Credit union-supported candidates saw several victories in primary elections Maine and runoff elections in Alabama in Texas Tuesday. Candidates were backed by state credit union Leagues and CUNA’s political action committee, the Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC).

Former Congressman Pete Sessions defeated challenger Renee Swann with 53.5% of the vote. Sessions previously served in Congress from 1997 to 2019 (including representing Texas’ 32^nd Congressional district from 2003 to 2019) before being defeated by Rep. Colin Allred (D).

Sessions will face Democrat Rich Kennedy in November’s election to represent Texas’ 17^th Congressional District, which is currently held by Rep. Bill Flores (R), who will not seek re-election.

Sessions, former chair of the House Rules Committee, was a strong credit union supporter during his time in Congress, including sponsoring CUNA-backed mortgage regulatory relief legislation that passed the House in 2017. 

In the Republican runoff for Alabama’s 1^st Congressional District, credit union-backed Jerry Carl defeated challenger Bill Hightower with 52% of the vote. He will run in November to fill the seat left open by Rep. Bradley Byrne, who will not seek re-election.

Carl, a Mobile County commissioner, will face Democrat James Averhart in November. 

In Maine, Sen. Susan Collins (R) won her primary, and will seek a fifth term against Democratic challenger Sara Gideon in November.

Collins is a strong credit union champion, meeting regularly with the Maine Credit Union League and introducing Paycheck Protection Program, elder abuse prevention and federal rulemaking legislation, in addition to supporting legislation to increase the member business lending cap and other regulatory relief. 

In the Maine House races, two credit union-backed incumbents won in uncontested primaries, Reps. Chellie Pingree (D) and Jared Golden (D).

As of July 14, credit union-supported candidates have won 254 races nationwide.

CUNA’s elections homepage, CUNA.org/elections, will continue to be updated after each primary with the results of races featuring CULAC-backed candidates.