A North Texas Republican state lawmaker has drawn a primary challenger.
Brent Lawson announced Monday that he is running for Texas State Representative in District 62 against incumbent Larry Phillips of Sherman. Lawson accuses Phillips of becoming more responsive to the political establishment than to the voters of his district, which encompasses Grayson, Fannin, and Delta counties.
“Texas Republicans have had enough. It’s past time for the Joe Straus and Larry Phillips era of Texas politics to come to an end,” said Lawson. “I’m offering the people an opportunity to send a clear message to the Joe Straus establishment in Austin that ignoring the concerns of the taxpayers of District 62, and the obstruction of conservative reforms will no longer be tolerated.”
Lawson points to Phillips’ declining commitment to conservative issues over his 14 years in office. Phillips earned a C- rating on Empower Texans’ 2015 Fiscal Responsibility Index; as recently as 2011, his rating was A+.
“The frustration of Texas conservatives and the Republican base is at an all-time high,” said Lawson. “It’s been impossible to watch the antics in Austin this session and not be disgusted by the open contempt leadership has shown for our Party platform and conservative values. With House Republicans holding a near super-majority, there is no excuse for the failure to advance a conservative agenda boldly dealing with corruption, tax reforms, education issues, property rights and government overreach in the state of Texas. We are giving the voters a conservative choice in March.”
More Republican lawmakers who are failing to represent their conservative constituents can expect to draw challengers in the months leading up to the March 2018 primary.
