After three citizens challenged Glenn Rogers (R–Mineral Wells) in the 2022 Republican primary earlier this month, he now faces Parker County Conservatives co-founder Mike Olcott in the May runoff election.

Rogers won his first term in 2020 by about 300 votes following a July runoff election—postponed due to the coronavirus. Rogers was one of four candidates competing for the open seat in House District 60. He came in second in the primary but won the runoff election against Jon Francis.

Throughout his campaign, Rogers clearly stated that he disagreed with ending taxpayer-funded lobbying and did not support constitutional carry (though he eventually joined Republicans in voting for the bill during the session). “I’m very much a Republican, but I also have a brain,” said Rogers. The Austin establishment, including former House Speaker Joe Straus, threw their support and financial backing behind Rogers.

A freshman in the 87th Legislative Session last year, Rogers’ lack of support for certain Republican priorities—like ending taxpayer-funded lobbying—earned him a score of 53 from the Young Conservatives of Texas. Texans for Fiscal Responsibility gave Rogers a rating of 45, placing Rogers solidly in the bottom quarter of Republican representatives.

Beginning his legislative career by voting against a proposal to bar Democrats from House leadership, Rogers thereby allowed Democrats to chair important committees and kill Republican priority bills. Rogers also rejected amendments that attempted to create transparency in the legislative process, including in committee hearings, which can become shrouded in secrecy.

One of Rogers’ more notable actions as state representative involved voting down an amendment that would have prohibited the state’s prescription drug savings program from administering puberty blockers to underage children experiencing gender confusion.

Rogers also voted to give taxpayer subsidies to unreliable energy sources, fund education for illegal aliens, and voted down language in the state budget bill that would have prohibited certain school funds from being used to hire a registered lobbyist.

According to Transparency USA, Rogers’ top donors this election cycle are the Texas Farm Bureau, House Speaker Dade Phelan, the Texas Realtors PAC, the Texas Veterinary PAC, and Texans for Lawsuit Reform.

The runoff election is May 24.

Sydnie Henry

A born and bred Texan, Sydnie serves as the Managing Editor for Texas Scorecard. She graduated from Patrick Henry College with a B.A. in Government and is utilizing her research and writing skills to spread truth to Texans.

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