After a months-long campaign, State Rep. Pat Fallon (Prosper) defeated longtime incumbent State Sen. Craig Estes (Wichita Falls) in the Republican primary to represent Senate District 30.
A long-time obstacle to conservative reforms in the Senate, Estes earned a career “F” on the Fiscal Responsibility Index, often fighting conservatives on issues such as ending in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. In contrast, Fallon, who has served in the House since 2012, has earned a career A-rating on the Index and has been a reliable advocate for taxpayers in the legislature.
Since announcing his intention to run for the seat shortly after the conclusion of the special legislative session last year, Fallon quickly accrued strong support from conservative organizations including Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, Texas Right to Life, and Young Conservatives of Texas.
Fallon additionally earned the endorsement of Sen. Ted Cruz and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who took the rare move of endorsing against an incumbent Senator, telling voters, “I know both candidates in Senate District 20 and I choose Fallon.”
Estes had taken heat from Patrick and other legislators after he released an ad depicting a Fallon impersonator in a Catholic confessional, which was seen by some as mocking Fallon’s Catholic faith and the sacrament of confession, and Patrick referred to as “offensive and inaccurate.”
Conservative businessman Jared Patterson will be replacing Fallon in the House.
Fallon will face Democrat Kevin Lopez in the general election in November.
