Congressional candidate Laura Moser and family Image by Fred Guerrier

By Dave Goldiner March 7, 2018

Laura Moser, a Jewish writer and anti-Trump activist, booked a spot in a Democratic primary runoff in a Houston area Congressional seat.

Moser, who has contributed to the Forward, came in second place in a free-for-all race to face incumbent Republican John Culberson, who is considered a top national target as Democrats seek to retake the House of Representatives in the midterm elections.

With almost all precincts reporting, Moser had 24% of the vote. Rival Lizzie Fletcher had 29%.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis of the crisis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Moser was ahead of two other challengers, Jason Westin and Alex Triantaphyllis

The top two vote-getters will square off in a May run-off to determine who will take on Culberson in the 7th District that stretches west from Houston into wealthy suburbs.

Long a GOP stronghold, the district turned sharply against Donald Trump in 2016, leading Democrats to eye it as a prime pick-up possibility in November.

The Democratic establishment took the controversial step of blasting Moser as a “Washington insider,” noting that she only returned to her hometown in the area to run for the seat. Progressives said the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee should stay out of intramural primary fights and stick to supporting the eventual winner in the fall.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount