In the open race for House District 8, one candidate’s associations make it clear she’s no friend to conservatives.
Linda Timmerman, one of three Republican candidates vying for the seat being vacated by State Rep. Byron Cook (R–Corsicana), posed for a picture with the retiring representative and Scott Milder, a liberal challenger to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
In a post on Twitter, Milder attacked Patrick for being “irrational and radical” while grinning with Cook and pronouncing Timmerman to be Cook’s “soon-to-be successor.”
Milder, who claims he was “drafted to run for Lieutenant Governor by business and education leaders,” has thus-far failed to gain any traction statewide. His most recent campaign finance report showed less than $40,000 cash on hand, compared to Patrick’s $18 million. He has also failed to gain any high profile endorsements, instead touting the support of former Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff, the architect of the “Robin Hood” school finance scheme who famously claimed to be a Republican “51% of the time.”
In his feeble campaign against Patrick, whom he has called a “jackass,” Milder has repeatedly attacked privacy legislation passed by the Senate and killed by the House last year as well as school choice legislation.
It should come as no surprise, then, to see him pictured smiling with Cook.
Cook has been one of the biggest opponents of conservative reform in the Texas House. As chairman of the State Affairs Committee, Cook repeatedly killed high-profile conservative legislation such as sanctuary cities bans, pro-life bills, ending automatic union dues collection, and legislation to keep men out of women’s showers, locker rooms, and restrooms.
When liberal Republican House Speaker Joe Straus (R–San Antonio) announced he was quitting the legislature this past October, Cook followed him out the door with an announcement an hour later.
It’s not shocking that Cook and Milder are palling around together. However, Timmerman’s inclusion in the photo is notable.
Currently a Dean at Navarro College, Timmerman has run a quiet campaign thus far, raising only $16,905 in the latest reporting period, and loaning her campaign $30,000.
Timmerman faces two candidates in the Republican primary:
Cody Harris, a Palestine businessman who has racked up some early endorsements from Austin lobby organizations like the Texas Association of Realtors and the Texas Farm Bureau, and Corsicana businessman Thomas McNutt. McNutt, the clear frontrunner in fundraising, has received numerous conservative endorsements including Texas Right to Life and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility.
But it appears that Timmerman is Cook’s choice to replace him. If so, then it’s clear that she represents more of the same liberal representation in Austin.
Brandon Waltens

Brandon serves as the Senior Editor for Texas Scorecard. After managing successful campaigns for top conservative legislators and serving as a Chief of Staff in the Texas Capitol, Brandon moved outside the dome in order to shine a spotlight on conservative victories and establishment corruption in Austin. @bwaltens

RELATED POSTS