A former Trump campaign official won a close primary race and will now serve as representative of a deeply red Texas House district.
Republican Katrina Pierson, who served as a spokesperson for former President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, defeated incumbent state Rep. Justin Holland in Tuesday’s primary runoff for Texas House District 33, and is the presumptive winner of the November general election, as no Democratic candidate is standing in the race.
Pierson had the backing of Republican Texas Governor Gregg Abott, who sought to unseat incumbent Republicans who opposed some of his policy goals.
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Republican Texas state representative Justin Holland and Republican rival Katrina Pierson. (Texas State House, Getty Images)
Holland, who was first elected in 2016, opposed key legislation supported by Abbott that would have paved the way for Texas parents to send their children to private or religious schools using public funds. A group of 21 Republicans, including Holland, joined all Democrats in opposing the measure last year.
Holland has also faced scrutiny for a number of other positions he has taken, including supporting legislation last year that would have raised the age for purchasing “assault” style rifles from 18 to 21, and voting to fire the prosecutor. Texas Republican General Ken Paxton.
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Katrina Pierson, former national spokesperson for the Trump administration, listens during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas, U.S., Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Dylan Hollingsworth/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Pierson earned Paxton’s endorsement before the March primary, while Abbott endorsed her before the runoff.
Republicans currently hold 86 of the 150 seats in the Texas state House, a majority of 11.
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