Uncontested: No Choice for Voters in Tony Tinderholt’s District
In Texas House District 94, incumbent Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) is running unopposed. If Tinderholt secures another win in 2020, likely without a challenger, he will be elected to serve his fourth term.
Tinderholt defeated incumbent Diane Patrick in the 2014 Republican primary and went on to secure the seat in the general election. Since then, Tinderholt has taken each election with significant margins. In 2016, he won over a Libertarian party challenger by a nearly 50 percent margin. In 2018, Tinderholt’s margin of victory narrowed, defeating Democratic candidate Finnigan Jones by an 8 percent margin.
American democracy is entrenched in the fundamental principle that citizens are involved in decision-making with the power to elect an individual to represent them. Without a variety of candidates to align with and choose from, citizens lose their power to be heard.
Representative Tinderholt has a history of controversial legislation and votes, influenced by the groups contributing to his campaign. In 2015, Tinderholt co-authored a bill that prohibited local bans on drilling, ending the fracking ban in Denton, Texas. Interestingly, Tinderholt has received nearly $50,000 in contributions from the oil and gas industry during his time in office.
Without a challenger from the opposing side, House District 94 is stuck with Tony Tinderholt. Citizens should have a choice and the opportunity to vote for a candidate that aligns with their views, not a candidate that votes for the donors that give him the most money. Diversity in elected officials is imperative when it comes to moderating the legislature and balancing the playing field.
The filing deadline for candidates, December 9, 2019, is approaching quickly.
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