Republican Party Primary Run-Off

Elections
By Randy Samuelson, State Republican Executive
Committeeman, SD 14
The Republican Party Primary started with 48 Republicans
running to fill the statewide elected positions. The field is
narrowed down to 8 candidates for 4 positions.
Congratulations to the following candidates for earning the
Republican Party nomination:
United States Senate John Cornyn
Governor Greg Abbott
Comptroller Glenn Hegar
Land Commissioner George P. Bush
Chief Justice, Supreme Court Nathan Hecht
Place 6, Texas Supreme Court Jeff Brown
Place 7, Texas Supreme Court Jeff Boyd
Place 8, Texas Supreme Court Phil Johnson
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Bert Richardson
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Kevin Yeary
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals David Newell
2014 Candidate Guide


Evaluating
Candidates

While I am not going to
make personal SREC
endorsements at this point in
the primary election cycle, I
will provide some
information for you to
evaluate candidates and
make primary election
decisions.
The most important thing to
evaluate candidates on is
their system of beliefs and
principles, their personal
integrity, and their ability to
execute the functions of the
office they are seeking.
Here is the Republican Party
Platform in 5 bullet points:
Limiting government
Defending state
sovereignty and a strong
national defense
Supporting traditional
family values
Evaluating all decisions
based on the original
intent of the U.S.
Constitution
Promoting free markets

The decisions we make in the 2014 Republican
Party Primary will shape Texas public policy for the
next decade. We need to carefully evaluate
candidates.

Lieutenant Governor Race and Republican Candidates

The Lieutenant Governor can be considered the most powerful political position in Texas. The Lieutenant
Governor is an executive cabinet position that presides over the Texas Senate. The Lieutenant Governor
controls the flow of legislation during the Legislative Session by appointing committees, referring bills to
committees, and actively negotiating legislation. The Texas Senate also has the unique position of
approving hundreds of gubernatorial nominees for executive boards and commissions, which places the
Lieutenant Governor and the Senate in a unique position to approve the composition and execution of over
150 executive branch agencies. The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutionally required state executive
officer.
The Lieutenant Governor can be considered the chief policy maker in Texas. The Lieutenant Governor is
also the only member of the Legislative Budget Board that is elected statewide. The key campaign items to
evaluate are actual policies and effectiveness and enacting policies. Every policy item is on the table from
state budget and taxes, health and human services, education, criminal justice, transportation, private
property rights, abortion, and state sovereignty. The Lieutenant Governor has broad latitude over policy
decisions and a lot of control over these the policy making process.
This race will be one of the most hotly contested races in the state in 2014 and will dictate the course of
legislation and policies that will be worked on in 2015 and beyond.












Lieutenant Governor Candidates (Listed alphabetically)

Name
David Dewhurst (i) Dan Patrick
Occupation
Lieutenant Governor State Senator and Radio talk-show host and
station owner
Current
Residence
Austin Houston
Campaign
Website
www.daviddewhurst.com www.danpatrick.org
Top 3 Issues
(according to
their campaign
website)
1. Protect life through reducing
abortions
2. Comprehensive public education
reform
3. Balance the budget without raising
taxes
1. Border security and prohibit sanctuary city
policies
2. Reform education and expand education
options for children
3. 2
nd
amendment protections and campus
carry
Notable
Endorsements
Texas Criminal Justice League
Texas Right to Life
Numerous police associations
Texas Association of Business
Cathie Adams, Texas Eagle Forum
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Young Conservatives of Texas
Texas Home School Coalition
Mike Huckabee
Kelly Shackelford, Chairman of Ted Cruz
for US Senate
Previous elected
experience
Lieutenant Governor
Land Commissioner
State Senate
Campaign
Expenditures (as
of Feb 24 Report)
$3.441 million $1.224 million
Campaign Cash
on Hand Totals
(as of Feb 24 report)
$580,776 $167,917
Vote Percentage
in March 4
Primary
28.3% 41.4%

(i) Indicates incumbent




Texas Attorney Generals Race and Republican Candidates

The Texas Attorney General is the states lawyer and is constitutionally charged to defend the
Constitution and laws of the state of Texas, represent the state in litigation, and legally approve public
bond issues. The Office of the Attorney General has also been charged with numerous state programs and
functions. The Attorney General is a constitutionally required state executive officer.
The major functions and programs within the Office of the Attorney General are:
Child support
Civil litigation to collect administrative penalties on behalf of other agencies and defend the state
Criminal justice functions to prosecute crimes, mostly at the referral of local county prosecutors
Solicitor general defends the state in the Texas Supreme Court and in federal courts
Open meetings and open records interpretation and guidance for the state and local governments
Medicaid fraud prosecution
Certain consumer protection roles
Human trafficking task force and prosecution
The main attention of the Office of the Attorney General in the last 5-6 years has been to challenge federal
laws that exceed their Constitutional boundaries, conflict with state laws, or are created by administrative
rules at the federal level without authorization in federal laws passed by Congress. Each of these lawsuits,
such as the cases against Obamacare, have received national attention and has elevated the role of the
Attorney General to uphold the U.S. Constitution and state sovereignty.
The key issues of this race are challenging federal laws that exceed their constitutional authority, specifically
with regards to Obamacare, the EPA, and IRS rules, to defend state sovereignty, defending the states laws
that the legislature has passed, and ensuring a transparent and efficient government.






Attorney General Candidates (Listed alphabetically)

Name
Dan Branch Ken Paxton
Occupation
State Representative and Attorney State Senator and Attorney
Current Residence
Dallas McKinney
Campaign Website
www.danbranch.com www.kenpaxton.com
Top 3 Issues (according
to their campaign
website)
1. Fighting federal overreach
2. Open and accountable
government
3. Limited government
1. Preserve the Constitution
2. Fight Obamacare
3. Protect the 2
nd
Amendment
Notable Endorsements
Former Texas Supreme Court
Justice Tom Phillips
Texas Medical Association PAC
Texas Farm Bureau
Texas Municipal Police
Association
53 State Representatives

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Texas Right to Life
Texas Homeschool Coalition
Kelly Shackelford Chairman Ted
Cruz for US Senate
National Rifle Association
Young Conservatives of Texas
Texas Republican Assembly
Previous elected
experience
State House State Senate
State House
Campaign
Expenditures (as of Feb 24
Report)
$3.603 million $1.773 million
Campaign Cash on
Hand Totals (as of Feb 24
report)
$1.688 million $147,654
Vote Percentage in
March 4 Primary
33.5% 44.4%



Authors Note: For full disclosure, I work for State Senator Ken Paxton. I have also personally endorsed
Ken Paxton for Attorney General in the run-off election using my SREC title.

Agriculture Commissioners Race and Republican Candidates

Agriculture has always been a major part of the Texas economy and culture. The Texas Department of
Agriculture houses many of the agriculture programs and is in charge of certain agriculture related
regulations. Please note that the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture is not a constitutional executive
office nor does it have any constitutional functions in Texas.
Some of the programs that that Texas Department of Agriculture has been designated by the Legislature
to operate are:
Regulation and inspection of fuel pumps in Texas
Regulates weight and measurement devices, such as grocery store and cotton scales
Regulates pesticide use
Provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers through loan guarantees, grants, and interest rate
reductions in accordance with state law
Administer grants funds for agricultural research and rural infrastructure
Administers programs that protect crops from harmful pests and diseases, such as the Boll Weevil
Administers the federal National School Lunch and Breakfast programs
This race is unique in that the Texas Commissioner on Agriculture has the ability to advocate on behalf of
farmers and ranchers for important issues such as private property rights protections and water supply
issues. While the agency does not have a direct link to water or private property rights issues, previous
commissioners have used their office to advocate for rural and agricultural interests. Like every other race
in Texas this year, another main issue is challenging federal laws that may threaten the Texas agricultural
communities.









Candidates for Agricultural Commissioner (listed alphabetically)

Name
Tommy Merritt Sid Miller
Occupation
Business Agriculture, Business
Current Residence
Longview Stephenville
Campaign
Website
www.tommymerritt.com www.millerfortexas.com
Top 3 Issues
(according to their
campaign website)
1. Modernize the agency and
improve agriculture technology at
the agency
2. Fight illegal immigration
3. Address water shortage and
future needs
1. Protecting the states water supply
2. Tightening border security and fighting
illegal immigration
3. Economic growth
Notable
Endorsements
None listed on website Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Young Conservatives of Texas
Texas Right to Life
Ted Nugent
Numerous agriculture and wildlife
organizations
Previous elected
experience
State House State House
Campaign
Expenditures (as of
Feb 24 Report)
$222,180 $34,723
Campaign Cash
on Hand Totals (as
of Feb 24 report)
$282,788 $162,048
Vote Percentage in
March 4 Primary
20.9% 34.6%





Railroad Commissioners Race and Republican Candidates

The first to always make about the Texas Railroad Commission is that the commission has nothing to do
with railroads. The Texas Railroad Commission regulates the Texas oil and gas industry in such a manner
that the energy sector produces an abundance of oil and gas and creates jobs in the process. The Texas
Railroad Commission is a constitutional executive agency that is comprised of 3 elected commissioner that
serve staggered six-year terms. Only one commissioner is up for re-election every two years unless there
is a vacancy on the commission that was filled by gubernatorial appointment (as in 2012). Some of the
programs that are under direction of the Railroad Commission include:
Permitting and regulation of oil and gas wells
Oil field cleanup
Oil and gas pipeline regulation and permitting
Alternative fuels research and education
Mining regulation and permitting
Abandoned mines reclamation
This race is focusing on Texas energy production and economic development, especially in light of new oil
field production in the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. The race is also focusing on the appropriate role
of regulating fracking of natural gas wells. There are also many concerns regarding Environmental
Protection Agency regulations that may be harmful to the oil and gas sector of the Texas economy.










Name
Wayne Christian Ryan Sitton
Occupation
Business Engineer
Current Residence
Center Houston
Campaign Website
www.Christianfortexas.com www.Ryansitton.com
Top 3 Issues (according
to their campaign
website)
1. Stop the overreaching EPA
regulations
2. Streamline the commissions
permitting process
3. Fight presidential
administration on their war
on Texas oil and gas
1. Engineering experience is needed
on the commission
2. Stand up to EPA and Obama
administration regulations
3. Fair and predictable state
regulations
Notable Endorsements
Young Conservatives of Texas
Texas Right to Life
Texas Home School Coalition
Conservative Republicans of Texas
T. Boone Pickens
Clayton Williams
Texas Alliance for Life
Previous elected
experience
State House None
Campaign Expenditures
(as of Feb 24 Report)
$101,534 $83,373
Campaign Cash on Hand
Totals (as of Feb 24 report)
$993,754 $463,126
Vote Percentage in
March 4 Primary
42.7% 30.5%

Authors Note: This candidate guide reflects my views on these races and not the views of the
Republican Party of Texas nor any individual candidate. The information included is based on
resources available as of the time of publication and is subject to change as the individual
campaigns earn additional support and additional issues are flushed out in public forums. This
candidate guide does not list out a complete listing of qualifications, endorsements, nor a
candidates stances on each and every issue. Please go to the candidates campaign website to
view the information and contact the campaign directly for additional information.
Early voting for the May 27 run-off election begins on May 19, 2014. May 19 is also the date the
campaign finance reports for the run-off election are due to the Texas Ethics Commission.
Randy Samuelson
SREC Committeeman, SD 14
rasamuelson@gmail.com www.facebook.com/rasamuelson www.twitter.com/rasamuelson