House Ways and Means Committee chairman Kevin Brady avoided a runoff in his Texas primary Tuesday night, ensuring that he will survive a stiff challenge from three other candidates.
The Republican narrowly cleared the 50 percent hurdle for winning without a runoff, priming him for an 11th term in Congress, the Associated Press projected late Tuesday night.
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Brady staved off former Marine Craig McMichael, former state representative Steve Toth and retired Army officer Andre Dean, all of whom had criticized Brady as failing to be conservative enough and had refrained from attacking each other in hopes of ousting him.
Brady’s victory in the Houston-area 8th Congressional District means that he will continue to serve atop the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over taxes, health care, Social Security, trade and a number of other important government functions.
The Texan, generally rated highly by conservative groups, took over the committee’s gavel in November after Wisconsin representative Paul Ryan left it to become speaker of the House.
He is in the middle of an effort to reform how multinational corporations are taxed, and has his eyes set on a longer-term effort to overhaul the entire tax code. His committee has also begun work on reforming the welfare system, and will be in the middle of a number of other important legislative debates later this year and next.
In part because of his important position on the committee, Brady built up a reported $1.5 million campaign war chest, far outstripping his opponents.
