Schatzline Withdraws from Texas Senate Race

Two days after announcing his candidacy for a north Fort Worth Senate seat, Fort Worth Republican Rep. Nate Schatzline withdrew his candidacy and endorsed Leigh Wambsganss.

“After prayerful consideration, conversations with my family, and an assessment of where I can be most effective, I have decided to continue my work in the Texas House rather than in the Senate,” Schatzline wrote in a prepared statement that he attached to a post on X. 

Wambsganss is a conservative activist in the Fort Worth area who also is the chief communications officer for Patriot Mobile, a telecommunications company marketing itself to the far-right.

After hiring Allen Blakemore, a longtime GOP consultant, Wambsganss earned an endorsement from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, according to the Quorum Report.

Schatzline also endorsed her in his announcement on Friday.

“My #1 goal was for [Senate District 9] to be represented by a true conservative, & with Leigh Wambsganss, that’s exactly what you’ll get. She has my full support.” he wrote on X.

Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed Schatzline in his re-election announcement as a “valuable member of the Texas House” who is “fully dedicated to conservative values.”

Schatzline, who is serving his second term in the Texas House, had sought the Fort Worth Senate seat being vacated by Republican Rep. Kelly Hancock, who last week resigned in preparation to take over the state Office of the Comptroller through the end of 2026.