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The November elections are just around the corner and candidates are hitting the campaign trail.

KHOU-TV

Glenda Dawson's name remains on the November ballot, because she died after the cut-off date to replace her.

But the race for House District 29 won’t be as clear cut as the others.   

The Republican incumbent won’t be stumping for votes, because she died last month.

But her name is still on the ballot.

At the Knight family reunion food, people and games made for the perfect campaign stop.

But Dr. Anthony DiNovo’s opponent in the state representative race for District 29 didn’t make it.

In fact, incumbent Glenda Dawson won’t be campaigning at all.

The Republican from Pearland has passed away.

“I was a little bit surprised at first, but you gotta temper that with the idea that about two of my friends die every month at my practice,” DiNovo said.

Because Dawson’s death came after the cut-off date to replace her, her name continues to be on the ballot.

DiNovo admits he now has a better chance of winning, but it may not be that easy.

“What surprised me is her campaign went on, and it’s something I really didn’t expect,” he said.

He didn’t expect it because Dawson’s campaign party isn’t giving up.

“We decided that we didn’t want to be political, we didn’t want to run a race but we do want to educate,” State Rep. Dennis Bonnen said.

They want to let constituents know that if Dawson is re-elected they will force a special election.

“That means that in the world of politics the republicans have a chance to retain the seat,” 11 News legal expert Gerald Treece said.

“It gives people the choice of having candidates who then decide to run in this position in her absence,” Rep. Bonnen said.

DiNovo hopes it won’t get that far.

“It’ll probably end up being a mess, but I mean, we’ll just have to see if that happens,” he said.

In the meantime the campaign trail goes on.

If Dawson is re-elected, the governor will call a special election in order to name her successor.

Her campaign party said it will happen before the Texas Legislature goes back into session next year.

However, her opponent insists it will be a waste of time and taxpayers' money.