If you are concerned about what gerrymandering and limitless campaign financing are doing to our democracy, you need look no further than Texas House District 64 to confirm your deepest concerns.
Voters in this district encompassing Wise County and parts of Denton County now have a choice between Andy Hopper, a far-right candidate funded by a political action committee linked to white nationalists, and Angela Brewer, a progressive candidate with little political experience and unhelpful social media posts. Neither is a good choice.
We were not surprised Hopper did not have any interest in interviewing with us or that emails to his campaign went unanswered. He demonstrates no desire to appeal to anyone outside his narrow base. His social media is a study in division, aimed as much at fellow Republicans than the left.
Hopper, 47, reportedly received $100,000 in campaign funding from Texans United for a Conservative Majority for the primary race. This PAC is a spinoff of Defend Texas Liberty, whose leader apparently met with a known white supremacist. Hopper also signed the Take Texas Back pledge, which advocates for legislation to allow the state to secede from the U.S. He also has vowed to ban Democrats from holding committee chairs, a long-standing tradition in the Legislature. This candidate is too extreme, anti-democratic and, frankly, un-American.
Backed by Attorney General Ken Paxton, Hopper defeated incumbent Lynn Stucky, in a recently gerrymandered district that now includes all of Wise County, making it even more solidly red. Stucky, a mild-mannered veterinarian, is a good legislator and a good man who deserved better from his own party.
Brewer, 50, is an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas. In a phone interview, she offered some moderating gestures on issues like abortion rights, education and immigration. Marijuana legalization is among her top priorities, and we see her as far to the left of this district.
More troubling are some social media posts. On Aug. 20, she compared Christian nationalists to “rats and roaches.” This is the sort of name-calling and dehumanization that we don’t need in our Legislature.
Unfortunately, we cannot recommend either candidate in this race.
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