\u201cI\u2019m going to be a conservative warrior in the Senate, just like I was in the House,\u201d Schatzline told the Report shortly after his mid-day announcement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Schatzline, buoyed by a list of endorsements from House colleagues and Tarrant County Republican officials, is the first Republican to enter the contest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Brandon Rottinghaus, a political scientist at the University of Houston, described District 9 as a \u201cpretty conservative district\u201d dominated by Republicans, but said recent demographic and political changes in Tarrant County could provide an opening for Democrats.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hancock, a businessman who lives in North Richland Hills, had held the Senate seat since 2013 after serving six years as a House member.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a 60-40 Republican district,\u201d Schatzline said in a cell phone interview. \u201cNo matter who jumps into the race, I plan on going full steam with all the passion and work ethic that I have. I think it\u2019s going to be a great challenge to run and, ultimately, I have no idea how it\u2019s going to shape up, but I do know that I feel called to run for this seat.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Senate race, he said, offers \u201can incredible opportunity to continue fighting for our faith and family and freedom and all the values that I have on an even grander scale. \u201c<\/p>\n
Schatzline, 33, is a former pastor and the founder of For Liberty & Justice, an organization that is dedicated to mobilizing the local church to see reformation in government, according to his House biography. He serves as the director of operations for The Justice Reform, an anti-human trafficking organization based out of Fort Worth.<\/p>\n
Schatzline lives in the Alliance area of north Fort Worth with his wife, Adrienne, and their three children.<\/p>\n
Elected to House District 93 in 2022, Schatzline took office in January 2023. He was one of three votes for Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, in the 2023 speaker\u2019s race<\/a> against then-Speaker Dade Phelan.<\/p>\n As a senator, Schatzline said, he would \u201cfight for the priorities of the Texas GOP as well as the needs of Senate District 9\u201d to make Texas \u201cthe most-pro business state in America.\u201d His priorities, he said, will continue to focus on cutting property taxes and \u201cfighting for the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he has \u201can amazing relationship\u201d with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the presiding officer of the Senate, and hopes to secure his endorsement. He said he also has a \u201cgreat relationship\u201d with the governor.\u00a0<\/p>\n Schatzline is looking forward to the upcoming special legislative session called by Abbott beginning July 21 after advancing \u201cpremier conservative priorities\u201d during the recently ended regular session, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n His legislative successes, he said, include increasing penalties for human trafficking, allowing public school employees to pray at work, and making the adoption process more transparent.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been praying about this for months now,\u201d Schatzline said, \u201cand so I\u2019m not entirely sure when my mind was completely made up, but we felt like today was the right time to release our announcement.\u201d<\/p>\n Rehmet, 32, who announced his candidacy June 23, said his campaign will center on a five-point platform including veterans\u2019 rights and services, workers\u2019 rights and union power, affordable housing and tenant protections, fully funded education with vocational pathways, and land and water for future generations.<\/p>\n Rehmet is president of the Texas State Council of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. A campaign launch event will be next month in Austin, coinciding with a statewide labor convention, according to a news release.<\/p>\n He was in the Air Force from 2012 to 2016 as a mechanic on B-52 bombers.<\/p>\n Rehmet told the Report he\u2019s been active in running large organizations but said this is his first political undertaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis is just the next step in being able to serve others,\u201d he told the Report. \u201cI\u2019ve never run before because I wanted to make sure I\u2019m ready. I take serving others seriously.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2022, Hancock won his last four-year term with more than 60% of the vote to Democrat Gwenn Burud\u2019s almost 40%.<\/p>\n Dave Montgomery is an Austin-based freelance reporter for the Fort Worth Report.<\/p>\n The Fort Worth Report\u2019s Texas legislative coverage is supported by Kelly Hart<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n
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