On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump continued his involvement in the ongoing 2022 Texas election cycle by announcing yet another endorsement.
Endorsing Republican State Sen. Dawn Buckingham (Lakeway) in her campaign for Texas land commissioner, Trump said:
A Senator and a doctor, Dawn Buckingham was one of my very first supporters in the Great State of Texas. She has served in the Senate for eight years, is highly respected, and is someone who can always be counted on to do the right thing for her State. She is running for the position of Land Commissioner in order to protect the great legacy of Texas including defending the Alamo which, like all other amazing institutions, is under siege. She is strong on Borders, our Second Amendment, Law Enforcement, loves our Military and our Vets. Dawn has my Complete and Total Endorsement!
Buckingham has served in the Senate for four years, not eight, as Trump indicates in his statement. She announced her candidacy in June, shortly after the 87th regular legislative session concluded and current Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced his candidacy for Texas attorney general, challenging current Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Other Trump Endorsements
Trump has become increasingly involved in the 2022 Texas election cycle in recent weeks.
He recently endorsed Kevin Sparks, Midland businessman, against incumbent State Sen. Kel Seliger (R–Amarillo) for Texas Senate District 31. The endorsement is likely one of the main reasons Seliger then announced a few days later that he would not seek re-election to the seat.
Trump also sought to influence the prospects for legislation that would have provided for an election audit during the recently concluded special legislative session, blaming Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan for “standing in the way of a real election audit.”
He went on to say, “Texans are tired of Phelan’s weak RINO leadership in the State House. Texas is a very red state, even more than people know. If this doesn’t pass soon, we look forward to seeing him in the Texas primary. It will get done one way or the other!”
The legislation was never considered in the Texas House of Representatives, despite Trump’s support for it. As such, the special legislative session concluded with the issue unaddressed. Notably, it was never added to the agenda by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, whom Trump had also endorsed in early June.
Trump had previously asked Abbott to add the issue to his agenda only a few days into the special session in September.
Trump had also previously endorsed in a special election for Texas’ 6th Congressional District, to fill the late Ron Wright’s seat. He endorsed Ron Wright’s wife, Susan Wright, who went on to lose to Jake Ellzey, a freshman Republican state representative from Waxahachie.
What Does it All Mean?
It is unclear whether Trump will continue to be involved in the ongoing 2022 election cycle and whether his endorsements will heavily influence election results altogether.
Buckingham does have two additional challengers in her race for Texas Land Commissioner, which includes San Antonio-area businessman and activist Weston Martinez, as well as former congressional candidate Dr. Jon Spiers.
