In what seems like a perpetual election cycle, Texans find themselves yet again about to go to the polls to vote in the Runoff Election for the Republican and Democrat primaries, which took place in early March.
Given the political disposition and history of many districts around the state, the winner of several of these runoff elections likely determines the overall outcome going into the 88th legislative session, set to begin in January of 2023.
The following is not an exhaustive list, but a closer look at many of the more competitive and notable races taking place around the state:
Texas Senate
Senate District 24: Pete Flores vs. Raul Reyes
Texas Senate District 24, is currently represented by outgoing Republican State Sen. Dawn Buckingham (Lakeway) who is currently a Runoff Election candidate for Texas Land Commissioner. The district found its boundaries significantly changed due to the recent decennial redistricting process primarily shifting Southward, and very obviously purposefully including the residence of former Republican State Sen. Pete Flores, who previously represented Texas Senate District 19, before losing his reelection bid to current Democrat State Sen. Roland Guttierez in the 2020 Election Cycle.
During his short tenure in the State Senate, Flores was the recipient of a Fiscal Responsibility Index rating of a lousy 65 out of 100.
Previous Fiscal Responsibility Index Ratings:
- 86th Legislative Session (2019): F – 65/100
Flores heads into the Runoff election being challenged by a former U.S. Congressional candidate and U.S. Air Force veteran Raul Reyes. In the March 2 primary election, Flores received 38,342 votes or 46.1% of the total vote compared to Reyes who received 27,243 votes or 32.7% of the total vote among a total of 3 candidates. Flores boasts the endorsements of former President Donald Trump, both U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, while Reyes has the endorsements of various conservative activist organizations.
Key votes taken in 2019 by Flores resulting in his failing rating:
- Voting in favor of spending Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) or “Rainy Day Fund” money on ongoing expenses, violating Texas Conservative budget limits
- Voting in favor of regulation on the financing of pet purchases
- Voting in favor of raising the smoking age to 21
- Voting in favor of increased regulations on listed family homes
- Voting in favor of expanding the reach of municipal development districts
- Voting in favor of expanding student loan repayment programs
Texas House of Representatives
House District 12: Kyle Kacal (Incumbent) vs. Ben Bius
Texas House District 12, currently represented by Republican State Rep. Kyle Kacal (College Station) found its boundaries significantly changed due to the recent decennial redistricting process. The new boundaries no longer include the portion of McLennan County (Waco) it had or any of either Falls or Limestone Counties. The boundaries moved Southward and now consist of all of Robertson, Madison, Grimes, Walker, and Washington Counties while also maintaining a portion of Brazos County, albeit slightly adjusted.
These boundary alterations have certainly aided in Kacal finding himself in a primary runoff election, however. Kacal is coming off of his fifth legislative session and has consistently found himself at the bottom of the Fiscal Responsibility Index among his Republican colleagues. The most recent legislative session was no different, where he came in dead last compared to the rest of the House Republican Caucus, being rated at an abysmal 28 out of 100 for the 87th legislative session.
Previous Fiscal Responsibility Index Ratings:
- 87th Legislative Session (2021): F – 28/100
- 86th Legislative Session (2019): F – 42/100
- 85th Legislative Session (2017): F – 44/100
- 84th Legislative Session (2015): F – 66/100
- 83rd Legislative Session (2013): F – 34/100
Kacal is being challenged by a former U.S. Congressional candidate and businessman Ben Bius. In the March 2 primary election, Kacal received 11,675 votes or 47% of the total vote compared to Bius who received 10,392 votes or 41.8% of the total vote among a total of 3 candidates. Kacal boasts an endorsement from Gov. Abbott. In the 87th legislative session, Kacal was one of seven total Republican House lawmakers to support legislation seeking to expand Medicaid in Texas, signing on as a joint author, even though it explicitly conflicts with his own political party’s platform which states its direct opposition to such a thing.
Other key votes taken by Kacal resulting in his failing rating:
- Electing Dade Phelan as Speaker of the House
- Voting in favor of allowing Democrat Chairmen in a Republican-majority House of Representatives
- Voting against overriding unconstitutional executive orders
- Voting against an effort to require record votes in House Committees
- Voting in favor of protecting corporate welfare for “Green Energy”
House District 19: Ellen Troxclair vs. Justin Berry
Texas House District 19 was one of several House Districts that found itself completely moved as a result of the recent decennial redistricting process, an example of the growth in population in specific pockets of the state. The district was previously located in East Texas but now encompasses a portion of Central Texas, West of the City of Austin.
The two Republican candidates vying for the position include former Austin City Councilwoman Ellen Troxclair and Austin Police Officer Justin Berry. Both were previously ‘coalition candidates‘ having previously endorsed one another when they announced their candidacies for different districts before the finally approved redistricting boundaries in October. Now they find themselves going head-to-head in a primary runoff election. Berry had unsuccessfully challenged Democrat State Rep. Vikki Goodwin (Austin) to represent House District 47 in the 2020 election cycle.
Troxclair received 12,435 votes or 38.2% of the total vote compared to Berry who received 11,523 votes or 35.4% of the total vote among a total of 4 candidates in the March 2 Primary Election. Berry boasts the endorsement of Gov. Abbott while Troxclair has received the endorsements of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and the other two Republican candidates who lost their bids on primary election day for the seat, Nubia Devine and Perla Hopkins.
House District 60: Glenn Rogers (Incumbent) vs. Mike Olcott
Texas House District 60, currently represented by Republican State Rep. Glenn Rogers (Mineral Wells) is yet another House District that saw its boundaries significantly change due to the recent decennial redistricting process. The boundaries no longer include Callahan, Coleman, Brown, Eastland, or Hood Counties and shrunk to only include Stephens, Palo Pinto, and Parker Counties.
Rogers is coming off of his first legislative session where he received a detestable rating on the Fiscal Responsibility Index, being rated in the bottom tier compared to his Republican colleagues with a 45 out of 100 for the 87th legislative session.
Previous Fiscal Responsibility Index Ratings:
- 87th Legislative Session (2021): F – 45/100
Rogers finds himself heading to the Runoff Election challenged by conservative activist and research scientist retiree Mike Olcott. In the March 2 primary election, Rogers received 12,229 votes or 43.7% of the total vote compared to Olcott who received 10,086 votes or 36.1% of the total vote, among a total of 4 candidates. Rogers boasts an endorsement from Gov. Abbott while Olcott has received the endorsements of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and several conservative activist organizations.
Key votes taken by Rogers resulting in his failing rating:
- Electing Dade Phelan as Speaker of the House
- Voting in favor of allowing Democrat Chairmen in a Republican-majority House of Representatives
- Voting against overriding unconstitutional executive orders
- Voting against an effort to require record votes in House Committees
- Voting in favor of new burdensome occupational licensing schemes
- Voting in favor of protecting corporate welfare for “Green Energy”
House District 91: Stephanie Klick (Incumbent) vs. David Lowe
Texas House District 91, currently represented by Republican State Rep. Stephanie Klick (Fort Worth) found its boundaries only slightly altered due to the recent decennial redistricting process. The new boundaries are still wholly in Tarrant County and include Haltom City and North Richland Hills.
Klick is coming off of her fifth legislative session and has consistently found herself trending downward on the Fiscal Responsibility Index, which unfortunately seems to be all too common of a theme for many lawmakers who serve for extended periods of time. In the most recent legislative session, Klick was rated as having a horrid 54 out of 100, or in the ‘middle-of-the-pack’ when compared to the rest of her colleagues in the House Republican Caucus.
Previous Fiscal Responsibility Index Ratings:
- 87th Legislative Session (2021): F – 54/100
- 86th Legislative Session (2019): F – 56/100
- 85th Legislative Session (2017): C+ – 76/100
- 84th Legislative Session (2015): A – 90/100
- 83rd Legislative Session (2013): A+ – 99/100
Klick is being challenged by U.S. Army veteran David Lowe. In the March 2 primary election, Klick received 6,426 votes or 49% of the total vote compared to Lowe who received 5,116 votes or 39% of the total vote among a total of 5 candidates. Klick boasts an endorsement from Gov. Abbott while Lowe has endorsements from two of the three other Republican candidates who lost their bids on primary election day for the seat, Anthony Reed and David Silvey among other conservative activist organizations. In the 87th legislative session, Klick was chairman of the House Public Health Committee which oversaw legislation like that of the Texas Heartbeat Bill as well as what many conservative activists believe was purposeful inaction on legislation related to prohibiting gender modification of children, another legislative priority of the Republican Party of Texas.
Key votes taken by Klick resulting in her failing rating:
- Electing Dade Phelan as Speaker of the House
- Voting in favor of allowing Democrat Chairmen in a Republican-majority House of Representatives
- Voting against overriding unconstitutional executive orders
- Voting against an effort to require record votes in House Committees
- Voting in favor of new burdensome occupational licensing schemes
House District 93: Laura Hill vs. Nate Schatzline
Texas House District 93 is currently represented by outgoing Republican State Rep. Matt Krause (Haslet), who is a current candidate for Tarrant County District Attorney after being a short-lived candidate for Texas Attorney General. The district was slightly altered as a result of the recent decennial redistricting process, losing portions of the City of Fort Worth and all of its portion of the City of Arlington.
The two Republican candidates vying for the position include former Southlake City Mayor Laura Hill and local activist Nate Schatzline.
In the March 2 Primary Election, Schatzline received 5,033 votes or 43.5% of the total vote compared to Hill who received 4,238 votes or 36.6% of the total vote among a total of 3 candidates. Schatzline boasts an endorsement from outgoing State Rep. Matt Krause while Hill has received the endorsement of Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan.
House District 122: Elisa Chan vs. Mark Dorazio
Texas House District 122 is currently represented by outgoing Republican State Rep. Lyle Larson (San Antonio). The district was slightly altered as a result of the recent decennial redistricting process, extending slightly Westward in Bexar County and losing a portion of Northeast Bexar County.
The two Republican candidates vying for the position include former San Antonio City Councilwoman Elisa Chan and former Bexar County GOP Chairman and State Republican Executive Committeeman Mark Dorazio.
In the March 2 Primary Election, Chan received 7,452 votes or 37.1% of the total vote compared to Dorazio who received 5,519 votes or 27.4% of the total vote among a total of 4 candidates. Chan boasts an endorsement from Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan while Dorazio has received the endorsement of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and one of the former candidates in the March 2 primary election, Mark Cuthbert, as well as several conservative activist organizations.
Election Day
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) wanted to remind Texans that the early voting period for the Primary Runoff Election is set to take place between Monday, May 16, and Friday, May 20. Election day itself is set to take place on Tuesday, May 24.
Texas taxpayers should be aware of a tremendous resource made available to them in the Fiscal Responsibility Index. TFR spent hundreds of hours analyzing votes that your lawmakers take and we have condensed them into an easily understandable metric that is available for anyone to use. We recommend that you take a look at how fiscally responsible your lawmaker is before casting your ballot in the upcoming primary runoff election.
