Greg Abbott’s advocacy for vouchers has sparked outrage among some of his former allies

Amidst significant spending and mounting frustration, the reelection campaigns of certain state House members, including Glenn Rogers, have become battlegrounds over contentious issues such as vouchers and the impeachment of Ken Paxton.
State Representative Glenn Rogers is not holding back his anger.

In a recent confrontation, he boldly exclaimed, “Kiss my ass!” to a statewide Republican official who had thrown their support behind his primary opponent.

Taking to social media, he issued a warning to his followers, cautioning against what he called a “belligerent power grab.”

Drawing inspiration from Winston Churchill, the Graford Republican is calling out his well-funded primary opponent, Mike Olcott, for what he perceives as “grandiose lies.” Additionally, he’s thrown down the gauntlet to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, challenging him to a duel via text message as he fights to retain his House seat.

In a January message, Rogers didn’t mince words, accusing Miller of being a “bought and paid for, pathetic narcissist” and daring him to engage in a duel rather than resorting to threats. Miller promptly shared the exchange on X, adding fuel to the fire.

Locked in a fierce battle for a third term against a fellow Republican he narrowly defeated in 2022, Rogers has become a symbol of righteous indignation in a primary season marked by deep divisions among Texas conservatives.

He’s just one of several Republicans feeling the heat from prominent figures within their own party in a primary contest characterized by intense campaigning and bruised egos. Incumbents like Rogers are under fire for their stances on two pivotal issues from the previous year: the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton and the contentious topic of school vouchers. Many argue that these attacks overlook their conservative track records established over years of service.

Rogers is particularly feeling the backlash on both fronts. Since his initial election in 2020, he’s consistently voted against the establishment of a private school voucher program, a priority issue championed by GOP Governor Greg Abbott. This proposal aimed to redirect state funds to private or religious schools for parents seeking alternatives to the public education system, a move resisted by 21 Republicans, primarily from rural areas, leading to repeated failures of the proposal in the previous year.

Supporters of public education in Rogers’ House District 60, predominantly rural and covering Palo Pinto, Stephens, and Parker counties, argue that the implementation of vouchers would result in a loss of over $3 million for local public schools.

In line with the majority of his Republican colleagues, Rogers supported the impeachment of Paxton on charges of bribery and incompetence. Despite Paxton’s subsequent acquittal by the Senate, he has launched a vigorous campaign against the GOP lawmakers who accused him of wrongdoing.

Now, Rogers finds himself targeted by virtually every prominent Republican figure in Texas, save for House Speaker Dade Phelan, who is contending with his own well-funded primary challenger in Beaumont. Alongside Abbott, Paxton, and Miller, Olcott has garnered endorsements from U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi, with former President Donald Trump throwing his weight behind him on Tuesday.

This relentless opposition has left Rogers feeling frustrated, particularly with the governor’s recent decision to endorse his pro-voucher opponent, dismissing it as a “single-issue endorsement” that disregards his dedication to his constituents and his legislative track record.

“It seems that integrity and legislative accomplishments no longer matter,” Rogers lamented in an interview with a local CBS station. “It’s solely about supporting vouchers, and if you do, you’ll receive an endorsement. I find that unprecedented. Despite being a staunch supporter of his, we differ on this one issue, and he has chosen to support my opponent.”

Other targets of Abbott and Paxton share Rogers’ sentiment.

Representative Ernest Bailes, R-Shepherd, criticized the governor’s “vindictive nature” toward Republicans who he believes are simply representing the best interests of their constituents. In a Facebook post, Bailes decried Abbott’s extensive efforts to unseat members who prioritize their districts over his agenda.

Abbott’s substantial financial resources have played a significant role in these primary battles. A $6 million donation from national Republican megadonor Jeff Yass in December marked the “largest single donation in Texas history,” bolstering Abbott’s already robust campaign coffers, which exceeded $38 million at the start of the year.

Kim Snyder, campaign manager for Texans for Greg Abbott, emphasized the governor’s commitment to supporting conservative candidates aligned with his vision for Texas, particularly those advocating for expanded school choice.

However, Abbott’s and Paxton’s emphasis on specific issues has led to clashes within their own party during primary season.

Representative Travis Clardy, R-Nacogdoches, found himself at odds with both Abbott and Paxton. Despite opposing vouchers, Clardy’s stance against impeachment earned him Paxton’s support, resulting in a divide among conservative voucher proponents on X.

“I stand by my decisions,” Paxton asserted. “Travis Clardy faced criticism for supporting me, but regardless of your opinion of him, he stood with me and the voters of Texas, and I appreciate that.”

Conversely, Clardy criticized Abbott for his adversarial approach, particularly regarding his anti-voucher stance.

“Bullying and intimidation do not constitute effective leadership,” Clardy remarked to Texas Monthly. “I believe you could scour the works of Dale Carnegie and Zig Ziglar and find no mention of bullying and intimidation as desirable tactics. Yet, here we are. And I fail to comprehend it.”

Abbott’s opposition to candidates he once endorsed has prompted several of them to cite his previous support in their campaigns, prompting Abbott to issue cease and desist letters accusing them of misleading voters.

During his endorsement of Olcott earlier this month, Abbott acknowledged his previous support for Rogers, conceding, “I made a mistake. When you make a mistake, it’s important to admit it and take corrective action.”

Olcott, for his part, is running a multifaceted campaign, focusing on issues beyond vouchers. His platform includes strengthening border security, reducing property taxes, and addressing “election integrity,” with vouchers receiving mention towards the end of his list of priorities.

Rogers has aligned with recent efforts to increase border security funding and reduce taxes in the previous legislative session. He co-sponsored an anti-abortion bill in 2021, a move praised by Olcott on his website.

When questioned by a local CBS station about his challenge to Rogers, Olcott highlighted their shared values in their heavily conservative district, emphasizing that his principles better reflect those of the constituents.

Expressing gratitude for Trump’s endorsement this week, Olcott rallied his supporters with a call to action.

“Let’s seize this opportunity and emerge victorious!” exclaimed Olcott on X.

Both Olcott and Rogers declined multiple requests for comment on this story.

The full impact of the high-profile opposition remains uncertain. As of the end of January, Rogers maintained a financial advantage over Olcott in terms of cash on hand and outstanding loans. However, with the primary less than two weeks away, the bulk of fundraising and spending is underway and will only be disclosed a week before the election.

Despite similar spending levels in January, Rogers’ supporters argue that reports fail to capture

the true extent of the spending against him.

“We are facing an onslaught from pro-voucher political action committees beyond our district,” noted Amy Fennell, a former Willow Park City Council member and member of Bearcats for Glenn Rogers. “They are exceptionally well-funded and singularly focused on vouchers. That’s their sole agenda.”

Since last July, Olcott has raised $229,415, with 40% of donations pouring in January. Nearly half of his January donations, totaling nearly $50,000, came from individual contributions, while the remaining funds primarily went towards advertisements funded by Abbott’s campaign.

Among the PACs supporting Olcott is the Family Empowerment Coalition PAC, which is backing pro-voucher candidates statewide and invested $9,000 in digital advertising for Olcott in early January. He’s also received support from the Defend Texas Liberty PAC, known for its anti-Rogers billboards, and Texans for a Conservative Majority, established by the same backers following decreased activity by Defend Texas Liberty after a scandal involving its then-president.

Rogers has spent $484,556 since July, while raising $545,616 during the same period. A significant portion of his contributions came from Phelan’s campaign, which donated $25,000 in January, in addition to substantial support from the Charles Butt Public Education PAC, the Texas Medical Association, and HillCo Partners, a prominent Austin lobbying firm.

Moreover, Rogers enjoys the endorsement of the Associated Republicans of Texas, a political group supporting pro-business Republicans capable of winning general elections.

Jamie McWright, president of the organization, stressed their focus on electing Republicans committed to advancing business interests and representing their districts effectively.

“We don’t impose litmus tests or conservative rankings,” McWright explained. “Our priority is to foster a big-tent Republican party and secure victories with candidates who share our values.”

While spirited primary contests are commonplace in Texas politics, McWright expressed concern over the particularly divisive tone of this cycle, which risks alienating thoughtful Republicans and dampening voter participation.

“I fear that many well-intentioned Republican voters may opt to stay home due to confusion,” she remarked. “Discouraging voter turnout undermines our democracy, and that’s regrettable.”