As the primary election draws near, conservative grassroots organization Grassroots America: We The People has announced a slew of endorsements.
In regards to statewide officials, GAWTP has endorsed Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine for re-election and Clint Morgan for Justice on the 1st Court of Appeals, Place 7. Morgan is running unopposed in the primary.
GAWTP has also endorsed several candidates for House Districts across the state.
- Dale Huls is challenging State Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) for House District 1 in Northeast Texas.
- Daniel Alders is running unopposed for House District 6—an open seat in East Texas being vacated by State Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler).
- Paulette Carson is challenging State Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) for House District 9 in East Texas.
- Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) is running for re-election unopposed in House District 10 south of Dallas Fort Worth.
- Tom Glass is challenging State Rep. Stan Gerdes (R-Smithville) for House District 17 east of Austin.
- Kyle Biederman is challenging State Rep. Ellen Troxclair (R-Lakeway) for House District 19 west of Austin.
- David Covey is challenging State Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont), the House Speaker, for House District 21 in East Texas.
- Matthew Morgan is challenging State Rep. Jacey Jetton (R-Richmond) for House District 26 in southwest Houston.
- AJ Louderback is challenging State Rep. Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria) for House District 30 south of Houston.
- Dennis London is challenging State Rep. Justin Holland (R-Heath) for House District 33 just east of Dallas.
- Wesley Virdell is running for House District 53—a West Texas seat being vacated by State Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Junction).
- Devvie Duke is running for State Rep. Charles Anderson’s (R-Lorena) soon vacated House District 56 seat in the Waco area.
- Mike Olcott is challenging State Rep. Glenn Rogers (R-Graford) for House District 60 west of Fort Worth.
- Andy Hopper is challenging State Rep. Lynn Stucky (R-Sanger) for House District 64 northwest of Fort Worth.
- Mitch Little is challenging State Rep. Kronda Thimesch (R-Lewisville) for House District 65 in North DFW.
- Wayne Richard is challenging State Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) for House District 66 north of Dallas.
- Liz Case is challenging State Rep. Stan Lambert (R-Abilene) for House District 71 in West Texas.
- Jamie Haynes is challenging State Rep. John Smithee (R-Amarillo) for House District 86 in North Texas.
- Barry Wernick is challenging State Rep. Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas) for House District 108 in Dallas.
- John Perez is challenging State Rep. Mano DeAyala (R-Houston) for House District 133 in West Houston.
GAWTP has also endorsed Brent Money for House District 2.
The HD 2 seat is currently vacant; Money is competing with Jill Dutton in the runoff election to fill the seat until 2025. Both Money and Dutton have also filed in the Republican Primary for HD 2 for the next term beginning in 2025.
GAWTP does not endorse in every race, as they say, “Some races don’t have a candidate qualified for endorsement.”
“Grassroots America’s candidate vetting process is unapologetically rigorous,” GAWTP Executive Director JoAnn Fleming told Texas Scorecard. “We set high standards which are not elastic. Candidates are expected to be honest and to have the ability to go beyond basic rhetorical talking points on a range of issues.”
“Lending credibility to any candidate is a serious business,” she continued. “With confidence in government and other public institutions at an all-time low, we owe it to our supporters and to the Texas we love to exercise due diligence when evaluating a candidate’s fitness for office.”
Fleming explained that the initial interview for an endorsement is an hour long and they run financial and criminal background checks on the candidates.
Additionally, “Grassroots America has no ‘friendly incumbent’ rule,” said Fleming. “If an incumbent received a Grassroots America endorsement in the past, that was NOT a lifetime commitment on our part. Incumbents must re-apply by sending in the candidate pre-interview form like everyone else. Because we believe in personal responsibility, we do not chase down incumbent politicians and candidates.“
The full list of GAWTP endorsements thus far can be viewed here.
