On May 28, 2024, liberty Republicans celebrated major victories as software engineer Andy Hopper and Army veteran David Lowe emerged triumphant in their respective races for House District 64 and House District 91. These wins signify a significant shift in the political landscape of Texas, with more grassroots conservatives gaining ground against establishment incumbents.
Hopper, a four-term incumbent State Rep., represented HD 64, which encompasses Denton and Wise Counties. Stucky was first elected in 2016 and had previously voted next to 60 Republicans in the State House in May 2023, garnering endorsements from key figures like Texas Governor Greg Abbott for supporting school choice. Hopper’s campaign received significant support from influential conservatives across the state, including Sen. Ted Cruz, TX Ag. Commissioner Sid Miller, Fmr Sen. Don Huffines, Rocker Ted Nugent, and even Kyle Rittenhouse (who was seen working the polls with Andy himself.
In the most recent legislative session, Stucky received an “F” rating of 57 from Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. Hopper will face off against a Democratic opponent on November 5, 2024.
Meanwhile, David Lowe secured a victory in the May 28 Republican primary runoff for House District 91, unseating incumbent State Rep. Stephanie Klick. HD 91 spans part of Tarrant County, which includes North Richland Hills. Klick first came into office in 2012 and is a nurse and former chair of the Tarrant County Republican Party. However, she was later condemned by her own county party.
Klick’s campaign was largely funded by Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and House Speaker Dade Phelan. Like Stucky, Klick voted next to 60 House Republicans to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton but still earned Abbott’s endorsement for supporting school choice.
Lowe received endorsements from key figures such as Paxton and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. He also managed to secure support from influential conservative organizations like Texas Gun Rights, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, True Texas Project, and Grassroots America: We the People. Lowe overcame a vicious smear campaign by Stephanie Klick, securing a powerful grassroots win.
In another significant development, House Speaker Dade Phelan faced stiff competition from former Orange County GOP Chair David Covey in his own primary runoff. Phelan narrowly won the election with a vote count of 50.7% to 49.3%, possibly due to the support of a significant number of Democrat voters and operatives. Nevertheless, Phelan is now the first House Speaker to have to stave off a runoff and appears poised to lose all influence in Austin.
For years, grassroots conservatives in Texas have yearned for authentic conservative leadership. It now seems that they may finally be getting it as more of Phelan’s lieutenants were defeated during the primaries, and principled conservatives replaced establishment incumbents. This shift could signal a new era of conservative governance in Texas, with grassroots values taking precedence over establishment politics.