With all ballots counted late last night, Fredericksburg businessman Kyle Biedermann cruised to victory against Straus Committee Chairman Doug Miller. In a race defined by Miller’s repugnant mudslinging— even his own supporters openly condemned—voters soundly rejected both Miller’s false rhetoric and repulsive record.
In most elections, incumbent lawmakers carry a major advantage in their hometown. However, that wasn’t the case for Doug Miller. Rather than performing well, Miller lost his home county of Comal by a bigger margin than any other in the district. In other words, Miller performed worst where people knew him best.
Biedermann’s achievement marks a major victory for conservatives around the state for two major reasons.
First, Biedermann is a grassroots conservative who decided to run for the seat at a TEA Party meeting. His win, much like that of State Sen. Konni Burton (R-Colleyville) two years ago, is a victory for conservative activists around the state who have been largely responsible for pushing Texas to actually adopt the conservative reforms that have long been found in the Republican Party platform.
While Biedermann’s win is impressive in its own right, the defeat of Doug Miller is a major victory for a secondary reason. Miller won his office by launching a visceral campaign against State Rep. Nathan Macias (R-Bulverde), a movement conservative and supporter of former House Speaker Tom Craddick. Funded primarily by opponents to school choice reforms, Miller defeated Macias and joined the coalition government of liberal Republicans and Democrats that support sitting House Speaker Joe Straus.
Biedermann can now restore conservative representation to the people of House District 73.