GOVERNOR ENDORSES KITZMAN IN HD-85 RACE AFTER INCUMBENT STEPHENSON CLAIMS ENDORSEMENT

  

Governor Greg Abbott has endorsed the challenger in the House District 85 Republican runoff set for tomorrow (Tuesday), after the incumbent claimed he had Abbott’s endorsement.

On Thursday, Abbott announced his endorsement of Stan Kitzman, who is facing incumbent Phil Stephenson.  This came after Stephenson’s campaign sent out emails to homes in District 85 stating he had the endorsement.

Stephenson told the Wharton Journal-Spectator that Abbott had endorsed him in the past, and that previous campaign appearances with Abbott indicated he had his support, but he had not been able to make it official with anyone from Abbott’s camp.

Stephenson, a five-term incumbent from Wharton, apologized for the mix-up and said he would send a formal apology to the governor.

Kitzman, former Waller County Commissioner and current Brookshire-Katy Drainage District General Manager, said it is an honor to receive the endorsement.  Kitzman has also received endorsements from Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Comptroller Glenn Hegar, while Stephenson’s endorsements include Texas Alliance for Life, Texas Farm Bureau Friends of Agriculture Fund and Texas State Teachers Association.

Stephenson drew 39.9 percent of the vote in the March primary, and Kitzman received 34.5 percent.  The other candidates in the race, Fred Roberts and Artemio Hernandez, earned 15.7 percent and 9.7 percent of the vote, respectively.

Stephenson received the most votes in Colorado, Fort Bend and Wharton counties, while Kitzman came in first in Austin, Fayette and Waller counties.