Articles​

​​

• With Speaker Phelan’s Financial Backing, Rep. Glenn Rogers Faces Mike Olcott in North Texas Runoff, The Texan, 23 May 2022

​

• Trump, Abbott, and Cruz Texas Runoff Endorsements Compared, The Texan, 20 May 2022

​

• Cornyn Lambasts Paxton Over Legal Issues, Attorney General Blasts Senator as ‘Bush GOP’, The Texan, 20 May 2022

  • There is little love lost between Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who served as Texas attorney general from 1999 until 2002, and current Attorney General Ken Paxton — and Cornyn made that abundantly clear this week.

​

• In Their Own Words: Runoff Candidates on Ending Abortion, Texas Scorecard, 18 May 2022

  • House District 60

  • Mike Olcott: “I will do everything possible to support the rights of the unborn—the right to life is the foundational right from which all other rights derive. I will also be a fierce advocate for end-of-life issues and ensure our most vulnerable Texans receive the life-sustaining care they need.”

  • Glenn Rogers did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s inquiry.

​

• Texas Legislative Races to Watch on Primary Runoff Election Day, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, 15 May 2022

  • Texas House District 60, currently represented by Republican State Rep. Glenn Rogers (Mineral Wells) is yet another House District that saw its boundaries significantly change due to the recent decennial redistricting process. The boundaries no longer include Callahan, Coleman, Brown, Eastland, or Hood Counties and shrunk to only include Stephens, Palo Pinto, and Parker Counties. [more…]

​

• Runoff Preview: Olcott and Rogers Face Off for House District 60, Texas Scorecard, 13 May 2022

​

• George P. Bush Trails Ken Paxton in Latest Poll, Texas Scorecard, 12 May 2022

  • Their latest polling of Republican primary voters shows Paxton leading with 58 percent, while Bush trails with 31 percent, largely unchanged since a poll released by the organization last month.

  • The same poll showed incumbent Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian leading his runoff with 46 percent to his opponent Sarah Stogner’s 24 percent.

  • In the land commissioner race, State Sen. Dawn Buckingham holds the lead with 34 percent to Tim Westley’s 18 percent, though 48 percent of voters remain undecided.

​

• A candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission gave money to Robert “Beto” O’Rourke in his 2018 bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. That shouldn’t be surprising… except that candidate is Sarah Stogner, a Republican. She is seeking the GOP nomination in the May 24 runoff against incumbent Wayne Christian. Texas Scorecard, 11 May 2022

• ​

• In Their Words: Vaccine Mandates, With 34 Republican candidates in the May runoff elections for the state Legislature, Texas Scorecard asked about their stance on vaccine mandates. Texas Scorecard, 09 May 2022

  • House District 60

  • Mike Olcott: “Yes, I support a prohibition on vaccine mandates in Texas. I believe that an individual has the fundamental right to make his or her own healthcare decisions. If elected, one of my top priorities is to pass a bill that unequivocally bans vaccine mandates so no Texan is ever fired for not being vaccinated.”

  • Glenn Rogers did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s inquiry.

​

• In Their Own Words: Runoff Candidates on Corporate Welfare, With 34 Republican candidates in the May runoff elections for the state Legislature, Texas Scorecard asked candidates whether they support ending corporate welfare. Texas Scorecard, 02 May 2022

  • House District 60

  • Mike Olcott: “Yes, I support ending corporate welfare in Texas. I do not believe that Texas taxpayer dollars should be used for such purposes. That is not the role of government. The Texas Legislature should continue to create an environment of low regulation and reduce the tax burden so that businesses should choose to move to Texas for those reasons—not government handouts.”

  • Glenn Rogers did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s inquiry.

​

• Leftist-aligned Labor Union Endorses George P. Bush for Texas Attorney General, Texas Scorecard, 27 April 2022

  • While Bush may hope to hide behind platitudes, the Austin Firefighters Association has a long history of aligning with the most radical elements of local Austin politics.

 

• In Their Own Words: Runoff Candidates on Pornographic Books in Children’s School Libraries, Texas Scorecard, 26 April 2022

  • With 34 Republican candidates in the May runoff elections for the state Legislature, Texas Scorecard asked whether they support Texas closing the legal loopholes that allow explicit materials in school libraries.

  • House District 60

  • Mike Olcott: “I absolutely support banning explicit materials in schools.”

  • Glenn Rogers did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s inquiry.

 

• Party Favorites Emerge in Respective Primary Runoffs for Land Commissioner, The Texan, 22 April 2022

  • While there's room for surprises on May 24, powerful Democrats and Republicans have largely rallied behind their respective choices.

​

• Secretary Scott reminds Texas voters of upcoming deadlines, The Community News, 21 April 2022 ​

  • May 7 Constitutional and May 24 Primary Runoff Amendment and Local Elections

  • Willow Park Civics Blog Post

​

• In Their Own Words: Runoff Candidates on the Border Invasion, With 34 Republican candidates in the May runoff elections for the state Legislature, Texas Scorecard asked whether they support Texas sending away illegal border crossers as invaders. Texas Scorecard, 18 April 2022
     The attorney general of Arizona recently released a legal opinion validating that the mass of illegal border crossers flooding through Texas and the southwest constitutes an invasion under the U.S. Constitution. With the repeal of Title 42, up to half a million migrants are expected to be released into the U.S. each month.
     House District 60
     * Mike Olcott: “I absolutely support declaring the crisis at our southern border an invasion and believe that Texas must utilize Article I Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution to secure our southern border with Mexico.”
     • Glenn Rogers did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s inquiry.

​

• Cruz vs Abbott: Two Texas Republicans Split on Endorsements. Education issues could be a major factor in their opposing legislative endorsements. Texas Scorecard, 13 April 2022

​

• Ted Cruz Endorses Mike Olcott in House Runoff, Cruz breaks from Gov. Abbott’s endorsee, incumbent Glenn Rogers. Texas Scorecard 11 April 2022

​

• Here’s your ballot for the May 24 Texas primary runoff election, Texas Tribune, 11 April 2022

​

• Sen. Ted Cruz Jumps into Texas House Runoffs, Endorses Against Gov. Abbott’s Candidates, The Texan, 13 April 2022
  Sen. Ted Cruz has said the number one issue that influences his endorsement choices is school choice. 
      Abbott’s endorsements show a disconnect from previous statements he’s made on one issue in particular: school choice. Multiple Abbott endorsees have either publicly denounced school voucher systems or been endorsed by teacher unions who oppose them.
      But for Cruz, the issue is of paramount importance. “When it comes to school choice, it is the most important domestic issue in the country and it’s the civil rights issue of this century,” Cruz said at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s 2022 Policy Orientation
      But on these endorsements, Cruz contrasts with Abbott’s choices. Cruz endorsed: Ben Bius, House District (HD) 12; Ellen Troxclair, HD 19; Mike Olcott, HD 60; Eric Bowlin, HD 70; Carrie Isaac, HD 73

​

• In Their Own Words: Runoff Candidates on Parental Rights in Education, Texas Scorecard, 11 April 2022, Texas Scorecard asked candidates whether they support protecting children from harmful ideologies permeating classrooms.
  House District 60

  • Glenn Rogers did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s inquiry.

  • Mike Olcott “I would support Texas enacting a Parental Rights in Education bill similar to the one Florida passed. I do not see any issue whatsoever with prohibiting extreme ‘gender and sexuality’ ideology in our elementary schools. I support prioritizing parents and working to keep them engaged and informed in their child’s education in our public schools.”

​

• Gov. Abbott’s School Choice Rhetoric Clashes With His Runoff Endorsements, Legislature’s Priorities, The Texan, 05 April 2022
      Rep. Glenn Rogers (R-Graford), facing a runoff against activist and donor Mike Olcott, was the lone incumbent endorsed by Abbott in this wave. On Sunday, Rogers published a statement denouncing a school voucher program in the Brownwood News.
      “Under the guise of promoting choice,” he says, “proposed ‘school voucher’ programs are a trojan horse attempt to privatize Texas’ education system, and drain our already underfunded public education of necessary resources for millions of children.
     He adds, “Proponents of this system try to claim that children are ‘trapped in the public education system they were raised in.’”  
      “This is, quite frankly, a lie. Texas already has one of the most robust ‘school choice’ systems for parents in the nation. Between open-enrollment public schools, private schools, charter schools, homeschools, and online learning, parents have plenty of available options to place their child wherever they see fit.”
      While options do exist, school choice advocates argue that parents who choose to take their children elsewhere must pay for that expense on top of already paying their local ISD property taxes — which are the largest portion of their tax bill  They contend that for those without that extra income, it’s infeasible to move their child out of the situation.
     Opponents of a voucher system, often focused in rural communities like the ones Rogers represents, counter that vouchers used to take a student and their associated tax dollars elsewhere would remove funding that otherwise would go to that local school district.
      This fight within the Republican Party and its collection of officials is not new. School choice has been in the Texas GOP platform for years, but legislation to establish it faltered quickly in both of the Republican-controlled chambers during the 87th legislative session.
      On top of that, Rogers has been endorsed by the Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), a union opposed to voucher programs.

​

• Texas AG Condemns SCOTUS Nominee for Leniency Toward Child Porn Offenders, Texas Scorecard, 06 April 2022
      Attorney General Ken Paxton is condemning the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court following revelations of her leniency toward child porn offenders. 
      For whatever reason, Paxton’s challenger in the Texas GOP runoff – George P. Bush – has been silent on the issue.

​

• POLL: Paxton Has 30-Point Lead Over Bush, New statewide polling shows strong support for Ken Paxton, Wayne Christian, and Dawn Buckingham. Texas Scorecard, 04 April 2022

​

• In Their Own Words: Runoff Candidates on Property Taxes, With 34 Republican candidates in the May runoff elections for the state Legislature, Texas Scorecard asked for their plans to lower property taxes. Texas Scorecard, 04 April 2022
      In the March GOP primary, Republican voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot proposition calling for property taxes to be eliminated without the imposition of an income tax.
      House District 60
  * Glenn Rogers did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s inquiry.
  * Mike Olcott “I am interested in the idea put forth by the Texas Public Policy Foundation that proposes dedicating all revenue above the recently implemented spending cap to buy down property taxes.”

​

• Attorney General Candidates Launch Attack Websites, The Texan, 01 April, 2022

​

• Three Remaining Railroad Commission Candidates Pitch Oil and Gas Executives,The Texan, 31 March 2022

​

• We still have Municipal Elections and the Primary Runoff in May, Republican Women of Parker County, 29 March 2022,Parker County Republican Women are hosting a Candidate Forum for the Runoff on Tuesday, May 3rd at 6:00 pm at the First Bank Texas Building, 100 Willow Bend Drive, 2nd Floor Training Center, Willow Park. Please join us as we prepare to vote in May! [WPC Calendar]

​

• Gov. Abbott Supports Establishment in Runoff Endorsements, The primary election runoff creeps closer, and Abbott is announcing his endorsements. Texas Scorecard, 29 March 2022, Incumbent State. Rep. Glenn Rogers (R–Mineral Wells) received Abbott’s endorsement in House District 60 against grassroots challenger Mike Olcott.

​

• In Their Own Words: Runoff Candidates on Protecting Women’s Sports, With 34 Republican candidates in the May runoff elections for the state Legislature, Texas Scorecard asked for their stance on protections for women’s collegiate athletics. Texas Scorecard, 28 March 2022
      As young women across the country lose their athletic scholarships and opportunities to men pretending to be women, Texas Scorecard reached out to all the Republican candidates for the state Legislature to ask if they supported protecting college girls’ athletics.
      House District 60 - Mike Olcott: “YES, in support of that proposal.” / Glenn Rogers did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s inquiry.

​

• Runoff Candidates On Democrat Committee Chairs, Texas Scorecard, 22 March 2022
      Democrat committee chairs have had a pattern of killing conservative legislation in Texas. Now, the movement to stop the practice is growing. Earlier this month, 81 percent of infuriated Republican voters supported GOP Ballot Proposition 6: “The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature should end the practice of awarding committee chairmanships to Democrats.” Texas Scorecard contacted all of the Republican candidates running for the Legislature in runoff elections to ask where they stood on Democrats being placed in leadership positions and whether the process should continue. Check out the candidates responses… or lack thereof.

​

• Freshman Faces Runoff After Record Angers Grassroots, State Rep. Glenn Rogers faces challenger after his first session, Texas Scorecard, 23 March 2022
     After three citizens challenged Glenn Rogers (R–Mineral Wells) in the 2022 Republican primary earlier this month, he now faces Parker County Conservatives co-founder Mike Olcott in the May runoff election. Sydnie Henry has the story
     As a political unknown in an open seat, Rogers won his first term in 2020 by about 300 votes following a July GOP runoff election. He now has a record. Rogers began his legislative career by voting against a proposal to bar Democrats from chairing committees in the GOP-dominated House. His lack of support for certain conservative and GOP priorities—like ending taxpayer-funded lobbying—earned him a score of 53 of 100 from the Young Conservatives of Texas. Texans for Fiscal Responsibility gave Rogers a rating of 45 of 100, placing Rogers solidly in the bottom quarter of Republican representatives.

​

• Paxton, Bush Compete for Support in Attorney General Runoff, The Texan, 16 March 2022, Paxton has released a series of notable endorsements since the primary election while Bush aims for the support of the other challengers' voters.​

​

• ​​Wayne Christian Forced into Runoff for Railroad Commissioner, Texas Scorecard, 02 March 2022. The governing agency overseeing the state’s oil and gas industry is headed by three commissioners elected statewide in staggered 6-year terms. Incumbent Wayne Christian – looking for a third term – must first overcome a runoff challenge by attorney Sarah Stogner.

​

• General Runoff? Texas Scorecard, 08 March 2022, If they didn’t vote in their party’s March 1 primary, Democrats can vote in the GOP’s May runoff. With Republicans eyeing yet another rout of Democrats statewide in 2022, some leftwing activists are pushing for their comrades to influence the Republican runoff for Attorney General.

​

• Most Trump-Backed Texas Republicans Cruise to Primary Victory, Five Face Runoffs, The Texan, 03 March 2022
  Trump’s choices in many races came at the behest of Patrick, whom the former president said asks frequently for support which Trump quickly obliges.

​

• A List of Every State Race Headed to a 2022 Runoff, The Texan, 04 March 2022

​

• 2022 Election, Votes, Runoffs in store for  some local races, The Community News, 04 March 2022, in .pdf.   

​

• Runoffs Begin in State Legislature Races, Several races are moving to runoff elections following Tuesday’s election results. Texas Scorecard, 02 March 2022​, House District 60. Incumbent State Rep. Glenn Rogers (R–Mineral Wells) will face conservative activist Mike Olcott. The redrawn district covers Stephens, Palo Pinto, and Parker counties. Olcott was a founder of Parker County Conservatives and has been a fixture in local activism. Meanwhile, Rogers’ freshman session saw him rated in the bottom quarter of Republican representatives by various conservative groups.