A past aide to former President Donald Trump defeated an establishment GOP state representative in Texas who led the charge to impeach Trump-supporting state Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Katrina Pierson, a former national spokeswoman for Trump’s 2016 campaign, defeated State Rep. Justin Holland in a GOP primary on Tuesday, securing her place in the general election for the 33rd legislative district outside of Dallas. Holland was among a handful of local Republicans targeted in their primaries for voting against Republican Governor Greg Abbott and Paxton, according to The Hill. Transgressions cited by conservative activists include Holland’s vote to raise the age for gun purchases from 18 to 21 and opposing Abbott’s signature school voucher program.
Abbott, who campaigned with Pierson in the final days of her election, congratulated the Trump aide in a social media post Tuesday night.
“Congratulations to @KatrinaPierson on an incredible VICTORY in her Republican Primary Runoff in House District 33! #txlege,” Abbott’s campaign account posted on X.
Paxton sent similar well-wishes to Pierson, who is expected to prevail in the general election.
“Congratulations to @KatrinaPierson for DEFEATING Austin RINO Justin Holland,” Paxton’s campaign account posted on X. “You have sent a strong message to Austin that if members continue to prioritize Democrats over our Conservative Agenda they will not return in 2026.”
State elections in Texas were a mixed bag for conservative activists. House Speaker Dave Phelan narrowly prevailed over a MAGA challenger despite opposition from Paxton for supporting the failed impeachment against him. President Trump waded into the race as well, backing challenger David Covey who lost by just 366 votes, according to NBC News.
“Tonight, I am immensely grateful to the voters of Southeast Texas, who have spoken loud and clear: in Southeast Texas, we set our own course—our community is not for sale, and our values are not up for auction,” Phelan wrote in a post on X Tuesday night.
Paxton, who has appeared outside Trump’s Manhattan trial to show his support for the former president, warned Republicans against backing Phelan for another term as speaker and said those who do “will not return” to office.
Despite maintaining a healthy lead in Texas, President Trump may need to stump for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), a one-time rival turned ally who is battling back his own Democratic challenger in Congressman Collin Allred (D-TX). Polls since March have shown Cruz’s lead fluctuating from +13 to just +6, according to FiveThirtyEight, approximately half the lead that Trump currently carries over President Joe Biden.
As Election Day draws closer, expect Texas Republicans to unite against Biden and down-ticket Democrats they claim are complicit in the state’s southern border crisis. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick late last year proposed removing Biden from the ballot over the migrant “insurrection” and has supported the state’s ongoing lawsuit asserting its right to crack down on illegal crossings without authority from the federal government.
