A candidate with a history of supporting left-wing Democrats and wanting to upend a pro-taxpayer city council in North Texas is now running for precinct chair in a county Republican Party.
Colleyville resident Vanessa Steinkamp is back trying again to win elected office; many residents remember her recent bloodbath campaign just a few months ago when she tried to unseat Bobby Lindamood Jr. from the city council.
Steinkamp has tried to present herself as more liberty-minded, once claiming she “never wavered in my Conservative beliefs …”, but that was brought into question by a series of messages between herself and an unnamed source where she expressed her support for former Democrat U.S. Senate Candidate Robert “Beto” O’Rourke.
“I hate [U.S. Sen Ted] Cruz,” she wrote.
Steinkamp also wrote she would be voting for then-candidate Beverly Powell (D–Burleson) for State Senate over conservative former State Sen. Konni Burton, whom Steinkamp described as “terrible.”
Lindamood went on to defeat Steinkamp 57 percent to 42 percent, but she has refused to go away quietly. As of this week, Steinkamp filed to run for precinct chair in the Tarrant County Republican Party. Precincts are the smallest election district within a county, and precinct chairs are expected to help elect Republicans and maximize the Republican vote within their precinct.
Some critics say her run for a “small” seat is ultimately a part of her larger strategy to shore up her Republican credentials and have a stronger bid for a seat on Colleyville’s city council.
However, her own social media activities may hinder this and draw into question how committed she is to Republican values. Texas Scorecard has learned Steinkamp is a member of three left leaning Facebook groups. She also used her profile to urge people to vote for O’Rourke in his 2018 challenge to Cruz, and has a photo with former Democrat President Barack Obama.
Texas Scorecard reached out to Steinkamp regarding these activities and photos. Her responses will appear in a follow up article to this piece.
Steinkamp is being opposed by Colleyville resident Christie Reed. Voters in precinct 3510 will decide in March 2020.
