You have to do what you can with the time you have, former State Rep. Matt Rinaldi said at a Coppell Republican Club event this week.
Rinaldi told the roomful of supporters that he is happy with the conservative gains made during his two terms representing House District 115 in the Texas Legislature. He cited as top wins the passage of strong anti-sanctuary city and pro-life legislation, and getting a new House speaker.
A founding member of the Texas Freedom Caucus, Rinaldi gained a reputation as a pro-liberty stalwart and taxpayer champion, earning an A+ rating on the Fiscal Responsibility Index.
Like many Dallas County Republicans, Rinaldi lost his 2018 re-election bid to a Democrat challenger. But he’s still very much a winner in the minds of conservative Texans, particularly in Coppell where he won a majority of the vote.
“Matt Rinaldi won Coppell,” says Coppell resident and CRC member Ron Hansen. “Matt will be missed as he truly represented the interests of our Coppell community.”
Hansen said the majority of Coppell’s voters support lower taxes, limited government, lower government spending, pro-life and pro-family legislation, and border security. “These are the items that Matt’s opponent rejected,” he added.
Rinaldi shared polling data from HD 115 showing voters across the district not only leaned Republican on the issues, but they also held favorable views of their state and local Republican officials. Yet they voted Democrat in all races.
Lack of message penetration was a factor, Rinaldi said. Democrats poured tens of millions into the election, and voting was driven by opinions about President Donald Trump and failed U.S. Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke.
Looking ahead to 2020, Rinaldi advised Republicans to start their campaigns now and begin identifying voters to turn out on Election Day.
Asked about his future plans, Rinaldi said he’s not considering elective office right now but “will run for something again at some point in time.”
