Conservatives Hold Onto Texas Legislature
DALLAS (AP) - The first hints of just how conservative the 2013 Texas Legislature will be emerged in Tuesday's primary election and all signs point to a tea party movement determined to tighten its grip on Texas public policy.
Republicans hold large majorities in both the House and Senate and are all but guaranteed to stay in power in 2013, but redistricting, retirement and ambition for new office led to some blistering campaigns, particularly among some GOP colleagues.
But even in a Legislature that rolled over Democrats to cut $4 billion in education, pass a voter ID law and place more restrictions on women seeking an abortion in 2011, this year's primary campaigns were dominated by Republicans trying to prove who among them is the most conservative.
And in several races, most notably in the House, tea party-backed challengers who pushed even farther to the right pushed several incumbents out of office.
Republican House Speaker Joe Straus of San Antonio, who has spent two years fending off criticism from within the GOP that he's not conservative enough, defeated challenger Matt Beebe but also saw three of his top lieutenants defeated by tea party challengers.
House committee chairs Reps. Rob Eissler (education), Vicki Truitt (pensions) and Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton (licensing) were defeated by challengers who criticized their ties to the speaker.
Straus also learned he'll face a direct challenge to his leadership in 2013. Rep. Bryan Hughes of Marshall announced Tuesday he'll run for House speaker, an office elected by the House members
"Tonight we have shown you can campaign on the power of positive ideas and not be drawn into the politics of personal destruction," Straus said. "As Speaker of the House, I will continue to provide respectful leadership that allows all voices to be heard."
Eissler's defeat could also signal major changes for Texas education policy. Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, chair of the Senate education committee, did not run for re-election and Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott is resigning.
Gov. Rick Perry helped fuel the tea party flavor of the Republican primary in the Legislature campaign, wading into several House and Senate campaigns with endorsements, proving that the failed presidential candidate still holds strong influence with the Texas Republican base.
Perry endorsed Rep. James White, one of only two black Republicans in the Legislature last year, against Hamilton, who's been in office since 2003. White defeated Hamilton despite recently released records that showed the Livingston school district gave White a warning letter about inappropriately bringing up sex in classroom discussions about government while teaching high school in 2007. Perry still chose to endorse White at a campaign event last week.
Perry also backed state Rep. Kelly Hancock over state Rep. Todd Smith and for Senate District 9 in Dallas and Tarrant Counties and Hancock rolled to an easy victory.
"I'm proud to have supported strong fiscal and social conservatives across Texas who will join me in working to support stricter limits on government spending, opposing tax increases and preserving a strong rainy day fund," Perry said.
Perry didn't have a golden tough in every race.
Rep. Wayne Christian of Center, one of the House's most outspoken social conservatives who was endorsed by Perry, was defeated by former Marshall mayor Chris Paddie, who was endorsed by business groups.
And veteran Rep. Leo Berman of Tyler, another outspoken social conservative who attacked President Barack Obama's citizenship, was defeated by challenger Matt Schaefer, who said Berman wasn't fiscally conservative enough. Berman also has been battling cancer and chemotherapy treatments during the campaign.
But the education cuts of 2011 proved to be too much for some, particularly in rural areas. Rep. Marva Beck, R-Centerville, was defeated by Lufkin school board President Trent Ashby and Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, was forced into a runoff with challenger J.D. Sheffield.
The brass-knuckles politics also fueled some bruising Senate campaigns.
None was tougher than in District 25, which stretches from San Antonio to Austin. Nineteen-year incumbent and moderate Republican Jeff Wentworth was targeted for defeat by the powerful business lobby Texans for Lawsuit Reform and was forced into a runoff with physician and tea party candidate Donna Campbell.
The Wentworth-Campbell runoff could be seen as a major blow for TLR. The group supported former state Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones and helped direct thousands of dollars to her campaign, only to see her finish third and out of the runoff.
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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