n VanDeaver, Spencer debate in Texarkana this week
After the election was concluded on March 5th, 2024, there was no winner for House District 1; now the district is headed for a runoff on May 28, with early voting starting on the 20th. Originally three candidates were vying for the seat that Gary VanDeaver has held since 2015. However, since no one received 50% plus one, there is now a runoff.
A debate in Texarkana between the incumbent, Gary VanDeaver, and challenging candidate Chris Spencer will be held in Texarkana. It will be held in the Truman Arnold Building, Texarkana College Campus, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
When the votes were tallied in March, 45.5% of the vote went to VanDeaver, 43.1% went to Chris Spencer and 11.4% voted for Dale Huls, moving the race now to a runoff.
VanDeaver was first elected in 2014 and has been re-elected by his district four times, in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022, defeating the previous incumbent, George Lavender, on three separate occasions, never facing a challenger in the general election. This time however the incumbent faced new opposition with Spencer and Huls.
After the election both Huls and Lavender endorsed Spencer. Huls, in an interview with the Journal-Sun after the election said he would support Spencer moving forward. “For the record, I will support Spencer in the runoff. He is obviously the more conservative candidate left in the race.” Lavender has appeared at least one campaign event in support of Spencer.
Several issues are at play and even though those issues will dictate policy after the election, the biggest thing people are hearing and talking about is school choice. VanDeaver has been in opposition to this issue, which was one of the Governor’s biggest mandates this last year.
VanDeaver, the former superintendent for New Boston was one of group of Republicans to oppose the Governors in this issue causing one of his signature policies to fail. Those Republicans teamed with the Democrats killed the plan for the Governor.
In response, Abbott vigorously threw his support behind the newcomers, and large amounts of money followed the candidate’s campaigns that would support his school choice initiative. Abbott has attended several campaign events and appeared in numerous campaign ads with Spencer.
According to the Texas Tribune, “Twenty- one House Republicans opposed vouchers last year, teaming up with Democrats to vote 84-63 in favor of an amendment that ultimately doomed the proposal.”
That may change now with “the victories of nine pro-voucher newcomers to the Texas House on Tuesday — if they can be bolstered with wins for two more candidates who forced anti-voucher incumbents into runoffs — could be enough to push vouchers across the finish line when the new generation of lawmakers funded by and loyal to Abbott are sworn in next year.”
The Governor also welcomed the passage of republican proposition 11 which seemed to further champion his school choice initiative. State and County votes were both in line with the school choice initiative.
Carolyn Lance the Republican chair in a statement about the upcoming election and the upcoming debate said, “Anyone who voted in the Republican Primary or who DID NOT vote in the Democratic Primary may vote in this important election.”
“The election will decide who will represent us in the Texas House of Representatives. There are several very important issues to consider when deciding who should represent us. This is an opportunity to get questions answered and learn where the candidates stand on issues that are of concern to us. Call on friends and neighbors to remember to vote and take someone with you to vote. “BANK YOUR VOTE BY VOTING EARLY!”
Early Voting starts May 20-24, 2024, with Election Day voting on May 28, 2024. See the graphic for more information on where and when to vote.
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