A former spokesperson for Donald Trump has entered the race for Texas’ House District 33 in the suburbs and exurbs north of Dallas.
Katrina Pierson, who served as Trump’s national spokesperson during his 2016 presidential bid, announced she would challenge Justin Holland for his seat, blaming him for what she described as a “bottleneck for conservative priorities.”
“A small group of liberal Republicans like Justin Holland have formed a coalition with Democrats to block or water down conservative priorities. Justin Holland voted to put radical Democrats in charge of key committees so they could kill conservative bills. Holland even helped put a radical (Barack) Obama Administration lawyer in charge of House proceedings,” Pierson said in a prepared statement.
Her criticism isn’t the only thing Holland is facing. Dennis London, a cybersecurity business owner, is also challenging Holland. In his announcement last week he also criticized Holland for appointing Democrats to committees, and blasted him for supporting the impeachment vote against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was ultimately acquitted of 16 articles of impeachment filed against him alleging bribery and corruption.
London challenged Holland in the 2022 election, losing in the GOP Primary with just shy of 26% of the vote to Holland’s more than 69%.
The Texas GOP condemned Republicans who voted on the impeachment, which Holland dismissed at the time, posting on X that the State Republican Executive Committee was “a defunct organization” that “needs a total re-haul from the top down.” He said in the post that “we can win without them,” according to Caller Times.
Now it appears he’ll get his chance.
“Republicans are tired of politicians who care more about representing the Austin special interests than hard-working taxpayers. I’ll stand up for conservative principles and fight for lower taxes, stronger border security, and boldly oppose the radical left’s woke agenda,” Pierson added in her campaign announcement.
“Republicans in Rockwall and Collin County have told me they want a conservative voice in Austin, and I’m honored by the support and encouragement I have received from them to enter the race.”
Holland has also faced criticism over his vote on a gun bill raising the age individuals could carry semiautomatic weapons from 18 to 21. The vote came just after an 18-year-old gunman used an AR-style semiautomatic rifle in the shooting in Uvalde that claimed the lives of eight people at an outdoor mall.
Pierson, a Tea Party activist long before she served with Trump, ran for Congress in 2014, losing in the GOP Primary to Pete Sessions, the then-incumbent who is still in office.
Pierson describes herself as a “dynamic conservative leader” and touts her grassroots activism in her campaign announcement.
She came into political relevance in 2009 when she gave a viral speech at a Dallas Tea Party rally, which led to frequent appearances on cable news channels.
Pierson also worked on Trump’s campaign in 2020, leading the campaign’s national coalition program to boost voter turnout.
