Three candidates have revealed their intentions to campaign for the seat of Texas House District 14 following last week’s announcement by Rep. John Raney that he will not be running for re-election.
Raney (R-College Station) announced on August 9 that he would not be running for the seat in a social media post. He has held the seat for seven terms since he won a special election in 2011.
“I am immensely proud and eternally grateful for the trust voters placed in me to serve the constituents of House District 14 and to represent them in the Texas Legislature in Austin. I cherish the experience, knowledge, and life-long friendships that developed along the way. My staff and I will continue to be of service for the remainder of my term,” wrote Raney in the announcement.
He added that he will not be running so he can “spend more time at home and on the road with my beautiful wife, Elizabeth, our daughters, their spouses, and our eight precious grandchildren.”
Just a few hours after Raney’s announcement, former Rep. Fred Brown became the first of three Republican candidates to declare his intentions to campaign for the seat.
“With the announcement of the retirement of State Representative John Raney, I would like to announce that I plan to run for State Representative for district 14, a seat I held for many years. I will have an official press conference and announcement in the weeks ahead,” wrote Brown on Facebook.
Brown was the representative for District 14 from 1999 to 2011 when he resigned and opted to accept an administrative position at a car dealership in Temple, according to The Eagle.
The second candidate to profess his intention to campaign was Larry Hodges, a business owner in College Station.
“Preserving what makes us great and successful is why I’m declaring my candidacy for the Texas House of Representatives, District 14. As a lifelong Republican, I am committed to advancing the conservative principles that have contributed to the prosperity of both Texas and this district. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Representative John Raney and his family for their unwavering dedication and service to our community,” wrote Hodges in a statement.
Hodges called himself a “respected business owner, community leader, and conservative Republican,” adding that his priorities would be to “secure our borders, make our communities safer, provide additional tax relief to property owners, and ensure a world-class education for every child in this state.”
Finally, former Brazos County Sheriff Chris Kirk disclosed that he would be campaigning for the seat as well.
“It would be my deepest honor to represent the citizens of District 14 at our state Capitol. I pledge to continue my legacy of integrity and professional service to our community and the great state of Texas,” wrote Kirk in a statement, per Texas Scorecard.
He served six terms as the county’s sheriff and has spent decades working with legislators.
“For nearly 20 years I served as the chairman of the Legislative Committee for the [Sheriffs’ Association of Texas], making numerous trips to Austin to testify in committees and participate in the legislative process,” wrote Kirk, per The Eagle.
Kirk said those years working with legislators created hope within him that he could incite meaningful change.
“I developed an awe for the good that can be achieved inside the Capitol and a dream to one day serve in the Texas Legislature, representing the resident[s] of Brazos County,” he stated, per Texas Scorecard.
The Republican primary for the election will be held on March 5, 2024.