For TEXPAC, the Texas Medical Association’s bipartisan political arm, the state primary election on March 1 was another successful showing in a long line of election days where TEXPAC-identified friends of medicine have won voters over.
TEXPAC-endorsed candidates in statewide races routinely win more than 90% of their races in both the primary and general elections, and this primary was no exception: Ninety-eight percent of TEXPAC’s 136 endorsed statewide candidates either won outright to advance to the general election or advanced to a runoff. Just three of those 136 saw their candidacy come to an end on election night.
TEXPAC carefully doles out endorsements based on thorough evaluations of both incumbents and new candidates and their stances on key issues such as public health, scope of practice, and preserving the state’s transformative medical liability reforms of 2003.
The House of Medicine’s successful night portends good things for the 2023 session, says Jimmy Widmer, MD, chair of TEXPAC. He cited two Texas House races in particular that resulted in important victories for TEXPAC: the ones in which incumbents Rep. Reggie Smith (R-Van Alstyne) and Rep. Steve Allison (R-San Antonio) prevailed and moved on to defend their seats in November. Both were targets of aggressive attack ads during the primary campaign.
“Both were key members for us in the House Public Health Committee last session, excellent stalwarts on scope, and they really went to bat for us last session,” Dr. Widmer said. “We wanted to make sure that they know that we appreciate that, and we were here to support them. We came out both with our voices and our dollars.”
Added TEXPAC Director Christine Mojezati: “Representative Smith’s challenger was aggressively against medicine’s agenda, and we could not lose a champion of medicine like [him]. Rep. Steve Allison had a physician assistant running against him, and since scope of practice was such a battle this session – as it is every session – it was important to send a message [that] when you support Texas physicians, the physicians support you.”
Among other key contests in which TEXPAC’s support was instrumental: the Republican nomination race for Texas land commissioner, in which sitting Sen. Dawn Buckingham, MD (R-Lakeway), advanced to a runoff with a field-leading 42% of the vote, and primary victories for incumbents Sen. Donna Campbell, MD (R-New Braunfels); Rep. Mary Gonzalez (D-Clint); and Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock).
Still, TEXPAC’s work is far from done. The House elections resulted in 22 runoffs because no candidate was able to secure more than 50% of the vote. Eighteen of those 22 are for open seats, while the other four House runoffs involve TEXPAC-supported incumbents.
Ms. Mojezati notes runoffs are “especially problematic for incumbents, as the odds tend to be stacked against them.” She said TEXPAC will continue to meet candidates as the election cycle continues and look to make more endorsements before the runoff occurs on May 24.
The large number of open races overall will be a critical area of focus for TEXPAC going forward, Dr. Widmer added, even after the election is over.
“We’re just going to be not only identifying the candidates, but then once we get those candidates to Austin, the education continues – because a lot of them maybe aren’t as familiar with some of our issues,” he said, adding TEXPAC will continue “to engage with them both on the local level with our doctors, and then also down in Austin with First Tuesdays [at the Capitol], because there will be quite a few new members in Austin.”
To learn more about TEXPAC – aka the Party of Medicine – visit its website.