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Wesley Virdell
Wesley Virdell (Republican Party) (also known as Wes) is a member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 53. He assumed office on January 14, 2025. His current term ends on January 12, 2027.
Virdell (Republican Party) ran for election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 53. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Wesley Virdell was born in Texas. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 2001 to 2008. His career experience includes working as the owner of a trucking business.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 53
Wesley Virdell defeated Joe P. Herrera and Brian Holk in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 53 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Wesley Virdell (R) | 76.6 | 76,176 |
 | Joe P. Herrera (D)  | 21.2 | 21,058 | |
 | Brian Holk (L) | 2.2 | 2,230 | |
| Total votes: 99,464 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 53
Joe P. Herrera advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 53 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joe P. Herrera | 100.0 | 3,714 |
| Total votes: 3,714 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 53
Wesley Virdell defeated Hatch Smith in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 53 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Wesley Virdell | 60.4 | 24,038 |
| Hatch Smith | 39.6 | 15,729 | ||
| Total votes: 39,767 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Texas House of Representatives District 53
Brian Holk advanced from the Libertarian convention for Texas House of Representatives District 53 on March 23, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Brian Holk (L) |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
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Campaign finance
Endorsements
Virdell received the following endorsements.
- Former President Donald Trump (R)
- Grassroots America: We The People
Pledges
Virdell signed the following pledges.
2022
See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 53
Incumbent Andrew Murr defeated Joe P. Herrera in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 53 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Andrew Murr (R) | 79.8 | 63,034 |
| Joe P. Herrera (D) | 20.2 | 15,926 | |
| Total votes: 78,960 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 53
Joe P. Herrera advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 53 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joe P. Herrera | 100.0 | 4,273 |
| Total votes: 4,273 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 53
Incumbent Andrew Murr defeated Wesley Virdell in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 53 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Andrew Murr | 63.3 | 21,326 |
| Wesley Virdell | 36.7 | 12,339 | |
| Total votes: 33,665 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Campaign finance
2020
See also: Texas' 11th Congressional District election, 2020
Texas' 11th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primary)
Texas' 11th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Republican primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Texas District 11
August Pfluger defeated Jon Mark Hogg and Wacey Alpha Cody in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 11 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | August Pfluger (R) | 79.7 | 232,568 |
 | Jon Mark Hogg (D) | 18.3 | 53,394 | |
 | Wacey Alpha Cody (L) | 2.0 | 5,811 | |
| Total votes: 291,773 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jeffery Cady (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 11
Jon Mark Hogg advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 11 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jon Mark Hogg | 100.0 | 16,644 |
| Total votes: 16,644 | |||
| = 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 11
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 11 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | August Pfluger | 52.2 | 56,093 |
 | Brandon Batch | 15.1 | 16,224 | |
| Wesley Virdell | 7.1 | 7,672 | |
 | Jamie Berryhill | 7.0 | 7,496 | |
 | J. Ross Lacy | 4.5 | 4,785 | |
 | J.D. Faircloth | 4.0 | 4,257 | |
 | Casey Gray | 3.8 | 4,064 | |
 | Robert Tucker | 2.9 | 3,137 | |
| Ned Luscombe | 1.9 | 2,066 | ||
| Gene Barber | 1.5 | 1,641 | ||
| Total votes: 107,435 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Cynthia Breyman (R)
- Ross Schumann (R)
- Richard Bartlett (R)
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 11
Wacey Alpha Cody defeated Brian Holk in the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 11 on March 21, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Wacey Alpha Cody (L) |
| Brian Holk (L) | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Wesley Virdell did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Wesley Virdell did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Wesley Virdell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Virdell's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
To restore liberty to the people of the United States. To reduce the size of the federal government. To pass the 28th Amendment that includes congressional term limits, a required annual balanced budget, that all states must follow the Bill of Rights in its full capacity, and that all bills must be single subject only.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Congressional spending, foreign intervention, and free market prosperity.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I like Thomas Massie, Louie Gomhert, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Rand Paul, and Benjamin Sasse. I believe I would vote and lead in the same way that they do. For personal finance, I like Dave Ramsey.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
I really enjoy The Law by Frederic Bastiat and Free to Choose by Milton Friedman. I like the HBO series John Adams and the movie Mr. Smith goes to Washington.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
I think you have to have an unwavering passion for integrity. I also think you have to have a backbone to stand up to corruption. There are too many in Washington that have soft hands and no spine. It is my personal goal to keep people like that from having a negative effect on our daily lives.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I don't bow down to corrupt authority. I have a short fuse for people who are dishonest. I care about people. I have a strong personal conviction to do what is right and not letting others influence me to do the opposite. My military experience and civilian experience has trained me for this moment. As an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Maintainer, I have confidence in my technical ability and my problem solving skills. As a Military Training Leader, I have had a unique experience in getting to play a role in helping others to have successful careers and more importantly successful lives. I hope those Airmen have gone on to be a blessing to those around them in all capacities.
What legacy would you like to leave?
When you die, the only thing you leave behind is your reputation. In a small town, you can see it first hand. My kids and their kids will be judged by my actions. There are long term consequences for your family if you act in a way that is not honorable. My great grandparents and grandparents left my family with an honorable reputation. I am still told stories on a regular basis about things my family did 70 years ago and the positive impact they had on others. My parents are also leaving that legacy. Leaving a legacy is not about how much money you have when you die, it is about what you did for the people around you while you lived. I hope my kids understand this and pass it on to their kids.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
I started off sweeping floors for my dad in our family business when I was around 8 years old. I am still working here and I still have to ocassionally sweep the floors.
What happened on your most awkward date?
It's a great story, but I am not going to tell it here.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Maybe Captain America, Indiana Jones, or John McClane. It is hard to pick between those three.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My family.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
I like guns... a lot! I would say trying to hug all of my guns at once has been a struggle. Just kidding. But seriously!
What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
Abortion, Socialism, Debt, Foreign Interventions
What are your thoughts on term limits?
We need them badly. Our founders did not expect anyone to make a lifetime profession of Congress.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Virdell’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Abortion Wes does not support any form of abortion. A child does not deserve to be punished for the choices of the father or mother. All lives are important and should be treated as such. 2nd Amendment Wes is 100% against any form of gun control. The 2nd Amendment is a restriction on the federal government and not a restriction on the citizen. We need to make sure we do not elect/re-elect any person that does not understand this. If you give the government one inch, they will take a mile. Healthcare Wes wants to see the federal government removed from our healthcare. Obamacare, also known as the unaffordable care act, is financially unaffordable for working class citizens. The federal government's involvement before Obamacare made medical expenses high and Obamacare multiplied the problem. Wes knows that the federal government has no constitutional authority to interject itself into healthcare. Healthcare should be between a citizen and a provider. Anytime the government tries to manipulate the market with good intentions, that make it worse. Border Control Wes knows we need to fund the construction of a strong border wall. Wes wants to see the catch and release program terminated. Any person that crosses the border illegally should be charged with criminal trespassing and immediately deported. If a person proves they cannot follow our most basic laws, they should lose the right to apply for citizenship. Less Government Wes believes we are supposed to have a limited federal republican form of government. We are not supposed to have a nationalist government that infringes on the rights of states to govern themselves. Wes wants to see the federal government operate within the boundaries set by the Constitution. Taxation Wes believes we are over taxed and immorally taxed. He wants to see the 16thAmendment (income tax) repealed and Jeffersonian taxation principles restored. Our government has abused its authority to tax the citizens and it needs to be held accountable. Military Wes knows we are not supposed to be the world police. If our government really cares about our troops, we would quit sending them to endless wars with no stated goal. Wes knows that all empires have fallen when they stretched themselves too thin across the world. We must have a strong military and we must make sure that we are utilizing our troops in the best way possible for the sake of our country. Proper Representation Wes wants to make sure we have proper Republican representation for District 11. He does not want to see another moderate Republican Congressman vote away our liberties and money. Wes will represent one of the most conservative districts in the country with real conservative values. [2] |
” |
| —Wesley Virdell[3] | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Texas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Texas House of Representatives District 53 |
Officeholder Texas House of Representatives District 53 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Conservative Wes Virdell for State Representative, "About Wes Virdell," accessed February 25, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Wesley Virdell's 2020 campaign website, “Home,” accessed February 10, 2020
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Andrew Murr (R) |
Texas House of Representatives District 53 2025-Present |
Succeeded by - |
