Texas' 13th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Republican primary)
- Primary date: March 3
- Primary type: Open
- Registration deadline(s): Feb. 3
- Online registration: No
- Same-day registration: No
- Early voting starts: Feb. 18
- Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): March 3 (postmarked); March 4 (received)
- Voter ID: Photo ID
- Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Josh Winegarner and Ronny Jackson advanced to a July 14 runoff from a field of 15 candidates in the Republican primary for Texas' 13th Congressional District on March 3, 2020. The winner of the runoff advanced to the general election on November 3, 2020. Winegarner received 38.8% of the vote to Jackson's 19.9%. The only other candidate who received more than 10% of the vote was Chris Ekstrom. Incumbent Mac Thornberry (R), who was first elected in 1994, announced in September 2019 that he would not seek re-election.[1]
Media coverage and endorsements focused on six candidates: Ekstrom, Lee Harvey, Elaine Hays, Jackson, Vance Snider II, and Winegarner.
President Donald Trump (R) and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) endorsed Jackson. Thornberry and U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) endorsed Winegarner, and U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Ron Wright (R-Texas), and Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) endorsed Ekstrom. Former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) endorsed Hays.
According to financial reports through the end of 2019, Ekstrom led the candidates in total receipts with around $531,000. He loaned $500,000 to his campaign.[2] Winegarner followed with $345,000 in total receipts, and all other candidates reported less than $100,000.[3]
The following candidates also ran in the primary: Catherine Carr, Jamie Culley, Jason Foglesong, Richard Herman, Diane Knowlton, Matt McArthur, Mark Neese, Asusena Resendiz, and Monique Worthy.
Thornberry won his last election in 2018 by a margin of victory of 65 percentage points. Major race rating outlets rated the general election as solid Republican or safe Republican. The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+33, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 33 percentage points more Republican than the national average. Click here to learn more about what's at stake in the general election.
Click on candidate names below to view their key messages:
 Ekstrom |
 Harvey |
 Hays |
 Jackson |
 Snider |
 Winegarner |
For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
For more information about the general election, click here.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Texas modified its primary election process as follows:
- Election postponements: The primary runoff elections were postponed from May 26 to July 14.
- Political party events: The Republican Party of Texas convention, scheduled for July 16-18 in Houston, was cancelled. The party conducted its convention online.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Candidates and election results
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 13
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Josh Winegarner | 38.9 | 39,062 |
| ✔ |  | Ronny L. Jackson | 20.0 | 20,048 |
 | Chris Ekstrom  | 15.3 | 15,387 | |
 | Elaine Hays | 7.7 | 7,701 | |
 | Lee Harvey | 3.8 | 3,841 | |
 | Vance Snider II | 3.5 | 3,500 | |
 | Mark Neese | 3.0 | 2,984 | |
 | Matt McArthur | 1.8 | 1,816 | |
 | Diane Knowlton | 1.5 | 1,464 | |
 | Richard Herman | 0.9 | 915 | |
 | Asusena Resendiz | 0.8 | 818 | |
 | Jamie Culley | 0.8 | 779 | |
 | Monique Worthy | 0.7 | 748 | |
 | Catherine Carr | 0.7 | 707 | |
 | Jason Foglesong | 0.6 | 579 | |
| Total votes: 100,349 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[4] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I'm a strong Republican and the best candidate for the 13th congressional district in Texas. I have fought long and hard for President Trump and defended him on several occasions and I have him on a Twitter account. I am pro-life and pro love. .I do not believe that abortion is Healthcare at all in fact an abortion is not healthy and I'm against funding clinics that do abortions. Life begins at conception and it is time that our laws reflect this truth. I have a master's degree in Science and Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. I have studied law and real estate and art and I have done public art as well.I have invented several products 15 plus products and more and I'm a songwriter and a books and hold several copyrights to these products and Books and Music. I have marched with the nun's to stop the war against the poor. And I have worked hard to stopped it unconstitutional surcharges that they used to have in Texas. And I love children. I care about the veterans and my father was a veteran and his Barracks was almost blown up while he was gone," everyone else lost their life. He went to the chaplain to see why my mother was not writing him and it saved his life. I understand how hard things can be I have had struggles in my own life and I know that the cost of medication and Healthcare is often a big challenge. When I lived in Japan I saw the casualties of war. I have a lot of understanding and I'm the best person for the 13th congressional district."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 13 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I am Jamie Culley, and I am seeking your support in my bid to fill the open seat for the 13th Congressional District in the Great State of Texas! As a Native Texan with over 150 years heritage in North-Central Texas, I was born in Wichita Falls, Texas. I was awarded an MBA in 2006. I am a strong supporter of the military with my husband having served on active duty in the U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine community through the peak of the Cold War during the 1980's, as well as, one of my children currently on active duty serving in the U.S. Navy. Currently, I am a business development consultant, helping businesses of all sizes compete for Federal, State and local contracting opportunities. As a life-long Republican, the application of my Judeo-Christian Values closely aligns with those of the Texas Republican Party, the State of Texas, and the citizens throughout the 13th Congressional District. I am a mother of 3 sons. My 1st is active in the Texas Energy Sector for the past 15 years, supporting fracking and oil well development. My 2nd son is on active duty in the USN and is currently a Second Class Petty Officer in Virginia. My 3rd son is a successful entrepreneur, developing a growing business within the Martial Arts and MMA sector in Louisiana. I am a Conservative Constitutionalist,strongly oppose all ongoing efforts to weaken or attempt to reinterpret the clear, concise, and specific language used by our founding fathers in drafting our first 10 amendments, also known as The Bill of Rights. By requiring 2/3 majority votes in both House and Senate, as well as 38 of 50 States today to Ratify an Amendment. Their efforts created the hurdle needed to ensure difficult revision, based on current efforts of a vocal minority attempting to toss aside these rights was curtailed. The Democratic controlled House of Representatives is blatantly violating these amendments on a daily basis to include the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th, and 14th Amendments"
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 13 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Chris Ekstrom is a conservative Christian Trump Republican who has built a strong reputation for being a fierce and passionate advocate for Texans and Americans at the national and state level. He's taken the lead on issues that matter to law-abiding patriots. Chris has been an unwavering advocate to build the wall, protect our historical monuments, support Pro-Life initiatives, restore the 2nd and 10th Amendments and shrink government. Chris will represent his constituents, not the lobbyists and special interests in Washington D.C.. He will work vigorously to defend the industries that are critical to Congressional District 13 like farming & ranching, oil & gas production, and supporting Sheppard Air Force Base. He had his first job at age 13 and worked at a warehouse delivering soft drinks to local businesses. After college, he helped lead a large construction company upgrading digital cable networks throughout America. Chris worked his way up to Vice President of Operations where he employed and managed thousands of employees - Chris is a proven job creator. Since then, Chris has been an entrepreneur for over 25 years and is the President of Ekstrom Properties a successful commercial real estate investment firm. He is committed to protecting economic liberty and the America First Agenda. Chris and his wife, Denise live in Wichita Falls, Texas and attend Christ the King Church."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 13 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I am a high school social studies teacher in Amarillo, TX, and a lifelong conservative. I believe in low taxes, few regulations, border security, maintaining a strong military, and removing infringements on our 2nd Amendment rights. I believe Constitutional Carry or at least 50 state CHL reciprocity is necessary, and that more guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens will reduce crime. "
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 13 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office:
Wichita County Commissioner (Assumed office: 2015)
Biography: At the time of his 2020 campaign, Harvey owned a welding company, a transportation company, and a water treatment company, all three of which he founded.
Show sources
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 13 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office:
Amarillo City Council (Assumed office: 2017)
Biography: Hays graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and earned a Master of Science in finance and economics from West Texas A&M. She received a Certified Financial Planner designation from the College for Financial Planning. At the time of her 2020 campaign, she was a private wealth manager.
Show sources
Sources: Myhighplains.com, "Elaine Hays Announces Campaign for Texas’ 13th Congressional District," October 30, 2019 Times Record News, "Hays is a congressional candidate who supports term limits, the Second Amendment and Trump," January 5, 2020 Facebook, "Hays for Congress on December 26, 2019," accessed January 26, 2020; Elaine Hays 2020 campaign website, "About," accessed January 26, 2020
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 13 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "A Platform Of Greater Opportunity Rich Herman believes everyone deserves a fair chance to succeed. Our nation's success is built on the founding principles of unlimited opportunity, quality education, commitment to hard work, and the freedom to pursue our dreams. Rich fights every day to ensure that our community is advancing towards meeting these founding principles. "
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 13 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Jackson graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in marine biology in 1991 and earned an M.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch in 1995. He then began active duty naval service and completed his internship and residency. Jackson was deployed to Iraq with the 2nd Marines in 2005. In 2006, he was appointed to serve as White House physician in the George W. Bush administration and later appointed as physician to the president for Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Trump nominated Jackson to serve as secretary of veterans affairs; Jackson withdrew his nomination in April 2018. Jackson retired from the Navy in 2019.
Show sources
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 13 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Mark Neese is a dedicated husband and father. His Christian faith guides his life with the understanding of how God can be trusted and the Bible is God's Word. Mark is a Christian Conservative who values life. Knowing his wife was adopted assists his fight to protect the sacred unborn. Serving as a children's minister gives him accountability to act in ways that honor God. Mark is a third-generation veteran who understands the sacrifice of those who have served our great country. His training in the Infantry has taught him respect for weapons and rural upbringing taught him the value of protection for his family and respect for harvesting animals. Mark believes Texas desperately needs secure borders. His mother immigrated to the US legally and became a US citizen and he believes immigration reform is needed to ensure our nation's safety and security. As an educator of over 20 years, Mark has served thousands of families as students pursue their purpose. Mark is currently completing his Doctorate and understands promoting education promotes economic development in both urban and rural settings. Less government involvement and lower taxes assist in this process."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 13 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Snider joined the Army in 2007 after graduating from high school. He served in Afghanistan and Kuwait from 2008 until 2013. Upon his return, he became a railroad conductor and attended Amarillo College Moore County Campus and West Texas A&M University.
Show sources
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 13 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Winegarner attended McMurry University and Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. He was the director of communications for U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas) and an agriculture, trade, and small business policy advisor for U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). At the time of his 2020 campaign, Winegarner was the director of industry affairs for the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA). He was previously the TCFA's director of government relations.
Show sources
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 13 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: " Donald Trump / Margaret Thatcher- styled Conservative - Republican to the core. Lived in 2 homeless shelters as a child, Became a Republican being incarcerated. Graduated Tulsa Job Corps with a GED and certification in Business office Technologies and Word processing. Server at IHOP and Denny's. Then on to Tyson foods where I went from line/production worker all the way up to Food Safety and Quality Assurance auditor. Listen to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin DAILY!... 30 years old. No kids. Not married. Just wanting to serve my country. "
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 13 in 2020.
Noteworthy primary endorsements
This section includes noteworthy endorsements issued in the primary, added as we learn about them. Click here to read how we define noteworthy primary endorsements. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.
| Republican primary endorsements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endorsement | Ekstrom | Hays | Jackson | Winegarner | ||
| Newspapers and editorials | ||||||
| The Amarillo Pioneer publisher's committee[5] | ✔ | |||||
| Elected officials | ||||||
| President Donald Trump (R)[6] | ✔ | |||||
| U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas)[7] | ✔ | |||||
| U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.)[8] | ✔ | |||||
| U.S. Rep. Ron Wright (R-Texas)[9] | ✔ | |||||
| U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.)[10] | ✔ | |||||
| U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas)[11] | ✔ | |||||
| Organizations | ||||||
| American Quarter Horse Association PAC[12] | ✔ | |||||
| Club for Growth[13] | ✔ | |||||
| National Association for Gun Rights PAC[14] | ✔ | |||||
| National Cattlemen & Beef Association PAC[12] | ✔ | |||||
| National Sorghum Producers Association PAC[12] | ✔ | |||||
| National Turkey Federation PAC[12] | ✔ | |||||
| Maggie's List[15] | ✔ | |||||
Timeline
2020
2019
Campaign themes
- See also: Campaign themes
Catherine Carr
The following themes were excerpted from Carr's campaign website. To view the full text of her campaign themes, click here:
| “ |
PRO-LIFE AND PRO-LOVE. I am pro-life, and pro-protections. I support the rights of ALL unborn children in this country, and my vote will be for their protection, period, no exceptions. WAR AND ISSUES OF WAR. I saw the issues of war at a young age in Japan, and so I respect our military personal and our veterans. TAXES. I respect our taxpayers and would fight to stop the wasteful spending of your taxes, and bring this money back to our communities, for our people. Guns. I am for the NRA and for the National Associations for Guns Rights, AND ALL GUN GROUPS. I believe that Constitutional Rights should be enforced against the states under federal law. I love our farmers and ranchers, because I was a farmer, and I also raised chickens. I support home ownership, and land ownership rights. I SUPPORT YOUR RIGHT TO WORK, and TO ASPIRE, AND TO BE BLESSED. I don't think workers should be forced to pay union dues. I want to Make America Great Again, and to put you and your families first. I am against wasting money.... respect our taxpayers and I am a conservative spender.[32] |
” |
| —Catherine Carr[33] | ||
Jamie Culley
Culley’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Pro-Life Supporting Pro-Life, anti-abortion legislation in all circumstances. All life is a precious gift from God who knits us in the womb. With all the options available to prevent a pregnancy from occurring, the option of taking the life of a living, completely defenseless individual should not be considered a viable option. One must keep in mind that it is not the fault of the child, no matter the circumstances of conception. Life is a precious gift and it needs to be treated as such. Support Strong supporter of First Amendment rights and the Free Speech protection it guarantees. Efforts to silence opposition viewpoints is why we have this right so clearly guaranteed. Strong supporter of Second Amendment rights and the right to Bear Arms afforded the citizens of this country. This right is guaranteed to ensure a tyrannical government can be resisted by the people. This amendment is not about the right to hunt, it is about the right to remain free and to resist a government out of control. Demands Government Accountability. Ethics and civil discourse must never be sacrificed for convenience and personal gain. Strong supporter of our military and those who serve. Strong supporter of our critical First-Responders, Police and Fire Fighters. Strong supporter of our military facilities, including the men and woman who impact the daily operations of Sheppard Air force Base. Strong supporter of Agriculture/Ranching, Cattle, and Energy Economic Sectors that impact daily life in this district, including Oil, Natural Gas and other natural resources. Opposition Strongly opposed to Cap-and-Trade legislation and resulting "Carbon Tax" originally introduced under the Obama Administration and the overreach of Climate Change extremists attempts to use this issue as a means to move the country to a socialist/communist central control in direct opposition to free market creative forces. Strongly opposed to the belief that Climate change is a non-debatable issue. Strongly opposed to Illegal Immigration. Individuals seeking to come to our great country must not let their first act be a criminal one. The processes are in place to ensure we have the right to control how people come into our nation. Strongly opposed to over-regulation of business and trade. Strongly opposed to efforts to redefine Marriage to be something other than a Sacred Union between a Man and a Woman. Strongly opposed to efforts to illegally attempt to redefine the meaning of our basic Bill of Rights and amendments as written. The current political environment demonstrates strong efforts from liberal organizations to weaken both the 1st and 2nd Amendments which will open the floodgates to the elimination of the other 24 active amendments. Historically, 27 amendments have been Ratified, with only one, (the 18th, prohibiting the manufacture or sale of alcohol) being repealed by the 21st.[32] |
” |
| —Jamie Culley[34] | ||
Chris Ekstrom
Ekstrom’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Meet Chris Ekstrom - A Courageous Conservative Chris Ekstrom is a conservative Christian Trump Republican who has built a strong reputation for being a fierce and passionate advocate for Texans and Americans at the national and state level. He’s taken the lead on issues that matter to law-abiding patriots. Chris has been an unwavering advocate to build the wall, protect our historical monuments, support Pro-Life initiatives, restore the 2nd and 10th Amendments and shrink government. Chris will represent his constituents, not the lobbyists and special interests in Washington D.C.. He will work vigorously to defend the industries that are critical to Congressional District 13 like farming & ranching, oil & gas production, and supporting Sheppard Air Force Base. He had his first job at age 13 and worked at a warehouse delivering soft drinks to local businesses. After college, he helped lead a large construction company upgrading digital cable networks throughout America. Chris worked his way up to Vice President of Operations where he employed and managed thousands of employees – Chris is a proven job creator. Since then, Chris has been an entrepreneur for over 25 years and is the President of Ekstrom Properties a successful commercial real estate investment firm. He is committed to protecting economic liberty and the America First Agenda. Chris and his wife, Denise live in Wichita Falls, Texas and attend Christ the King Church. Immigration – Build the Wall. Defund Sanctuary Cities The Wall In 2016, President Trump promised America a wall along our Southern Border and ever since Congress and Liberals have fought him all while the illegal immigrants continue to cross our borders. Chris will fight alongside President Trump to see that funding is released to build the Wall. For too long the border has seen crime and illegal drugs pour into America and our communities. Defunding Sanctuary Cities Part of the problem with illegal immigration is the rise of Sanctuary Cities. Locations where illegal immigrants can come and stay in full defiance of federal law and the will of the American people. Chris recognizes the dangers of Sanctuary Cities and opposes any laws that would support their creation. Trump has already taken us in the right direction, redirecting billions away from cities who wish to flaunt our laws and their duty to the American people. Chris will support Trump and do everything possible to chip away at these rouge cities and corrupt local bureaucrats. Economy – Creating opportunities, bringing back jobs Job Creator Working firsthand with the regulations that every business has to contend with, Chris understands the mind of Job Creators. Everyday Union Lobbyists and the Democrats push for more burdens on businesses to pay for their reckless spending and wasteful policies. Chris meanwhile knows how to incentivize businesses to create jobs and opportunities for people to help themselves and their families. Further Chris knows how to spur entrepreneurs into starting their businesses, helping others to follow their own American Dream. Now a successful businessman, with 25 years of job creation and business management, Chris wants to bring what he’s learned to Congress. As our representative, Chris will fight against any legislation that will threaten the hard-earned prosperity of Texan families. Protecting Rural Texas Texas has no shortage of Farmers or Ranchers and an increasing number of Oil & Gas producers, all industries in the crosshairs of the liberals in D.C. With plans such as the “Green New Deal”, Democrats and their supporters would see the lifeblood of everyday people drained dry and left to rot. Chris respects the work of our fellow Texans in providing for themselves, their families and all of us. He’ll take the fight to Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and others who would use environmentalism to usher in Socialism at the expense of our fellow Texans. Our Military – Serving those who've served us Keeping America Strong America has a proud military history, protecting the innocent and fighting against tyranny. Chris will fight to ensure America’s military remains equipped to deal with the ever-changing nature of war. Increasing funding for research and to maintain and increase our bases and facilities, such as Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls. Taking Care of Our Veterans Our soldiers give us our best and deserve nothing else in return. The men and women of our armed forces have for too long been left unrewarded for their service. Chris will stand by those who’ve stood for us, ensure support for Shephard Air Force Base. The 2nd Amendment Restore the Right to Keep and Bear Arms For years we’ve all heard the same thing from Democrats and their puppets in the media, “We’re not going after your guns!” but, in possibly the only good thing he’s done for Texas, Beto O’Rourke showed us what Democrats really think, “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15!” Chris will stand by the millions of responsible and lawful gun owners of America, to ensure that Americans can always defend themselves from criminals. Chris will fight to restore Texans God-given right to keep and bear arms. The Sanctity of Life – Protecting those who cannot protect themselves. Passing the Life at Conception Act No nation can thrive while its children die. America has for too long sacrificed its children for the sake of convenience. On average, America sees the deaths of 2,700 babies per day, and we have a moral obligation to protect life from cradle to womb. Like any good person, Chris cannot stand for this slaughter of innocents anymore. While serving in Congress, he will fight for those most needing of protection and introduce and co-sponsor the Life at Conception Act. Conservative Values – Representing Traditional America. Chris has been happily married to his wife, Denise, and the two attend Church regularly. Chris respects the traditions that created the nation we enjoy today, built upon the moral strength of Christian faith and hard work. Shrinking the Size of Government Chris recognizes the increasing amount of power and encroachment of the Federal Government into our everyday lives. He’ll stand against any increase in D.C.’s authority and return power and influence to the States, to the people. Restricting Government isn’t enough, not for us and not for Chris. To bring America back to its roots, we must trim the branches and return the Fed to its proper role. With the 10th Amendment as his benchmark, Chris will fight so we can all be free.[32] |
” |
| —Chris Ekstrom[35] | ||
Jason Foglesong
Foglesong’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
We have a crisis brewing on our southern border. Illegal immigration (and its supporters) enable violence, disease, human trafficking, organized crime, welfare fraud, identity theft, and rampant voter fraud. This is insane, and a danger to us all. There has been massive government overreach regarding gun control. It’s blatantly unconstitutional, and in some cases, tyranny seems imminent. Americans pay taxes all their lives, and it’s excessive. It’s time to reduce government spending and ask for less from our citizens. They work hard for their money, and the government is not entitled to it. The government does not need to be involved in healthcare or education. The Department of Education serves no purpose. Obamacare was and is a terrible idea, and is further tainted by the insurance lobbies. So…now I’ve got to tell you what I want to do about all of that. Secure Borders, E-Verify, Voter ID, and Drug Tests: I will sponsor legislation making E-Verify mandatory in all 50 states. I support the wall. I will sponsor legislation enacting a national Voter ID, as well as legislation mandating drug testing for all Federal welfare recipients. On the 2nd Amendment: I will sponsor legislation enabling 50 State CHL Reciprocity. I prefer Constitutional Carry, and will attempt both. I will work with Republicans (and smart Democrats) at all levels to repeal and eliminate “Red Flag Laws”. On Taxes: I will sponsor legislation to eliminate the Estate Tax, as well as taxes paid on Social Security and taxes on overtime hours. This, coupled with massive reduction in the illegal population (which reduces the financial burden of supporting those people) will save the taxpayers money. On Healthcare and Education: Healthcare should be run like a competitive private industry where customers shop for the best services and value. Education should be the same – schools public and private should compete and strive for excellence. This way, students and families win.[32] |
” |
| —Jason Foglesong[36] | ||
Lee Harvey
Harvey’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
ISSUES Most, if not all, Republican candidates in this 13th Congressional District race support Second Amendment rights, border security, immigration controls, our military and veterans, right to life, agriculture and oil industries, reduced government interference in healthcare, etc., and I also support of all of these important issues. The question then becomes: Who will be most effective Congressman? What sets Lee Harvey apart? Who holds the proven track record to identify, initiate, negotiate and support successful legislation of benefit to the 13th District? Legislation that will improve the quality of life and economic status of our residents? Legislation that will reflect our values and empower our businesses to succeed? Beneficial federal legislation returns, either directly or indirectly, dollars to our pockets. However, much federal legislation drains dollars from small and large businesses, independent contractors, and those toiling in classrooms, cotton fields and cattle pens to feed their families. Reducing the burden of legislation that only takes, but doesn’t give back, measurable benefits is essential. A vibrant, healthy 13th Congressional District is key to a strong Texas. Lee Harvey’s primary issues, therefore, are those in the 13th District that federal dollars can benefit or that require relief from onerous federal regulations. To that end, here are just a few of the initiatives he will champion eagerly, if elected: Military & Veteran Military America’s military strength has been jeopardized under prior, Democrat-led administrations. Our military superiority must be restored. We must expand training and strengthen skills, including leadership skills, of recruits. We also must ensure troops in the field are provided the latest gear, equipment, supplies and intelligence. Above all, we must lead the world in technological advancements, not bring up the rear. Cutting-edge technology enables us to reduce the numbers of ground troops and, thus, loss of life of personnel; increase security across all branches of the military, and more effectively monitor and, when necessary, respond to countries that wish us harm. Veterans Regardless of their actual assignment, our veterans were willing to die for each of us; that commitment is inherent in military service. We owe them much, including services that enable veterans to return to productive civilian lives, when possible. and ongoing support for those unable to do so. Medical care We owe our veterans the finest, most convenient physical and psychological medical care available, which frequently is found in the private sector. Thus, the VA health care system needs additional revision so veterans can have more choices in where they receive health care. Such revision also will reduce costs while improving the quality of care. Outreach to those at risk Veterans of post-Cold War conflicts served—and continue to serve—in theaters very different from those of earlier wars. Modern theaters have no front lines, and enemies frequently cannot be distinguished from friendlies—until it’s too late. Exposure to such highly unstable environments results in detrimental psychological effects requiring special treatments. Veteran care must improve for veterans with mental challenges, homeless veterans, those at risk of becoming homeless, and those suicidal. This may be achieved by direct outreach or, where available, through expansion of partnerships between the VA and local social-service agencies and non-profits already on the ground in veterans’ own communities. Military-to-civilian transition We owe our veterans effective, customized job training and other supportive services designed to encourage and assist them in transitioning from military life to civilian life, with the goal of successful re-integration into the work force. Public-private partnerships can be key here, also. Recognition We owe our veterans recognition of their service and appreciation for their service and sacrifices on all levels. The families of veterans also are included here, as they also make significant sacrifices on the home front. Economic Development Attracting New Businesses Federal legislation that benefits our existing businesses, large and small, is critical. However, identifying and nurturing economic development opportunities is equally important to the future economic stability of the District. Our District is prime for corporations that provide good jobs, especially manufacturing, warehousing, and light and heavy industry. We have the available workforce and, compared to Texas’ high density areas, our land is affordable. My history of managing and creating successful businesses gives me a strong edge in bringing new businesses to the District because I speak the language of business. I have experience working effectively with corporate leaders while leveraging governmental dollars for the benefit of residents and business owners. Upgrading our Electrical Grid Although quality internet access is essential to every business and most individuals, much of the electrical grid in the District is antiquated. Without fast, reliable internet service, no business today can flourish. Federal support is available for electrical grid upgrades and replacements, and securing these dollars is high on my list. Improving our Roads Substandard roads provide access to thousands of undeveloped acres in our District. Yet, good roads and connectivity are essential to existing agriculture and oil & gas operations and key in attracting new businesses. In areas with low property values, taxpayers cannot afford substantial road upgrades and reconstruction. Federal investments in roads will increase the value of existing businesses and will aid economic development efforts, thus benefiting the entire District. Farmers & Ranchers Onerous federal regulations must be rolled back if our farming and ranching industries are to thrive. The Green Card program must be revamped, so those who employ essential migrant workers can continue to do so. Sustainable practices already are employed by most farmers and ranchers, because they make good economic sense. Family-owned businesses, which fuel much economic growth, must not be regulated out of existence or forced to sell to consolidators. I applaud federal legislation like H.R. 5259, which increases the estate tax exemption from $750,000 to $11,000,000 of “certain real property used in farming or other trades or businesses.” The bill is now in the House Ways and Means Committee. Oil & Gas Industry and Related Businesses These issues are broad, but include significant reductions in burdensome federal regulations, preservation of rights of holders of mineral and surface rights and increased protections for all property owners. The Green New Deal gives A Big Black Eye to those in the Texas oil and gas industry, and I fully oppose it. Fire Departments and Other First Responders Wildfires historically have plagued parts of this District, resulting in millions of dollars in damages. To minimize future losses, increased federal support for volunteer fire departments, other first responders and the U.S. Forestry Service office in our District is essential. Reducing Unfunded Mandates Our ad valorem taxpayers cannot continue to shoulder the volume of unfunded mandates pouring down from the federal government to the state, which then trickles costs on to individuals and businesses. I pledge to support legislation that rescinds unfunded federal mandates and to oppose legislation that creates new such mandates. David vs. Goliath: A 90,000-acre federal taking on the Red River In 2014, property owners along the Red River began telling me surveyors from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) were surveying their land. In fact, the BLM was surveying 90,000 acres extending 116 miles along the Red River and reaching more than a mile south of the river. The BLM had begun the survey in 2008, claiming the land has been under federal jurisdiction since the 1920s. However, parcels in this area clearly show as being privately owned on property owners’ deeds, which were approved by the Texas General Land Office. Property owners have been paying ad valorem taxes on these lands for years. In 2014, the BLM turned up the heat when it announced a regional management plan in which the federal government would control all of the land in question. The next year, nine landowners, represented by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, responded with a suit against the BLM. As a Wichita County Commissioner, I sought and received support from the State of Texas for the property owners. Gov. Greg Abbott pledged to me the full weight of the State of Texas and of the General Land Office in the multi-pronged effort to protect the rights of these property owners. I also worked closely with U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, who was exploring options at the federal level. I strongly urged my fellow Wichita County Commissioners to follow Clay and Wilbarger counties in signing on to the suit, and they agreed to do so. In 2015, U.S. Rep. Thornberry introduced H.R. 2130, which was designed to end the matter. Sen. John Cornyn introduced a companion bill, S. 1153, in the Senate, and both bills passed. Although the suit was settled in 2017, Congress has not yet funded the required survey. If elected, I will continue to help these landowners by shifting my efforts from the county level to the Congressional floor and taking up the torch that U.S. Rep. Thornberry continues to carry.[32] |
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| —Lee Harvey[37] | ||
Elaine Hays
Hays' campaign website stated the following:
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Pro-Life I believe that innocent unborn children are entitled to their lives and protected by law. If we can hear the heart beating at three weeks, measure brain waves at six weeks, and do surgery on a child in the womb, certainly we can protect the child while at the same time caring for the mother’s physical and emotional needs. The sad reality is that in America today, abortions are legal for all 9 months of pregnancy. We must work to create a positive atmosphere of support and assistance for women facing a difficult pregnancy and work to produce a society where the value of all human life is held in high regard. Pro-2nd Amendment The right of citizens to bear arms upholds the meaning of the Second Amendment to the Constitution as it was originally intended. It is a significant protection against a tyrannical government and protects citizens from government going against the will of the vast majority of its citizens. The right to self-defense should be seen as a fundamental human right and government should protect that right. This is especially important for women, the elderly, and others who might be less able to defend themselves from an attack. Mass shootings are less likely to happen in locations where a large number of people carry concealed weapons and would act to stop such a person. Study after study has shown that where private citizens have the right to possess guns for self-defense, there is a significant deterrent to violent crime. Many of the laws that have been suggested to curb gun violence would simply result in inconvenience to law-abiding citizens without offering any meaningful corresponding public-safety benefit. Increased safety could be obtained by enforcing existing laws. Prosecutors should prosecute purchasers who lie on background checks and law-enforcement officials must follow up on leads provided by private citizens to prevent individuals that have been reported as unstable from committing heinous crimes. Securing the Border Every country must control its border to protect its sovereignty. You cannot combine an open border policy with a welfare state and have a sustainable system. Migration from one country to another is not a right. It is a privilege, and one that is awarded to those that show a desire to become Americans and contribute to the success of our country. We must secure our borders to protect our citizens from those who would intentionally do us harm. We must enforce the laws on the books, end the incentives for people to cross the border illegally, and eliminate sanctuary cities across the country. I support a talent-based immigration system along with securing the border by all means necessary, including steel structures, enhanced surveillance systems, and increased staffing at ports of entry Term Limits I believe strongly in congressional term limits. Being a politician in Washington should be seen more as a temporary assignment rather than a career. Representatives should have a season of service and then return to their communities and live under the laws they helped fashion. Term limits would help stop the current cycle of political reward and potential power abuse. Committee assignments could be determined by merit and expertise, rather than longevity of service and adherence to party doctrine, resulting in fair and independent decisions. The notion that only one person — the incumbent — can do the job well overstates the importance of each individual and misses the opportunity for fresh ideas that accompany fresh faces. Limited Government In just the past five years, our national debt has ballooned from $17 trillion to nearly $23 trillion. Government does not have a revenue problem. It has a spending problem. Annual deficits exceeding $1 trillion dollars have become the norm and are pushing us further and further into insolvency. It is crucial that our federal government live within its means in the confines of a balanced budget, just as required by cities, states, households, and businesses. Traditional Values We are a Christian nation founded on Judeo-Christian values. This does not mean that all U.S. citizens are Christian, but rather that biblical principles are the foundation of our form of government and guided our founders, through our Constitution, to protect the rights given to us by God, not government. Religion has been central to our identity as Americans and Texans and the opportunity to believe and worship according to our individual convictions is fundamental to our freedom. Education I believe in local control when it comes to education and support eliminating the federal Department of Education and returning decision to the states. Energy Our economy has historically been driven by a large supply of relatively low-cost energy. I believe in unleashing American energy and ensuring that we continue to make use of all domestic energy sources, renewable and non-renewable. The radical proposals to eliminate fossil fuels in the next 10-12 years would be reckless, non-sensical policy that would devastate our district and the national economy, and would drastically reduce our quality of life. Agriculture Farmers and ranchers are vitally important, not only to the 13th Congressional District, but to our entire country. Our farmers and ranchers make important contributions to the U.S. economy by ensuring a safe and reliable food supply and supporting job growth and economic development. The agriculture industry is key to the stabilization of our nation’s economy, employing a large number of people and indirectly creating more jobs for more people by supplying industries with the necessary raw materials they need for production. Supporting the growth of this industry benefits not only our local area but also supports the backbone of our national economy.[32] |
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| —Elaine Hays[38] | ||
Richard Herman
Herman’s campaign website stated the following:
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Rich believes everyone deserves a fair chance to succeed. Our nation’s success is built on the founding principles of unlimited opportunity, quality education, commitment to hard work, and the freedom to pursue our dreams. Rich fights every day to ensure that our community is advancing towards meeting these founding principles. Read on to learn about the issues at hand, and what is being done to combat themEconomy Rich has a unique understanding of the demographic work needs of our 13th Texas District; therefore, he will be an instrumental figure in the growth of our economy. Rich has not only been successful in business but has achieved many national accolades of recognition. Rich was raised in our district, resides in our district and is dedicated to supporting the push for economic growth throughout. Health Care Medical Care has been increasingly affecting seniors, business owners, students, and families alike because it’s simply not affordable. Rich believes that current Health Care coverage should be overhauled to provide relief to the people, reform to the base structure and provide necessary recovery from the failed Affordable Care Act Immigration Reform Rich is proud to support President Trump and push for reform throughout the current immigration system which includes building the wall. This is a serious issue of crisis proportions that has been impacting our safety, our economy, education and quality of life for many years. Protect the Constitution Our Constitution is under constant attack by the socialist values of the Democratic party who are constantly trying to create new laws that infringe upon our Constitutional rights. One right which is under constant attack is our 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. Rich believes that all citizens have the right to protect themselves, their property and their families. Abortion Rich Herman is Pro-Life and will support all efforts to defend it![32] |
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| —Richard Herman[39] | ||
Ronny Jackson
Jackson’s campaign website stated the following:
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I support strong protected borders. I will work hard to push serious and strong immigration reform that limits the number of immigrants and refugees that can legally enter our country. Only those that are vetted, screened, and go through the legal process should be allowed to enter. I will work tirelessly to prevent anyone from entering our country illegally. I have spent time on the southern border while working as a Senior Advisor for President Trump and I understand the issues and I know the answers. Additionally, I support the border wall. The men and women of Customs and Border Protection, the Border Patrol, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), need the wall in place to effectively do their job and protect us from criminals, gang members, drug smugglers, and human traffickers that continue to cross our border every day. Immigration is a national security issue and should not be used as a political tool by the left. I will defend our right to keep and bear arms. I believe that law abiding citizens of this country should be able to have guns in their homes and carry them in public. I am a member of the NRA and have been a gun owner my entire life. I will work to ensure that no one can take away or limit our ability to defend ourselves or our constitutional right to our guns. I am Pro-Life and I will staunchly defend the life of the unborn. Every life is a blessing from God, and we must treat all life as sacred and do everything possible to protect it. I will work hard to lower healthcare cost. Health insurance, medical care, and the drugs that Americans rely on for their health and well-being are all far too expensive. The cost of healthcare is far outpacing the income for most people in this country. I will work to eliminate the monopolies in healthcare, continue to promote transparency in billing, reform pharmaceutical pricing and bring down the cost of drugs, and protect Americans from the liberal agenda and the socialist healthcare plans of the left. I support term limits for all members of congress and if elected I will pledge to serve no more than 4 terms or 8 years. In addition, I will support legislation to establish term limits for every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. I will aggressively support our veterans. We should consider our veterans a national treasure and we must make sure they get the benefits and services they have earned while defending our country and keeping us all safe. I am in favor of a strong national defense and will work to protect and maintain our military dominance. We have the greatest, strongest, and most capable military on the planet. This fact alone serves as powerful deterrence to those who would do us harm. We must support our military. I will protect the industry of this district and work tirelessly to support farmers, ranchers, the oil and gas industry, Bell Helicopter, Sheppard Air Force Base, Weber Aircraft, Pantex, and other industries critical to the economy of the 13th congressional district. All these industries are not only important to the district but are also directly related to our national defense and to a strong national economy. I will pledge to promote and grow these industries in the district. I am fiscally conservative, and I will work to limit government spending and reduce our national debt. I am a proponent of small federal government and states rights. I will work hard to limit the size of the federal government and the burdensome regulations and bureaucracy it often imposes on its citizens. These regulations stifle economic growth, impinge on the rights of property owners, disadvantage small business owners, and are sometimes used as political tools by the liberals in government. I am in favor of reforming our education system. The primary education of our children should be a local and state issue. The federal government should not be able to mandate and promote the liberal agenda of other parts of the country on our schools in the state of Texas and the 13th Congressional District. Higher education at the college and university level should be more affordable and cost-effective education at junior colleges and trade schools should be encouraged and available for those who don’t seek the traditional university pathway.[32] |
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| —Ronny Jackson[40] | ||
Diane Knowlton
Knowlton’s campaign website stated the following:
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1 – Protect our Constitutional rights, which are being attacked every single day. Many of our most important Constitutional rights are now under attack. Some of the most critical are our First Amendment right to freedom of speech, our Second Amendment right to bear arms, and the presumption of innocence as guaranteed by the Due Process clause. We must be absolutely vigilant in guarding these liberties. Read more 2 – Sustain the accomplishments of the Trump Administration, while also pursuing new goals that will improve the lives of U.S. citizens. In the past few years, the Trump Administration and Congress have achieved: meaningful tax reform, sustained economic growth, substantial defeat of ISIS, and increased border protection, just to name a few. We must continue to vote for the same policies and legislation that have allowed us to achieve so much during only one Presidential term. Read more 3 – Reduce spending throughout the entire government by promoting increased efficiency and cost reductions. We must work on saving taxpayer money right now by cutting costs in every government agency. We must require agencies to implement more efficient processes and eliminate the slow, cumbersome procedures that exist in many federal departments. I have first-hand experience with process improvement at the federal government. When implemented well, we can increase efficiency and lower costs, saving taxpayer dollars. Read more 4 - Fight against the Socialist policies advocated by “progressive” Democrats. This will become one of the most critical times in the nation’s history, where reasonable representatives from both parties must join together and fight against the Socialist agenda that could destroy our freedoms and our economy. Read more 5 - Unite with other Americans. It’s critical for our nation to find common ground among people from different political parties and different backgrounds. While we must not give up the most important rights and goals for which we stand, we must find common ground with all Americans. Read more[32] |
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| —Diane Knowlton[41] | ||
Matt McArthur
McArthur’s campaign website stated the following:
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Gun Control I won’t vote for a single gun control bill until the federal government starts enforcing the laws we have. As an example, when a prohibited person attempts to buy a firearm they usually commit multiple state and federal crimes. Currently the federal government has prosecuted less than one percent of these crimes. Without proper enforcement of existing laws there’s no real way to know which ones work and which don’t. How could I vote to give the Justice Department more laws to enforce when they’ve demonstrated themselves completely incapable of enforcing the ones they have? We also need to begin by addressing the reasons gun crimes are committed. If Great Britain has taught us anything, it’s that gun laws don’t cut the murder or assault rates. We must get to the root cause of the criminal activity. That means better mental health care, anti-bullying initiatives and better community policing. We also need to look at which state programs have effectively cut crime and see if they can be instituted on a federal level. Education We’ve learned over the last few decades that simply throwing money at education isn’t going to solve the problem. We’ve learned that telling every high school graduate to get a college degree they must go into debt for isn’t doing a lot of good either. We’ve also discovered that standardized tests don't accurately assess student achievements. I will introduce legislation that ties federal education spending to certain requirements for the states. One will be tying the average teacher pay to the cost of living in the area. Poor school districts especially need to be able to keep their experienced teachers. I’d also require that school districts have strong vocational programs that evolve to answer the job needs for their area. We seem to want every kid to become a doctor or lawyer when the economy is full of high paying jobs in the vocational sectors we can’t fill because schools put everyone on the college track. I will require school funding to be tied to schools with a serious security plan, not just for active shooters but for all the other less-publicized crime that goes on around schools. If our schools are unwilling to make serious efforts to keep our kids safe, why would we trust them with our kids? Farm Bill I will never support a farm bill that doesn’t include cotton. Immigration I’ve worked with and alongside immigrants during my career, both in law enforcement and in the oil fields. Most Americans descend from immigrants, which is something that makes our nation unique in the world. Unfortunately, the current immigration system is broken, and our immigration laws are very poorly enforced. Like our president, I believe we need strong border security and a wall. I also think we need a fair immigration plan that includes a guest worker program and emphasizes the needs of our farmers, but we need to make sure we’re not letting immigrants in at the expense of our own workers. Macmillan eBook Embargo On Nov. 1, 2019, Macmillan Publishers, one of the five largest publishers in the U.S., began limiting libraries to purchasing only one copy of each new eBook title for the first eight weeks after a book’s release. This limits access to new titles for libraries and means limiting access to readers, including the elderly and disabled folks who can read eBooks much easier than print books. It also restricts access to people in rural areas who may check out eBooks more than print books because they don’t have a library close to their home. I want libraries to purchase as many copies as they want for their library patrons. Taxes I won’t vote for a personal income tax rate increase outside of a declared war, ever. We’ve learned from the Trump administration that putting money back into the hands of working Americans causes economic growth, specifically in jobs and wages. I want to see this economy continue to flourish and the best way to do that it to make taxes as low as possible. Military We have the finest military in the world, but we need to pay our soldiers enough to retain the good ones. I would tie any Congressional cost of living raise to military pay. If a senator can’t live in Washington DC making 185k a year how does a Sargent at the Pentagon do it making 30k? I’ll also hold the VA accountable at all times. Our veterans deserve the finest care money can buy and they shouldn’t have to drive for hours to get it. I will introduce bills expanding the number of VA clinics and hospitals and expand the care they provide. I’ve volunteered to drive veterans to VA clinics because they didn’t have the gas money to go from Houston to Austin, when there was a VA hospital half an hour away from their homes. These men had to use the Austin clinic because they had been put in the area that Austin serves. I’ll introduce a bill that would allow veterans to use whichever competent VA hospital they choose instead of instituting arbitrary requirements. I’ll introduce funding for veteran mental health. If we can send an 18-year-old to fight in a war we owe it to them to fix them mentally when they get home. I’ve also seen estimates that say as many as 80% of our homeless population are veterans. As a police officer I dealt with the homeless population regularly. The federal government must put programs into effect that fund homeless shelters, expand mental health treatment and programs that help homeless people get back into homes. Health Care We need to make health care more affordable. One of the most effective ways is to let insurers sell across state lines. We should also make it illegal for hospitals to charge uninsured patients more than they charge insurance companies. A hundred dollars for an aspirin is not overpriced-- it’s fraud. I’ll introduce this legislation. I’ll also present a bill which allows for Medicare to pay for transportation for our poor and elderly. Patients in rural areas often can’t afford to go to a doctor for basic care, and as a last resort they call an ambulance. Many EMTs joke that an ambulance is often a taxi. This puts pressure on our local first responders and leaves the poor swimming in medical debt when it would be cheaper to fund a transportation service. Crime As a former police officer I know how important it is to be a nation of laws. I also know first-hand how impactful poorly written laws can be. In Congress my first priority will be the safety and security of this country, but I’ll always have the possible unintended consequences of a law in mind. We must do everything we can to keep our streets safe, but we must also do everything we can not to lose our compassion. Impeachment I will not vote to impeach the president based on the evidence currently presented. The impeachment clause of the Constitution is a tool to be used sparingly and never to overturn an election.[32] |
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| —Matt McArthur[42] | ||
Mark Neese
Neese’s campaign website stated the following:
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What Mark Stands for: PRO Faith/Family My faith in God Guides me as a husband and father. I believe life is sacred and should be protected from conception. My wife was adopted by loving parents and though we may never know her biological parents, I am extremely grateful to them for giving her (and therefore my son) life. The guidance of profound spiritual mentors inspired me to embrace my role as a husband and father in creating a website and Facebook page called Whatifdad to encourage men to declare, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) I ask all those who claim this verse to assist us as I seek to represent District 13 in Congress. Congressional Cause- Seek ways to support agencies in supporting life at every stage and developing church/state partnerships which promote the same. PRO Our Economy Serving as a teacher, counselor, and principal have assisted me in better understanding how to promote student success. Statistics show how achieving reading levels affect our economy and the future of Texas. Federal dollars are used to assist rural and urban communities so I ask all educators to support our efforts to seek funding to promote academics, safety, and security for our students. Congressional Cause – Seek ways to continue assisting agriculture and industry within our District, State, and Country. PRO United States As a third generation military man, I had the privilege to serve as Army Infantry Officer. My father retired from the Air Force and his father served in the Navy. My mother became an American Citizen in 1968. This country and constitution are valuable to me. I ask for all those who have served, or know those who have, to assist us in representing our military in Washington DC. Congressional Cause – Support the Republican Party in their push for immigration reform and protection of our national boundaries as well as develop National standards for threat assessments. PRO Neighborhood Mark 12:31 is clear. We need to love our neighbor as ourselves. A few ways my purpose has been revealed in our neighborhood has been for me to be able to serve in education, as the children’s minister at First Baptist Bowie, on the Montague County Child Welfare Board, and as the Community Representative for our Head Start Program. Equity in programs is vital for all students to succeed. Therefore, I believe neighborhoods need to be able to direct local control over Federal Funding with less intrusion and paperwork. I urge all those who dream of making your neighborhood a better place to support us and this campaign. Congressional Cause – Seek Federal Funding to assist with Threat Assessments and increase behavioral services within our schools and communities. Develop ways for faith and Country to work together to assist (NOT enable) those in need. PRO District 13 Over 40+ counties are represented in District 13. We are not all the same, but we each have a calling to be profound whether we have chosen to live in a rural urban, or suburban setting. Establishing networks and support will assist with needs in one county when others are set up strategically to assist. We ask for your vote if you are living in this amazing district. Congressional Cause- Continue to strengthen the cooperation among our numerous counties to unite in representation on a Federal Level[32] |
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| —Mark Neese[43] | ||
Vance Snider
Snider’s campaign website stated the following:
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Veterans I was 20 years old when I made my first combat deployment overseas to a remote area in Afghanistan. Today on the home front, I use the V.A. Healthcare system regularly. Veterans have made a huge personal sacrifice by choosing to serve our country. Hundreds of thousands of military veterans do not reach out for the support they need due to the V.A.'s inability to keep up with the demand. Every V.A. hospital is run differently across the nation and this creates confusion. When elected, I will send a bill to the President's desk that brings unison among V.A. hospitals across the nation. Immigration Securing our southern border and building a wall to prevent the rapid progression of illegal immigrants entering our country is crucial to our countries long term success. When in Congress I will work to implement new laws for immigrants to obtain legal residence status at an affordable cost. 2nd Amendment The 2nd Amendment was created to prevent government overreach and disarming of its citizens. Over time, Congress has created new laws infringing on these rights by regulating certain firearms and accessories. Across the United States, there are millions of responsible firearm owners, and Congress is actively working to strip those rights away. When elected, I will fight Democrats in Congress to protect our God-given rights such as Constitutional Carry and National Reciprocity for license holders which are vital to the Constitutional protections of the 2nd Amendment. Healthcare Healthcare is an issue that affects all Texans along with Americans across the nation. Not having an insurance plan that provides the coverage that is needed for an individual can be a death sentence. Americans rack up millions in medical debt or continue to not seek the proper medical attention out of fear of being in debt for the rest of their lives. I will work to ensure Americans who like their health care coverage can keep it and if an individual’s employer doesn't provide health insurance, then providing a tax break so they can purchase a plan on the open market. Transportation Innovation through technology has swept every industry and brought its fair amount of challenges. These advances have come with a debate about the role between what needs to be run solely by humans or technology. The safety of our communities needs to be the number one goal when addressing each industry-specific obstacle regarding the roles between technology and humans. Currently, it is mandatory for airplanes to have two pilots onboard to ensure the safety of the public. The same must be done for the railroad industry. Abortion All unborn lives matter. Democratic leadership has taken it to the extreme by nearly allowing abortions up until the time of birth. There are loving families out there who cannot have children and would gladly adopt those children. Abortion is a selfish act and I will always fight for the lives of the unborn. Term Limits Americans find themselves continuing to vote for career politicians that have spent their life in Congress doing nothing for their constituencies. When elected, I will help pass term limits for the House of Representatives to be limited to four – two-year terms. For the U.S. Senate, term limits should be limited to two – 6-year terms. This would prevent career politicians from serving for years and losing touch with the people who placed them in their positions. Taxes Taxes continue to be the death of American working families. President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law in 2017 that put money back into the taxpayer’s wallet. I will continue the fight alongside Republicans in Washington D.C. to further expand tax cuts for even more families. I will also work to eliminate the tax on overtime pay after 40 hours during the workweek, as well as, abolish taxes on all social security checks. Renewable Energies Subsidies In 2018, the United States used more renewable energy than it has ever before. When in Congress, I will promote the growth of clean, reliable and renewable energy. As technology continues to advance, America will be prepared to lead the way in energy innovation.[32] |
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| —Vance Snider[44] | ||
Josh Winegarner
Winegarner's campaign website stated the following:
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Josh Winegarner's Priorities
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| —Josh Winegarner[45] | ||
Monique Worthy
Worthy’s campaign website stated the following:
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WHERE DOES MONIQUE STAND ON THE ISSUES? The Constitution The Constitution is the heart of our nation and as such, is vital to our nations survival. There are those who would wish to do nothing more than to get rid of it. But, as long as there are constitutional conservatives out there to defend it, we shall defend it. I intend to do just that. Budgets & Spending Growing up with little to no money teaches you how to value what you have and to live within your means. The government has no money except the money it gets from the citizens. If we have to live within our means, should not the government do the same? If we don't have it, we don't spend it. We can't just go to the bank or our neighbors for that matter and demand that we get more of what they themselves have earned. Why is it O.K. for the government to do that? It is not. It is time that we send representatives to Washington that understands that and to tame the spending, bringing the government to heel. Educational Reform Education is vital to a nations viability in the modern world. As long as government bureaucrats are controlling our children's destiny with useless programs, useless studies, and no real substantive, job related, skilled trade producing, educational standards, education will be backwards. That is why I support getting the Feds out of education PERIOD!. Washington D.C. has no reason to be deciding our children's educational standards. This is also why I support school choice. Why should children from one neighborhood be subject to bad schools in one area, while other children get the best of education in another? If a parent so chooses to send their child to a much better school outside of their district, I think that should be no problem. Welfare Reform I do not believe that welfare should be a permanent solution for those who are able bodied. Welfare should be temporary - except - for Elderly and disabled people who aren't capable of taking care of themselves. Yes, people fall on hard times. That is understandable, you fall down, you get help up, dust yourself down, and go at it again. That said, I support a drastic reformation of welfare. Legal/Illegal - Immigration I support legal immigration as long as you plan to contribute to our society. America has it's own problems with homelessness, poverty and people trying to climb out of poverty. We can't help them if we are helping you. If you plan on coming here for our "generous" welfare system that is anything but "generous" to our own needy, you have another thought coming. NO, NO, and NO! As far as Illegal immigration, I support the wall and will NOT vote for a budget that does not contribute to the wall. I do NOT, will NOT, and have never supported illegal immigration. If you are here illegally, you must leave and come back the right way. Simple as that. Military and our Vets Our military should and will always be the most premier fighting force on the planet. Second to none. No, we are not the world's police - But, as luck would have it, we have interests all over the world - And, as long as we have those interests we should do whatever it takes to protect those interests. A strong military deters aggression. This is why I believe we should have the most advanced technology out there, with the most advanced fighting force, to deter any would be aggressors. That said, we should take care of our Vets just as well as congress takes care of themselves. Our vets should never have a want/need for anything when they've given their all to defend us. This is why I support President Trump's initiative to allow our vets to seek help/services outside of the VA. I will never support a budget that in anyway cut our military's budget. The federal government's first and most important job is to protect and defend our land from any aggressor. And, we can not do that if would be servicemen pass on serving their country because they see what is happening to the vets of yesteryear and wish not to end up in the same situation. We can not do that if they see that we tie their hands so much as they would be scared to make an honest mistake. If we protect them they will protect us. I intend to do just that.[32] |
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| —Monique Worthy[46] | ||
Campaign advertisements
This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.
Chris Ekstrom
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A sample ad from the candidate's Facebook page is embedded below. Click here to see the candidate's Facebook Video page.
Elaine Hays
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Richard Herman
A sample ad from the candidate's Facebook page is embedded below. Click here to see the candidate's Facebook Video page.
Ronny Jackson
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Mark Neese
A sample ad from the candidate's Facebook page is embedded below. Click here to see the candidate's Facebook Video page.
Asusena Reséndiz
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Vance Snider
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Josh Winegarner
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A sample ad from the candidate's Facebook page is embedded below. Click here to see the candidate's Facebook Video page.
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
If you are aware of polls conducted in this race, please email us.
Campaign finance
The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catherine Carr | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Jamie Culley | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Chris Ekstrom | Republican Party | $1,320,434 | $1,317,997 | $2,437 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Jason Foglesong | Republican Party | $3,461 | $3,385 | $20 | As of February 12, 2020 |
| Lee Harvey | Republican Party | $131,485 | $131,485 | $0 | As of July 29, 2020 |
| Elaine Hays | Republican Party | $155,291 | $155,291 | $0 | As of March 31, 2020 |
| Richard Herman | Republican Party | $3,762 | $3,690 | $-200 | As of February 12, 2020 |
| Ronny L. Jackson | Republican Party | $2,151,194 | $1,764,055 | $387,139 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Diane Knowlton | Republican Party | $26,553 | $26,460 | $-1,302 | As of March 31, 2020 |
| Matt McArthur | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Mark Neese | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Asusena Resendiz | Republican Party | $68,686 | $51,532 | $0 | As of June 30, 2020 |
| Vance Snider II | Republican Party | $45,387 | $45,407 | $0 | As of July 5, 2020 |
| Josh Winegarner | Republican Party | $1,223,998 | $1,223,998 | $0 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Monique Worthy | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
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Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," . This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
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Satellite spending
- See also: Satellite spending
Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[47][48][49]
This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.
Interviews and questionnaires
Click the links below to view candidates' responses to questionnaires.
- Amarillo Pioneer questionnaire: Culley, Ekstrom, Foglesong, Harvey, Herman, Jackson, Knowlton, Neese, Snider, Worthy
Debates and forums
February 20, 2020
Eight candidates participated in a forum hosted by the Wichita Falls Tea Party.
Coverage:
February 12, 2020
Twelve candidates participated in a forum hosted by the Wichita County Republican Party.
Coverage:
January 20, 2020
Thirteen candidates participated in a forum hosted by the Wichita County Republican Women in Wichita Falls.
Coverage:
January 9, 2020
Fourteen candidates participated in a forum hosted by the Cooke County Republican Women at First Christian Church in Gainesville.
Coverage and video:
December 5, 2019
Five candidates participated in a forum hosted by the Wichita Falls Tea Party.
Coverage:
Primaries in Texas
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Texas utilizes an open primary system. Voters do not have to register with a party in advance in order to participate in that party's primary. The voter must sign a pledge stating the following (the language below is taken directly from state statutes)[50]
| “ | The following pledge shall be placed on the primary election ballot above the listing of candidates' names: 'I am a (insert appropriate political party) and understand that I am ineligible to vote or participate in another political party's primary election or convention during this voting year.'[32] | ” |
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Runoff elections in Texas
In Texas, a primary election candidate for congressional, state, or county office must receive a majority of the vote (more than 50%) to be declared the winner. If no candidate wins the requisite majority, a runoff election is held between the top two vote-getters.[51]
As of 2020, the Texas Secretary of State office stated, "There is no requirement to have previously voted in the general primary election in order to participate in the subsequent primary runoff election. Therefore, if a qualified voter did not vote in the general primary election, they are still eligible to vote in the primary runoff election." The office also stated that "if a voter votes in the primary of one party, they will only be able to vote in that party’s primary runoff election. ... After being affiliated with a party, a voter is not able to change or cancel their party affiliation until the end of the calendar year."[52]
What's at stake in the general election?
U.S. House elections were held on November 3, 2020, and coincided with the 2020 presidential election. All 435 House districts were up for election, and the results determined control of the U.S. House in the 117th Congress.
At the time of the election, Democrats had a 232-197 advantage over Republicans. There was one Libertarian member, and there were five vacancies. Republicans needed to gain a net 21 seats to win control of the House. Democrats needed to gain seats or lose fewer than 14 net seats to keep their majority.
In the 2018 midterm election, Democrats had a net gain of 40 seats, winning a 235-200 majority in the House. Heading into the 2018 election, Republicans had a 235-193 majority with seven vacancies.
In the 25 previous House elections that coincided with a presidential election, the president's party had gained House seats in 16 elections and lost seats in nine. In years where the president's party won districts, the average gain was 18. In years where the president's party lost districts, the average loss was 27. Click here for more information on presidential partisanship and down-ballot outcomes.
General election race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[53]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[54][55][56]
| Race ratings: Texas' 13th Congressional District election, 2020 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| November 3, 2020 | October 27, 2020 | October 20, 2020 | October 13, 2020 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season. | |||||||||
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+33, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 33 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Texas' 13th Congressional District the most Republican nationally.[57]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.01. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.01 points toward that party.[58]
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
One of 254 Texas counties—0.4 percent—is a Pivot County. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
| Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
| Jefferson County, Texas | 0.48% | 1.61% | 2.25% | ||||
In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Texas with 52.2 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 43.2 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Texas cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 66.7 percent of the time. In that same time frame, Texas supported Democratic candidates slightly more often than Republicans, 53.3 to 46.7 percent. The state, however, favored Republicans in every presidential election between 2000 and 2016.
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Texas. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[59][60]
| In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 54 out of 150 state House districts in Texas with an average margin of victory of 37.4 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 65 out of 150 state House districts in Texas with an average margin of victory of 36.4 points. Clinton won 10 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections. |
| In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 96 out of 150 state House districts in Texas with an average margin of victory of 36.2 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 85 out of 150 state House districts in Texas with an average margin of victory of 34.5 points. |
| 2016 presidential results by state House district | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1 | 26.82% | 72.17% | R+45.3 | 22.76% | 75.13% | R+52.4 | R |
| 2 | 20.93% | 77.91% | R+57 | 17.59% | 79.78% | R+62.2 | R |
| 3 | 22.26% | 76.65% | R+54.4 | 21.37% | 75.80% | R+54.4 | R |
| 4 | 25.04% | 73.93% | R+48.9 | 22.70% | 74.70% | R+52 | R |
| 5 | 23.75% | 75.33% | R+51.6 | 20.20% | 77.72% | R+57.5 | R |
| 6 | 28.44% | 70.49% | R+42 | 28.89% | 67.98% | R+39.1 | R |
| 7 | 27.14% | 71.97% | R+44.8 | 24.48% | 73.09% | R+48.6 | R |
| 8 | 24.96% | 74.07% | R+49.1 | 21.12% | 76.63% | R+55.5 | R |
| 9 | 27.47% | 71.73% | R+44.3 | 22.23% | 76.13% | R+53.9 | R |
| 10 | 25.56% | 73.21% | R+47.7 | 25.20% | 71.62% | R+46.4 | R |
| 11 | 26.75% | 72.23% | R+45.5 | 24.48% | 72.79% | R+48.3 | R |
| 12 | 36.06% | 62.67% | R+26.6 | 32.54% | 64.35% | R+31.8 | R |
| 13 | 22.71% | 76.25% | R+53.5 | 20.47% | 77.18% | R+56.7 | R |
| 14 | 34.77% | 62.91% | R+28.1 | 38.79% | 54.03% | R+15.2 | R |
| 15 | 21.79% | 76.77% | R+55 | 28.86% | 66.69% | R+37.8 | R |
| 16 | 18.22% | 80.76% | R+62.5 | 18.80% | 78.35% | R+59.5 | R |
| 17 | 37.30% | 60.79% | R+23.5 | 33.92% | 62.02% | R+28.1 | R |
| 18 | 27.18% | 71.69% | R+44.5 | 23.96% | 73.47% | R+49.5 | R |
| 19 | 22.22% | 76.79% | R+54.6 | 17.21% | 81.00% | R+63.8 | R |
| 20 | 26.22% | 72.13% | R+45.9 | 25.81% | 70.27% | R+44.5 | R |
| 21 | 23.92% | 74.97% | R+51.1 | 21.50% | 76.09% | R+54.6 | R |
| 22 | 66.82% | 32.57% | D+34.3 | 65.95% | 31.80% | D+34.1 | D |
| 23 | 44.24% | 54.56% | R+10.3 | 40.89% | 55.86% | R+15 | R |
| 24 | 25.11% | 73.48% | R+48.4 | 27.42% | 68.20% | R+40.8 | R |
| 25 | 28.74% | 69.92% | R+41.2 | 27.55% | 69.14% | R+41.6 | R |
| 26 | 35.86% | 62.95% | R+27.1 | 45.81% | 50.71% | R+4.9 | R |
| 27 | 68.80% | 30.44% | D+38.4 | 70.03% | 27.23% | D+42.8 | D |
| 28 | 34.81% | 64.22% | R+29.4 | 43.01% | 53.21% | R+10.2 | R |
| 29 | 35.44% | 63.32% | R+27.9 | 41.21% | 54.83% | R+13.6 | R |
| 30 | 30.24% | 68.64% | R+38.4 | 26.80% | 70.36% | R+43.6 | R |
| 31 | 61.89% | 37.31% | D+24.6 | 55.47% | 42.31% | D+13.2 | D |
| 32 | 41.43% | 56.92% | R+15.5 | 42.04% | 53.45% | R+11.4 | R |
| 33 | 26.49% | 72.25% | R+45.8 | 31.27% | 64.67% | R+33.4 | R |
| 34 | 54.64% | 44.24% | D+10.4 | 53.40% | 43.18% | D+10.2 | D |
| 35 | 66.43% | 32.71% | D+33.7 | 63.43% | 33.59% | D+29.8 | D |
| 36 | 74.73% | 24.41% | D+50.3 | 73.70% | 23.21% | D+50.5 | D |
| 37 | 69.28% | 29.75% | D+39.5 | 68.98% | 27.77% | D+41.2 | D |
| 38 | 66.13% | 32.95% | D+33.2 | 65.76% | 30.74% | D+35 | D |
| 39 | 74.02% | 25.10% | D+48.9 | 70.48% | 26.40% | D+44.1 | D |
| 40 | 75.32% | 23.68% | D+51.6 | 70.73% | 25.91% | D+44.8 | D |
| 41 | 56.64% | 42.35% | D+14.3 | 59.53% | 36.87% | D+22.7 | D |
| 42 | 75.54% | 23.57% | D+52 | 73.73% | 23.49% | D+50.2 | D |
| 43 | 46.96% | 52.09% | R+5.1 | 43.79% | 53.10% | R+9.3 | R |
| 44 | 30.83% | 67.97% | R+37.1 | 30.22% | 65.99% | R+35.8 | R |
| 45 | 41.83% | 55.19% | R+13.4 | 44.53% | 49.14% | R+4.6 | R |
| 46 | 76.62% | 20.14% | D+56.5 | 78.16% | 16.34% | D+61.8 | D |
| 47 | 39.32% | 58.05% | R+18.7 | 46.98% | 47.16% | R+0.2 | R |
| 48 | 56.86% | 39.56% | D+17.3 | 65.17% | 28.12% | D+37 | D |
| 49 | 70.19% | 24.89% | D+45.3 | 76.63% | 16.65% | D+60 | D |
| 50 | 57.79% | 38.81% | D+19 | 63.38% | 30.05% | D+33.3 | D |
| 51 | 78.49% | 17.43% | D+61.1 | 79.52% | 14.04% | D+65.5 | D |
| 52 | 42.57% | 54.91% | R+12.3 | 46.12% | 47.56% | R+1.4 | R |
| 53 | 22.29% | 76.50% | R+54.2 | 20.74% | 76.30% | R+55.6 | R |
| 54 | 45.85% | 53.04% | R+7.2 | 44.07% | 51.07% | R+7 | R |
| 55 | 33.08% | 65.48% | R+32.4 | 31.96% | 63.28% | R+31.3 | R |
| 56 | 29.70% | 69.02% | R+39.3 | 31.16% | 64.82% | R+33.7 | R |
| 57 | 25.97% | 73.09% | R+47.1 | 22.50% | 75.69% | R+53.2 | R |
| 58 | 21.12% | 77.52% | R+56.4 | 18.84% | 77.90% | R+59.1 | R |
| 59 | 21.36% | 77.31% | R+56 | 19.19% | 77.44% | R+58.2 | R |
| 60 | 15.70% | 83.09% | R+67.4 | 13.33% | 84.19% | R+70.9 | R |
| 61 | 16.19% | 82.54% | R+66.3 | 14.49% | 82.74% | R+68.3 | R |
| 62 | 24.72% | 73.77% | R+49.1 | 20.89% | 76.05% | R+55.2 | R |
| 63 | 26.39% | 72.13% | R+45.7 | 30.22% | 65.26% | R+35 | R |
| 64 | 37.33% | 60.30% | R+23 | 40.00% | 54.49% | R+14.5 | R |
| 65 | 40.84% | 57.52% | R+16.7 | 46.51% | 48.62% | R+2.1 | R |
| 66 | 37.46% | 61.15% | R+23.7 | 46.24% | 49.45% | R+3.2 | R |
| 67 | 37.26% | 61.08% | R+23.8 | 44.69% | 50.41% | R+5.7 | R |
| 68 | 17.78% | 81.15% | R+63.4 | 14.23% | 83.37% | R+69.1 | R |
| 69 | 23.27% | 75.20% | R+51.9 | 20.26% | 76.12% | R+55.9 | R |
| 70 | 29.25% | 69.37% | R+40.1 | 32.82% | 62.78% | R+30 | R |
| 71 | 22.84% | 75.76% | R+52.9 | 21.49% | 74.23% | R+52.7 | R |
| 72 | 23.33% | 75.26% | R+51.9 | 21.45% | 74.81% | R+53.4 | R |
| 73 | 20.22% | 78.37% | R+58.2 | 21.25% | 75.11% | R+53.9 | R |
| 74 | 56.99% | 41.57% | D+15.4 | 56.27% | 39.58% | D+16.7 | D |
| 75 | 72.33% | 26.62% | D+45.7 | 73.74% | 21.38% | D+52.4 | D |
| 76 | 76.91% | 21.86% | D+55.1 | 77.93% | 17.86% | D+60.1 | D |
| 77 | 64.07% | 34.29% | D+29.8 | 68.79% | 25.97% | D+42.8 | D |
| 78 | 54.41% | 44.15% | D+10.3 | 59.28% | 35.16% | D+24.1 | D |
| 79 | 64.73% | 34.12% | D+30.6 | 68.62% | 26.73% | D+41.9 | D |
| 80 | 68.25% | 30.91% | D+37.3 | 65.06% | 32.31% | D+32.7 | D |
| 81 | 24.20% | 74.66% | R+50.5 | 26.33% | 70.49% | R+44.2 | R |
| 82 | 19.38% | 79.31% | R+59.9 | 20.58% | 75.76% | R+55.2 | R |
| 83 | 21.27% | 77.50% | R+56.2 | 19.94% | 76.49% | R+56.5 | R |
| 84 | 34.95% | 63.28% | R+28.3 | 35.12% | 59.58% | R+24.5 | R |
| 85 | 37.99% | 61.03% | R+23 | 41.09% | 56.10% | R+15 | R |
| 86 | 16.18% | 82.55% | R+66.4 | 16.16% | 80.17% | R+64 | R |
| 87 | 22.12% | 76.56% | R+54.4 | 21.74% | 74.43% | R+52.7 | R |
| 88 | 19.06% | 79.89% | R+60.8 | 16.48% | 80.59% | R+64.1 | R |
| 89 | 31.79% | 66.67% | R+34.9 | 36.08% | 59.03% | R+23 | R |
| 90 | 73.70% | 25.21% | D+48.5 | 74.97% | 21.48% | D+53.5 | D |
| 91 | 30.45% | 67.90% | R+37.5 | 32.14% | 63.08% | R+30.9 | R |
| 92 | 37.22% | 61.08% | R+23.9 | 40.54% | 54.66% | R+14.1 | R |
| 93 | 38.26% | 60.21% | R+21.9 | 40.40% | 54.84% | R+14.4 | R |
| 94 | 38.10% | 60.29% | R+22.2 | 40.87% | 54.30% | R+13.4 | R |
| 95 | 76.11% | 22.99% | D+53.1 | 74.24% | 22.89% | D+51.4 | D |
| 96 | 40.22% | 58.60% | R+18.4 | 42.55% | 53.74% | R+11.2 | R |
| 97 | 38.92% | 59.59% | R+20.7 | 42.59% | 52.42% | R+9.8 | R |
| 98 | 23.57% | 75.01% | R+51.4 | 28.91% | 66.33% | R+37.4 | R |
| 99 | 30.70% | 67.69% | R+37 | 32.12% | 63.36% | R+31.2 | R |
| 100 | 77.89% | 21.07% | D+56.8 | 77.24% | 19.30% | D+57.9 | D |
| 101 | 64.01% | 34.87% | D+29.1 | 66.06% | 30.36% | D+35.7 | D |
| 102 | 45.32% | 53.02% | R+7.7 | 52.27% | 42.74% | D+9.5 | R |
| 103 | 69.87% | 28.77% | D+41.1 | 73.55% | 22.33% | D+51.2 | D |
| 104 | 72.70% | 26.36% | D+46.3 | 75.60% | 20.85% | D+54.7 | D |
| 105 | 46.48% | 52.14% | R+5.7 | 52.13% | 43.60% | D+8.5 | R |
| 106 | 30.86% | 67.69% | R+36.8 | 35.83% | 59.70% | R+23.9 | R |
| 107 | 46.89% | 51.83% | R+4.9 | 52.37% | 43.40% | D+9 | D |
| 108 | 39.31% | 58.99% | R+19.7 | 50.32% | 44.01% | D+6.3 | R |
| 109 | 81.75% | 17.68% | D+64.1 | 81.55% | 16.42% | D+65.1 | D |
| 110 | 88.74% | 10.77% | D+78 | 86.76% | 11.25% | D+75.5 | D |
| 111 | 77.24% | 22.06% | D+55.2 | 77.40% | 20.17% | D+57.2 | D |
| 112 | 43.50% | 55.03% | R+11.5 | 48.28% | 47.10% | D+1.2 | R |
| 113 | 46.31% | 52.53% | R+6.2 | 49.13% | 47.23% | D+1.9 | R |
| 114 | 43.48% | 55.23% | R+11.7 | 52.14% | 43.21% | D+8.9 | R |
| 115 | 43.23% | 55.27% | R+12 | 51.54% | 43.64% | D+7.9 | R |
| 116 | 60.53% | 37.80% | D+22.7 | 63.73% | 31.10% | D+32.6 | D |
| 117 | 51.99% | 46.85% | D+5.1 | 53.23% | 42.14% | D+11.1 | D |
| 118 | 55.33% | 43.41% | D+11.9 | 55.58% | 40.41% | D+15.2 | D |
| 119 | 60.26% | 38.58% | D+21.7 | 60.13% | 36.08% | D+24.1 | D |
| 120 | 64.75% | 34.11% | D+30.6 | 63.51% | 32.10% | D+31.4 | D |
| 121 | 37.61% | 60.88% | R+23.3 | 43.42% | 51.69% | R+8.3 | R |
| 122 | 30.87% | 67.87% | R+37 | 37.75% | 57.87% | R+20.1 | R |
| 123 | 61.36% | 36.80% | D+24.6 | 65.02% | 30.27% | D+34.7 | D |
| 124 | 60.94% | 37.65% | D+23.3 | 62.19% | 33.04% | D+29.1 | D |
| 125 | 59.11% | 39.59% | D+19.5 | 61.62% | 33.69% | D+27.9 | D |
| 126 | 36.72% | 62.08% | R+25.4 | 43.00% | 52.94% | R+9.9 | R |
| 127 | 29.60% | 69.21% | R+39.6 | 34.90% | 61.23% | R+26.3 | R |
| 128 | 26.59% | 72.37% | R+45.8 | 28.77% | 68.15% | R+39.4 | R |
| 129 | 33.88% | 64.47% | R+30.6 | 40.06% | 55.33% | R+15.3 | R |
| 130 | 22.81% | 75.91% | R+53.1 | 27.96% | 68.06% | R+40.1 | R |
| 131 | 83.65% | 15.69% | D+68 | 84.29% | 13.35% | D+70.9 | D |
| 132 | 39.77% | 58.92% | R+19.2 | 45.68% | 50.04% | R+4.4 | R |
| 133 | 30.41% | 68.14% | R+37.7 | 41.12% | 54.52% | R+13.4 | R |
| 134 | 41.74% | 56.39% | R+14.7 | 55.09% | 39.61% | D+15.5 | R |
| 135 | 39.86% | 58.83% | R+19 | 46.82% | 48.89% | R+2.1 | R |
| 136 | 41.43% | 55.34% | R+13.9 | 47.69% | 45.16% | D+2.5 | R |
| 137 | 63.91% | 34.49% | D+29.4 | 67.00% | 28.92% | D+38.1 | D |
| 138 | 39.30% | 59.18% | R+19.9 | 47.85% | 47.78% | D+0.1 | R |
| 139 | 75.62% | 23.61% | D+52 | 76.12% | 20.61% | D+55.5 | D |
| 140 | 70.10% | 28.98% | D+41.1 | 75.09% | 21.87% | D+53.2 | D |
| 141 | 87.41% | 12.07% | D+75.3 | 85.19% | 12.59% | D+72.6 | D |
| 142 | 77.41% | 21.97% | D+55.4 | 76.20% | 20.97% | D+55.2 | D |
| 143 | 67.18% | 31.86% | D+35.3 | 71.02% | 26.02% | D+45 | D |
| 144 | 50.77% | 47.88% | D+2.9 | 57.75% | 38.37% | D+19.4 | D |
| 145 | 60.26% | 38.28% | D+22 | 66.92% | 28.72% | D+38.2 | D |
| 146 | 78.82% | 20.05% | D+58.8 | 79.43% | 17.32% | D+62.1 | D |
| 147 | 78.07% | 20.30% | D+57.8 | 78.99% | 16.78% | D+62.2 | D |
| 148 | 56.59% | 41.08% | D+15.5 | 63.82% | 30.50% | D+33.3 | D |
| 149 | 58.76% | 40.12% | D+18.6 | 64.25% | 32.50% | D+31.8 | D |
| 150 | 30.28% | 68.55% | R+38.3 | 36.63% | 59.18% | R+22.6 | R |
| Total | 41.40% | 57.19% | R+15.8 | 43.48% | 52.53% | R+9.1 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
District election history
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House Texas District 13
Incumbent Mac Thornberry defeated Greg Sagan and Calvin DeWeese in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 13 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mac Thornberry (R) | 81.5 | 169,027 |
 | Greg Sagan (D) | 16.9 | 35,083 | |
| Calvin DeWeese (L) | 1.5 | 3,175 | ||
| Total votes: 207,285 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 13
Greg Sagan advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 13 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Greg Sagan | 100.0 | 7,322 |
| Total votes: 7,322 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 13
Incumbent Mac Thornberry advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 13 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mac Thornberry | 100.0 | 71,018 |
| Total votes: 71,018 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Mac Thornberry (R) defeated Calvin DeWeese (L) and Rusty Tomlinson (G) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Thornberry faced no opposition in the Republican primary on March 1, 2016. No Democrats filed to run in the race.[61][62]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Mac Thornberry Incumbent |
90% | 199,050 | |
| Libertarian | Calvin DeWeese | 6.7% | 14,725 | |
| Green | Rusty Tomlinson | 3.4% | 7,467 | |
| Total Votes | 221,242 | |||
| Source: Texas Secretary of State | ||||
2014
The 13th Congressional District of Texas held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Mac Thornberry (R) defeated Mike Minter (D), Emily Pivoda (L) and Don Cook (G) in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mac Thornberry Incumbent |
84.3% | 110,842 | |
| Democratic | Mike Minter | 12.8% | 16,822 | |
| Libertarian | Emily Pivoda | 2.2% | 2,863 | |
| Green | Don Cook | 0.7% | 924 | |
| Total Votes | 131,451 | |||
| Source: Texas Secretary of State | ||||
State profile
- See also: Texas and Texas elections, 2019
Partisan data
The information in this section was current as of January 22, 2020
Presidential voting pattern
- Texas voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Congressional delegation
- Following the 2018 elections, both U.S. senators from Texas were Republicans.
- Twenty-three of Texas' 36 U.S. representatives were Republicans and 13 were Democrats.
State executives
- Republicans held six of Texas' nine state executive offices. The other three offices were nonpartisan.
- Texas' governor was Republican Greg Abbott.
State legislature
- Republicans controlled the Texas State Senate with a 19-12 majority.
- Republicans controlled the Texas House of Representatives with a 83-67 majority.
Texas Party Control: 1992-2025
Three years of Democratic trifectas • Twenty-three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
|
|
| Demographic data for Texas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Texas | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 27,429,639 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 261,232 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 74.9% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 11.9% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 4.2% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.5% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 38.4% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 81.9% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 27.6% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $53,207 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 19.9% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Texas. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
See also
- Texas' 13th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primary)
- Texas' 13th Congressional District election, 2020
- United States House elections in Texas, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primaries)
- United States House elections in Texas, 2020 (March 3 Republican primaries)
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2020
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2020
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2020
- U.S. House battlegrounds, 2020
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ macthornberry.com, "Thornberry Statement," September 30, 2019
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Ekstrom, Chris," accessed February 19, 2020
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Texas - House District 13," accessed February 19, 2020
- ↑ Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Amarillo Pioneer, "Endorsement: Ekstrom is Amarillo Republicans’ Best Choice for Congress," February 17, 2020
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Texomashomepage.com, "President Trump endorses Ronny Jackson for 13th Congressional District," February 28, 2020
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Times Record News, "Congressman Thornberry endorses Winegarner in Texas 13 race," February 10, 2020
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Amarillo Pioneer, "Biggs Endorses Ekstrom for Congress," January 27, 2020
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Twitter, "Patrick Svitek on December 10, 2019," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Amarillo Pioneer, "Mo Brooks Endorses Ekstrom in 13th District U.S. House Race," November 13, 2019
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 The Amarillo Pioneer, "Mike Conaway Endorses Winegarner for Congress," January 27, 2020
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedWinegarnerAg - ↑ 13.0 13.1 Twitter, "Club for Growth on January 13, 2020," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ Twitter, "Chris Ekstrom on February 28, 2020," accessed March 2, 2020
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Facebook, "Hays for Congress on February 10, 2020," accessed February 12, 2020
- ↑ Times Record News, "Jackson: 'I can run in this district ... without changing anything about who I am,'" February 20, 2020
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedTXSIP - ↑ Times Record News, "Twelve Republicans vying for 13th Congressional District seat take part in forum," February 12, 2020
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedTfFR - ↑ News Channel 6 KAUZ, "Almost all Dist. 13 candidates speak at Luby’s," January 20, 2020
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedTRtL - ↑ Gainesville Daily Register, "WITH VIDEO: 14 congressional candidates show up at forum for Texas District 13 hopefuls," January 10, 2020
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedSTDTU - ↑ Times Record News, "Congressional candidates speak on abortion, Trump and more at Wichita Falls Tea Party forum," December 7, 2019
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedJStickland - ↑ 32.00 32.01 32.02 32.03 32.04 32.05 32.06 32.07 32.08 32.09 32.10 32.11 32.12 32.13 32.14 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Catherine Carr 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed March 2, 2020
- ↑ Jamie Culley 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ Chris Ekstrom's 2020 campaign website, "Issues," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ Jason Foglesong's 2020 campaign website, "Legislation and Policy," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ Lee Harvey's 2020 campaign website, "Issues," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ Elaine Hays' 2020 campaign website, "Issues," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ Richard Herman's 2020 campaign website, "Issues," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ Ronny Jackson's 2020 campaign website, "On the Issues," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ Diane Knowlton's 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ Matt McArthur's 2020 campaign website, "Issues," accessed February 19, 2020
- ↑ Mark Neese's 2020 campaign website, "Platform," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ Vance Snider's 2020 campaign website, "Issues," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ Josh Winegarner's 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ Monique Worthy's 2020 campaign website, "Where does Monique stand on the issues?," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
- ↑ Texas Statutes, "Section 172.086," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ Texas Legislature, "Chapter 172. Primary Elections," accessed July 10, 2020
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Election Advisory No. 2020-05," February 11, 2020
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2016 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County," accessed December 15, 2015
- ↑ The New York Times, "Texas Primary Results," March 1, 2016
