Rep. Justin Holland has represented Texas House District 33 since 2016. But keeping that seat may be a challenge.
The Rockwall Republican cast some controversial votes last session. He voted in favor of a bill that would have raised the age to purchase assault rifles from 18 to 21 if passed. He also voted for impeaching Attorney General Ken Paxton and against Gov. Greg Abbott鈥檚 school voucher program.
Abbott鈥檚 fight to pass what he calls "school choice" failed in the legislature 鈥� so he took it to the voting booth. He supported several primary challengers of incumbent Republicans who didn鈥檛 vote for what people who oppose Abbott's plan call school vouchers. He also endorsed Holland鈥檚 challenger, Katrina Pierson, in the runoff. Paxton endorsed her before the March primary.
Holland has faced backlash for his controversial votes. The Rockwall County Republican Party chapter condemned Holland on social media before the March primary, saying he went against Republican priorities.
Pierson, a former Trump campaign spokesperson, said voters in the district made it clear they don鈥檛 support Holland鈥檚 decisions during the primary.
鈥淲hen you turn your back on voters, they tend to not like that very much,鈥� she said.
Pierson got about 40% of the vote in March 鈥� Holland got 39%. A third candidate, Dennis London, received around 22%. He鈥檚 not on the ballot for the runoff.
Abbott has said he needs Pierson鈥檚 help to pass school choice 鈥� something Holland said he still won鈥檛 support.
鈥淯ltimately, I feel like this will eventually harm public schools from a funding perspective,鈥� he said.
Holland said the legislature needs to focus on paying teachers more and increasing school funding.
Supporters of school voucher programs say they don鈥檛 take money away from public schools. Colleen Dippel, the founder and CEO of Families Empowered, said it gives parents the freedom and resources to decide what鈥檚 best for their child regardless of family income. The Texas organization guides parents through their search for educational options for students from pre-K to 12th grade.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to trust them,鈥� Dippel said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to empower them to have the opportunity to all have access to the same choices.鈥�
The Family Empowerment Coalition Political Action Committee has donated to several Texas candidates that support school choice 鈥� including Pierson. She has also received donations from Texans United for a Conservative Majority.
The PAC was created by two the same West Texas billionaires who also founded the Defend Texas Liberty PAC. The leader of that PAC, Jonathan Stickland, was removed as president after he met with white supremacist Nick Fuentes.
Trace Johannesen, the mayor of Rockwall, said PACs and statewide officials weighing in on the runoff don鈥檛 have best interests of district 33 residents in mind.
鈥淗ow could they possibly know a thing about Rockwall?鈥� Johannesen said.
Johannesen has endorsed Holland for reelection. The Rockwall Republican said he doesn鈥檛 usually endorse candidates. But Johannesen said he鈥檚 frustrated with the growing division in the Republican party.
He said Holland鈥檚 race is a symptom of that problem.
鈥淥ur party is being divided, and that's not how our party supposed to work,鈥� Johannesen said.
But Pierson said the fact that Abbott and Paxton have endorsed her shows that she鈥檚 the true conservative in the race 鈥� something she said will benefit her in one of the most conservative districts in Texas.
鈥淭he fact that there's not even a Democrat running tells you that,鈥� Pierson said.
No Democratic candidate means whoever wins this runoff is the presumed winner in November鈥檚 general election. And that person鈥檚 vote could tip the balance for 鈥� or against 鈥� school choice in Texas.
Early voting starts May 20 and goes until May 24. Election day is May 28.
Got a tip? Email Caroline Love at clove@kera.org.
Caroline Love is a corps member for 四虎影院.
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