At a glance, the race to represent the Park Cities and a stretch of northern Dallas in the Texas House is a rerun of two years ago.
It’s the same two candidates, incumbent Republican Morgan Meyer, 50, versus Democrat Elizabeth Ginsberg, 55. Both are attorneys. But the race for Texas House District 108 is not the same.
First, Ginsberg has developed as a candidate. She has deepened her knowledge of the Legislature and rightly cites concern about the growing influence of the gambling lobby that is boosting many Republicans, including Meyer. She also clarified her position on abortion rights to note she supports a return to the Roe vs. Wade standard.
However, Ginsberg remains more to the left than center-left in our view.
At the same time, Meyer’s Republican Party has moved even further to the right since 2022.
Two years ago, we noted that Meyer and Ginsberg are both well qualified but that Meyer’s conservative policies are the better fit for the district. We still believe that is true and recommend voters return Meyer to his seat.
Meyer did important work on delivering property tax relief and school funding in the last session, although we consider the job half done. We wish that an increase in the basic student allotment and teacher raises had passed without attaching a relatively small education savings account plan Meyer supported that led to that bill’s collapse.
Meyer deserves a great deal of credit for serving as a House manager in the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton. We believe the managers proved their case that Paxton accepted bribes. The Senate trial was grossly manipulated by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Republican senators shamed themselves with an acquittal.
Even given Meyer’s accomplishments, we are increasingly worried about the space conservatives like him have to operate as the House becomes more beholden to extreme views.
It’s important to note that this recommendation could easily be much different. Meyer nearly lost his primary to an unqualified candidate in Barry Wernick because Paxton, Patrick and, at their bidding, former President Donald Trump tried to end Meyer’s political career. Ginsberg is vastly more qualified than Wernick, and we would have strongly urged voters to elevate her to the office had Patrick and Paxton succeeded in their effort to remove Meyer.
If the state GOP were healthy, Meyer would be the sort of person built up for higher office. He has all of the credentials of someone who could become the party’s face. Instead, the party’s leaders, with the exception of Abbott, did what they could to wreck him. And Abbott, we feel sure, would have turned on Meyer had he opposed the voucher system Abbott favors.
Despite chairing the House Ways and Means Committee, Meyer’s standing seems precarious in a party that has so many loyalty tests it’s impossible to stay clear of them all and remain true to oneself.
We believe Meyer remains the right representative for this diverse, bipartisan district. But we are less certain this district is going to keep supporting the party he is in.
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