Andy Hopper is the latest grassroots leader to challenge the legislative establishment in the Republican primary. “Texas needs strong legislators who will stand up for our rights and our home,” he stated.
On Wednesday morning, a day after the third special session of the Texas Legislature concluded, Hopper announced his candidacy for the Texas House in District 64. In the state House maps recently approved by the Legislature, HD 64 now includes Wise County.
“I am a ‘Texas First’ conservative Republican who believes the words of the Texas Constitution,” Hopper stated.
Texans are being crushed by tyranny and an outright invasion of our southern border. Texas needs strong legislators who will stand up for our rights and our home.
Today I am announcing my candidacy for House District 64. #TexasOurTexas #txlege #HD64 pic.twitter.com/Tpu8PLDRUi
— Andy Hopper (@AndyHopperTX) October 20, 2021
Mike Olcott, a grassroots leader in Parker County who recently announced his own run for House District 60, shared his “excitement” that his “friend” Hopper is running. “Just the man we need in Austin to push back against an over reaching Federal government!”
Hopper, a warrant officer in the Texas State Guard, made waves earlier this year when he exposed a training session of the TSG “to indoctrinate a left-wing political agenda of cultural Marxism, critical race theory, and moral relativism upon” the Texas military force. Unlike the Texas Army National Guard, the TSG answers only to the Texas governor, not any federal authority.
In this morning’s press release, Hopper spoke against illegal border crossings “perpetuated by the federal government” and “unconstitutional medical mandates.”
Hopper will face incumbent State Rep. Lynn Stucky (R–Sanger), who was first elected in 2016. Stucky has earned a rating of 51 out of 100 from Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and a 65 out of 100 from Young Conservatives of Texas. He also earned a 100 out of 100 from Texas Right to Life.
Texas Scorecard asked Hopper why he’s challenging Stucky. “After a near-complete grid failure, an in-progress border invasion, and rampant medical tyranny putting the jobs of millions of Texans who are standing for liberty at risk, Texans have witnessed our 87th Legislature do nothing to address our most critical issues,” he replied. “The back of Texas is against the wall. Wise and Denton counties deserve a true conservative who will stand for their values; currently, they are represented by a ‘Republican’ with a solid ‘F’ rating.”
Due to a delay in the decennial redistricting process, the 2022 Republican primary election is expected to take place sometime between March of 2022 and next summer.