Meet the candidates for Texas Senate District 10 in the Nov. 5 election

The Texas Capitol dome is seen in this file photo. (Credit: Ken Herman/American-Statesman)

Texas Sen. Phil King, a Republican, is working to secure his second term in the Texas Senate as he bids against Democrat Andy Morris.

King, a former state House representative who has served in the Senate since 2023, said his priorities include border security, a strong economy with additional property tax relief and reduced government regulations and defending core values of “faith, family and freedom from government overreach.”

His opponent, immigration attorney Andy Morris, said his top priorities are saving public schools from “the poisonous school voucher plan,” sensible legislation to address gun violence and mass shootings and oversight and accountability for big energy companies.

Phil King

Political Party: Republican

Age: 68

Campaign website: philking.com

Best way for voters to reach you: info@philking.com

Occupation: Attorney and businessman

Education

J.D., Texas AM University School of Law (formerly known as Texas Wesleyan University School of Law) M.B.A., Dallas Baptist University B.A., Dallas Baptist University

Have you run for elected office before?

Justice of the Peace, Parker County (1991-1998) State Representative (1999-2023) State Senator (2023 - present)

Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism:

Colonel, Texas State Guard, Civic Affairs Operations Section, Command Group & General StaffBoard of Directors and 2015 National Chair, American Legislative Exchange CouncilBoard of Directors and Chairman, Texas Conservative Coalition Research InstituteAdvisory Board, Grace House MinistriesBoard of Directors, Weatherford College Education FoundationAdjunct Professor, Dallas Baptist University (1992-1995)Police Officer/Captain, Fort Worth Police Department (1974-1989)

Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain:

No

Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain:

Yes. There was a vehicle accident involving my patrol car years ago while I was a Fort Worth police officer; the other driver was found to be at fault. A dispute regarding a loan and real estate transaction was settled and dismissed, and a business dispute regarding a real estate sales contract was heard by a court which ruled in my favor.

Who are your top three campaign contributors?

All of our campaign finance reports, with a detailed listing of all donations, are available on the Texas Ethics Commission web site at https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/.

Why are you seeking this office?

First, I consider public service, from my years as a Fort Worth police officer through today in the legislature, as a privilege and calling. I always have tried to serve with the highest ethical standards and am committed to principle-driven leadership. Next, I am deeply concerned about the direction our nation is heading under President Biden and Kamala Harris. Texans in SD 10 want a state senator who will fight the unacceptable federal encroachment from Washington on our freedoms, rights, and liberties. They want strong border security, a fighter for the unborn, a defender of Second Amendment rights, and a taxpayer advocate. That’s my record, and that’s the kind of senator I’ll continue to be.

What are your top 3 policy priorities?

1) Securing the border against illegal immigration, human trafficking and drug trafficking. 2) Ensuring a strong economy, providing additional property tax relief and reducing government regulations. 3) Defending our core values such as faith, family and freedom from government overreach.

Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?

I have a proven record as an effective senator, with many accomplishments fighting for the shared values of my constituents including record property tax relief, building a strong Texas economy, demanding increased border security, improving infrastructure, and fighting for educational excellence for Texas students.

What is the biggest challenge facing the district where you’re running, and what is your plan to address it?

The district spans about 165 miles. The district includes a mix of urban, suburban and rural communities. All have their unique challenges dealing with water, transportation and infrastructure, education and public safety. I have the expertise to work through specific challenges within each community but at the end of the day we all have the same goal of educating our children, keeping our communities safe and ensuring prosperity for future generations.

How would you measure your success as a state legislator?

Hundreds of thousands of new residents move to Texas every year, and many of them move here in the fast-growing parts of Senate District 10. This demonstrates success in that our policies provide jobs, opportunity, and a high quality of life for Texas residents.

Do you support vouchers or voucher-like programs, such as education savings accounts? Why or why not?

On matters related to education, my core philosophy is that parents – not government – know what is best for their children. Whether the choice is attending public school, private school or home school, parents should always have the final say in matters related to education. That is why I support school choice.

What is your plan to fund Texas public schools?

Texans deserve the best public school system in America. My plan is that during the 89th Legislative Session we will add more money to the public school finance system, support our teachers, and offer an array of educational options that fit the needs of individual Texas students. I also support sending additional school safety funding to our school districts, on top of the hundreds of millions of dollars spent last session. It is imperative that school districts have the resources they need to help improve student learning and prepare our next generation for college, career or military service. During the 88th Legislative Session I voted multiple times to provide across-the-board pay raises to Texas teachers and to inject additional funding into the public school system. Unfortunately, because of political disagreements with the Texas House, these measures could not pass after the regular and four special legislative sessions. I want to continue this important work from last session.

Has the state done enough to ensure a steady supply of electricity, even in tight grid conditions? What more should be done?

The Texas Legislature has taken bold, historic action to meet the growing electricity demands of Texas. This action has already incentivized new dispatchable generation to enter the Texas electricity market which will provide more on-demand power to our state in tight grid conditions. As part of these efforts last session, we created the Texas Energy Fund which prioritizes bringing on-demand power to Texas. We also established a framework for the Public Utility Commission to review and approve utilities’ resiliency plans to ensure the durability of our state’s poles and power lines. Since Winter Storm Uri, we have passed dozens of initiatives to secure the state’s power grid and ensure a dependable, resilient power supply. These actions were necessary to ensure a steady supply of affordable, reliable power for all Texans today. But to meet the future needs of our state, we must continue to incentivize investment in new dispatchable power that we can rely on during extreme conditions.

What should the state do in the coming legislative session to address road infrastructure?

Texas’ success has brought us unprecedented growth. DFW, in particular, is one of the fastest growing regions in America and a result of that rapid growth is traffic congestion. Having been raised in Fort Worth, and now living in fast growing Parker County, I understand the challenges this presents. In recent years the Legislature has substantially increased transportation funding, including $8.26 billion in state revenue for this biennium. In 2014, Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment dedicating excess funds from the state’s crude oil and natural gas production tax revenues to be transferred to the State Highway Fund, providing an additional funding source for TxDOT project construction. Last year, I voted in support of extending this proposition by eight years. Still, infrastructure funding will remain an ongoing priority. We must continue to find creative ways to ensure that Texans have access to a transportation system that meets our needs.

What should the state do in the coming legislative session to address the supply of water in Texas?

The state should establish a dedicated source of funding for the Texas Water Fund to provide reliable and consistent investment in new water supply projects in Texas. Last session, the Texas Legislature took an important first step by creating the Fund and authorizing a one-time appropriation to the Fund. This action was approved last November with overwhelming support by 77% of voters in the statewide constitutional election. The Texas Water Fund will finance water projects across the state and assist our rural utilities in obtaining low-cost financing for water and wastewater projects. By creating and funding the Texas Water Fund, the Texas Legislature made a down payment on the future of Texas water, and we will continue to do more.

What should the state do in the coming legislative session to address border security along the Texas-Mexico border and immigration?

Because the Biden/Harris administration refuses to secure the southern border, Texas has had to answer the call. Since President Biden took office, 8.5 million illegal aliens have been encountered at the southern border. To counter this, the state has deployed historic border security resources and we will continue to do so. As a former police officer, I understand the direct impact that a porous border has on our communities. The influx of illegal immigrants, human trafficking and drug trafficking impacts public safety. My record in the State House and as the former Chair of Homeland Security and Public Safety, and my current advocacy on the Senate Border Security Committee, demonstrates my dedication to finding ways to secure our southern border and keep Texans safe.

What should the state legislature do to address property taxes and affordable housing for Texans in the coming legislative session?

The supply chain crisis, due in large part to the policies of the Biden/Harris administration, created rampant inflation and dramatically increased material costs. Excessive government regulation has also driven up housing costs by limiting the locations a single-family home can be built. One estimate is that 25% of the cost of a single-family home is due to government regulation. Current regulations must be examined to identify those that are burdensome and unnecessary. Lending institutions must also have more flexibility to make capital available for developers and home buyers. Skilled labor shortages also compound the problem, so we must continue to emphasize expanding the construction trade workforce. I’m proud of the work done in 2023 to deliver school district property tax relief to Texans. I support continuing that work in the next legislative session, using the anticipated state budget surplus for additional property tax relief.

Should Texas make any changes to its current abortion laws. Why or why not, and what changes would you support?

Life begins at conception. I believe that every human life is precious, that all life is a gift from God and that government has a duty to protect the unborn.

What’s an issue that doesn’t make as many headlines but is important to you? Why is it important?

I am deeply concerned about growing antisemitism and hostility to members of the Jewish community, especially following the brutal and deadly Hamas attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. Furthermore, there is an organized campaign known as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to delegitimize and destabilize Israel through economic warfare. In response, Texas passed the nation’s strongest anti-BDS bill which prohibits the State of Texas from doing business with any companies or individual contractors who boycott Israel. Additionally, we passed legislation to root out antisemitic activities on college campuses, established the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC), and passed a unanimous resolution condemning Hamas and supporting Israel’s inherent right to defend itself. Texas must continue to stand with Israel, the only true democracy in the Middle East.

What steps will you take to communicate with constituents about their concerns, needs and the actions of the state legislature?

I actively travel across the many counties of SD 10, speaking to various community groups and meeting with citizens to hear their concerns. I also publish a regular newsletter, updating constituents on legislative matters and issues of interest. Anyone wishing to receive that information can visit www.PhilKing.com and sign up.

Andy Morris

Political Party: Democrat

Age: 40

Campaign website: www.andy4texas.com

Best way for voters to reach you: https://linktr.ee/andy4texas

Occupation

Immigration Attorney

Education

J.D., B.A. Theatre/Speech

Have you run for elected office before?

Yes; Elected to Aledo City Council, Aledo, TX, May 2018

Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism:

Aledo City Council, 2018; Southern Baptist Missionary, 2019-2022; Teacher/Speaker on Immigration Law and Policy, 2023-2024

Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain:

No

Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain:

No

Who are your top three campaign contributors?

Mike Morris; Northeast Tarrant County Democrats; Blue Horizon Texas

Why are you seeking this office?

To restore sanity in the Texas senate. I run to protect our public schools; to save our renowned natural environment from profit-driven degradation; to bring an end to these dark days of reproductive health in which women must flee the state to survive deadly pregnancy scenarios; to advance sensible legislation to curb the epidemic of gun violence and mass shootings; and to stop discrimination in all its forms, from government-enforced religious preferences, to anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policies, and on to any other form such discrimination takes.

What are your top 3 policy priorities?

1. Saving our public schools from the poisonous school voucher plan; 2. Sensible legislation to address gun violence and mass shootings, including low-hanging fruit such as red-flag laws and an age limit on purchases of certain types of weapons; 3. Provide proper public oversight of Big Energy companies to hold them accountable for destroying violating our environmental protection laws and make them pay their fair share of taxes.

Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?

Due to word count limits I will choose one example. My opponent, Senator Phil King, has been a Republican in the legislature for decades. He is well-funded and well-connected. It may not surprise anyone to know that he receives large donations from corporate PAC donors such as: Conoco Phillips Spirit PAC, ExxonMobil PAC, NRG Energy Inc. PAC, CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC. PAC (yes, that same CenterPoint Energy that failed Houston) and many more. Big Energy gives to Phil King because Phil King takes care of Big Energy.

I am neither well-funded nor well-connected, but what I am is passionate about going to Austin to reset the power dynamics in this state by representing the interests of common Texans rather than foreign-owned energy conglomerates.

We need people in our government who will hold the powerful accountable. After all, our government should fight for us, the common Texans. Our votes are our power.

What is the biggest challenge facing the district where you’re running, and what is your plan to address it?

Much of District 10 is rural, and the public schools in these areas are centers of their communities. Residents do not necessarily have access to high-quality, affordable private schools. Under Greg Abbott and Phil King’s school voucher plan, enormous amounts of PUBLIC money will be re-directed to PRIVATE schools. $8000 per student, in fact. But taking money OUT of an already struggling public school system will inevitably erode our public schools, and $8000 doesn’t make top private schools actually affordable to low-income families. If the rural public schools are the only real option for many residents in District 10, then the outcome will be disastrous for our children.

I will fight against giving public money to private schools. I will vote to increase pay for our teachers, to bolster teachers’ retirement system, to increase incentives for teaching at struggling schools, and to end the regime of over-testing, especially for younger students.

How would you measure your success as a state legislator?

If by the end of my term I look back and see that I have (1) done my part in defeating school vouchers, (2) fought with all my heart and ability to advance sensible gun violence legislation, (3) pushed back against the darkness of the current state of women’s reproductive rights, and (4) been the hand of the common people in my district to hold the powerful and privileged accountable, then I will deem my term to have been a success.

Do you support vouchers or voucher-like programs, such as education savings accounts? Why or why not?

No. The Texas Republican-led proposal to implement a school voucher system is a direct threat to public education. By diverting public money to private schools, the plan risks deepening educational inequality, particularly in rural and low-income areas where public schools are often the only viable option. This plan would leave the most vulnerable students with fewer opportunities. Instead of weakening our public schools, Texas should invest in improving them. They certainly need improvement. But as many of us Texans know, they are one of the most important spaces for our children and families to come together in learning and community. They are the places where all people, rich and poor, advantaged and disadvantaged, gain equal access to a quality education and a meaningful community. Public schools are vital for our democracy and social cohesion; they must be protected from policies that would undermine them for the benefit of the wealthy few.

What is your plan to fund Texas public schools?

The State needs to step up. Instead of forcing school districts to rely on taxing our homes, Texas should set automatic annual adjustments to the per-student Basic Allotment, fully fund full-day Pre-K, increase teacher compensation, improve teacher benefits, and provide funds for teachers to supply their classrooms, among other improvements. Texas can find the money; it is one of the most populous states in the union but ranks in the bottom 10 for per-student spending in education. Holding Big Energy accountable and ending their massive tax incentives is a start; instead of Texas PAYING foreign companies to profit off despoiling our natural environment, those companies should pay their fair share in taxes, and be held accountable for their many and frequent violations.

Has the state done enough to ensure a steady supply of electricity, even in tight grid conditions? What more should be done?

No. The Republican legislature has tried to solve the problem by spending big money on the construction of new gas power plants. But that project takes years before we see that power come online. Texas is a leader in renewable energy sources; we need to pursue a healthy, balanced energy generation setup that doesn’t demonize clean energy while maintaining strong on-demand generation.

Our state grid still isn’t connected to the nation’s. When our power generation isn’t enough in times of crisis, we have no assistance from neighboring states. The Biden administration is even getting involved to help, putting forward $360 million to help connect our grid. That needs to happen.

We also need to hold the transmission and distribution monopolies like CenterPoint and ONCOR accountable to spend the money and resources needed to upgrade our energy infrastructure (power lines and poles) to become more extreme weather-resistant.

What should the state do in the coming legislative session to address road infrastructure?

Texas spends an enormous amount of money on road and highway infrastructure: $18 billion in 2022, for example. No other state spends more. But because Texas does not prioritize building and improving public transportation options, we miss out on billions of dollars in matching federal grants for such improvements. Texas’ road infrastructure is groaning under the weight of our explosive population growth; we need to expand our horizons.

What should the state do in the coming legislative session to address the supply of water in Texas?

Texas’ population is going to keep growing (possibly 22 million more Texans by 2070), while our water supply will keep shrinking (18% decline by 2070). Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says that we lose about one farm per week due to lack of water. This is a real threat, one that places like Phoenix, AZ are already facing and that we need to come to grips with. Texas needs to invest in water conservation projects, and I applaud the legislature for taking steps in this direction already. We need to increase the urgency on this issue.

What should the state do in the coming legislative session to address border security along the Texas-Mexico border and immigration?

The State should work with, not against, the Border Patrol and other federal authorities. The show that Greg Abbott has put on with the national guard at the border, Operation Lone Star, has done little other than create chaos and cost lives. Immigration Policy is the responsibility of the federal government, and Texas should use its considerable clout on the issue to advocate for bipartisan immigration reform. It is unfortunate that Abbott, Patrick, and Paxton bend the knee to Donald Trump, the man who killed the recent bipartisan bill put forward in the US Senate, in order to make sure that the border, and immigration generally, remain political issues for him to exploit.

What should the state legislature do to address property taxes and affordable housing for Texans in the coming legislative session?

The State should get serious about funding our public schools, which will reduce the need for school districts to raise their money through taxing our homes. Their school voucher push, perversely, will probably cause school districts to become even more desperately dependent on property tax rates. The shortage of affordable housing in Texas is also acute. The legislature should take action on zoning laws that limit what types of housing can be built, and in so doing, raise housing costs.

Should Texas make any changes to its current abortion laws. Why or why not, and what changes would you support?

Yes! If our laws are creating an environment where women who have life-threatening pregnancies, even nonviable ones, are unable to get timely life-saving medical care due to either state law or medical providers’ fear of punishment, then we are in a dark, dark place. We must implement clear and unambiguous protections for medical providers in such scenarios. We must not restrict medical providers’ immediate access to life-saving medicines in those scenarios. And we must return to a legal environment where the bodily autonomy of a woman is respected and not trampled upon. We should return to the legal framework of Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

What’s an issue that doesn’t make as many headlines but is important to you? Why is it important?

I don’t feel that gun violence in Texas gets nearly as many headlines as it deserves. Only when we are faced with unspeakable tragedy, and that too often, do we dance around the subject at all. But I am passionate about this issue because I think about it every time I drop my daughter off at school. What kind of a world have we created for ourselves when as parents we think “Is this the day? Is this the school?” when we drop our kids off?

The Second Amendment is part of the Constitution’s Bill of Rights. As such, it must be respected. But the 2nd Amendment has been abused, twisted, and weaponized for profit and greed. I do not wish to live in a society where our schools must be bristling fortresses. I do not wish to live in a society where our churches require armed congregants to be spread around the sanctuary on Sunday. The United States is the only stable nation (not in anarchy or in civil war) that features firearms as being the number one killer of our young people.

What steps will you take to communicate with constituents about their concerns, needs and the actions of the state legislature?

As an advocate for the common people in my district, I will be responsive to them. I will be out among them in person as much as I can. I will not be aloof. I will not hide in Austin. My office will actively engage with calls and requests for meetings. We will put out a regular email and online newsletter and stay active on social media. We will be present in the district. We will be your voice.