrats.
That matchup will determine the winner Tuesday of an open Dallas legislative seat after an increasingly expensive race between two University Park lawyers, Morgan Meyer and Leigh Bailey.
Their supporters are energized. More people have voted early at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, an early polling site near House District 108, than at any other in Dallas County.
Meyer, 40, the Republican, has the apparent edge in the GOP-heavy district, which his party has held for more than 10 years. It covers central Dallas, the M Streets, Park Cities and Preston Hollow.
Bailey, 35, the Democrat, has been trying to turn out the area’s new and sporadic voters.
She spent $92,000 on campaign advertisements over the last month. She sent eight mailers, including two that criticized Meyer’s positions on abortion and fair pay for women.
Meyer spent $27,000 on ads and mailers during that period — but his campaign manager said that doesn’t include final billing for several mailers.
He burned through nearly a half-a-million dollars in donations in a tough GOP primary and runoff for the seat, vacated when Rep. Dan Branch decided to run for attorney general.
In the final weeks, Meyer’s campaign has called and emailed voters. He’s knocked on doors and greeted early voters at the polls.
He’s sought support from Park Cities parents. Two of his children attend a Highland Park ISD elementary school.
His wife, Keana Meyer, mobilized moms with a coffee tailgate in the parking lot of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Thursday, she handed out Halloween candy there to voters’ kids.
“The overwhelming support we’ve seen in the primary is certainly carrying over to the general [election],” Meyer said. “They are coming out and continuing to vote for us. We keep saying third time is the charm.”
Bailey has focused in part on overlooked voters and changing neighborhoods, such as Uptown and downtown Dallas. Her campaign teamed up with Battleground Texas, a group that aims to make the state more competitive for Democrats.
Bailey said she’s reached out to “drop-off voters” who usually take part only in presidential elections.
“For a lot of these voters, this is the first time a candidate has knocked on their door,” she said. “This is the first time they’ve heard from a woman who trusts women to make health care decisions and grew up in this area.”
Bailey sent mailers that describe her as an advocate for education and women’s issues. In one, she said Meyer’s policies “would set Texas women back decades.”
On abortion, Bailey supports it. Meyer opposes it in all instances, except when the life of the woman is in danger.
Meyer said he favors a state law that requires abortion clinics to meet the building, equipment and staffing standards of hospital-style surgery centers. Bailey said those rules are too harsh and have forced widespread closure of abortion and health care facilities in Texas.
In mailers and on social media, Bailey knocked Meyer for opposing fair pay laws, aimed at abolishing wage disparity based on sex.
Meyer said he would back an equal pay bill, if it doesn’t duplicate federal law.
Meyer’s wife sought to rebut Bailey’s criticism. In a mailer, Keana Meyer says “no one is more supportive of equal pay than my husband.”
The two also differ over same-sex marriage, raising the minimum wage and whether Texas should issue driver’s permits to undocumented immigrants — Bailey favors all three, Meyer is opposed.
They also disagree on whether Texas should take federal money to expand Medicaid under the new health care law. Bailey supports doing so, and Meyer backs Gov. Rick Perry’s decision to decline the funds.
Both candidates will take a break for Halloween.
Bailey said she will hand out candy at home while her daughter trick-or-treats in a pirate costume with her husband, Vincent Carrizales. Her infant son will dress in a jack-o’-lantern outfit.
Meyer said he’ll take his kids treat-or-treating. His daughters will be a werewolf girl and Greek goddess. His toddler son will be dressed as his campaigning father — in a miniature suit, nametag and tie.
“He’s not a big fan of the tie, so we’re going to have to work on that,” Meyer said.
On Twitter: @melissa_repko
