FORT WORTH, Texas — It was a major victory for conservatives at the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame at the Stockyards when Tea Party favorite Konni Burton (R-Colleyville) won Senate District 10, the state senate district seat that has been occupied by Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) since 2009.
Senate District 10 has been a pivotal race statewide. The Burton win inches Republicans closer to an upper legislative chamber supermajority. According to a rule in the Texas Senate, two-thirds of the 31 member Senate, which equals 21 senators, must agree before a bill gets to the floor for debate. Burton’s win gives the Republicans 20 seats and puts that supermajority goal into a visible range.
Closer to home, Burton’s victory put Senate District 10 back into the hands of an elected official who shares the conservative values as the majority of its constituents. Throughout her campaign, Burton promised to bring that conservative voice back to the district.
Earlier this year, Breitbart Texas reported that Sen. Ted Cruz said about now Senator-elect Burton, “Konni Burton wakes up every day for liberty and fighting for every Texan…”
On the campaign trail, Burton has resonated with district voters on a host of key issues — the state budget, transportation, education, immigration and border safety. In the race against Willis, Burton was the only candidate talking about border security.
In late May when Burton swept the run-off primary against moderate GOP opponent and former legislator, Mark Shelton, she told her supporters at the Stockyards, “One thing that you all can rest assured with is the conservative principles that I run on in this race, I will legislate on down inthe state capitol.”
In stark contrast, Willis supporters included Battleground Texas, Planned Parenthood, and the Texas, State Teachers Association which is affiliated with the NEA, the largest teacher’s union on the country. Davis and Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio), also stumped for Willis, most recently on October 28 in Fort Worth which Breitbart Texas reported.
During the final days of the race, a Burton campaign ad blasted Willis for her ties to Texas Trial lawyers like Steve Mostyn, who funded her heavily.
Despite the hard left push, even Willis conceded to the Texas Observer that SD 10 was a Republican-leaning district and her chances of winning were a long shot. In the last election, Davis only won the district by a margin of two percent.
Burton was endorsed by US Sen. Ted Cruz. Other conservative supporters included two state representatives Bill Zedler (R-Arlington) and Jonathan Stickland (R-Bedford). Empower Texans PAC, the Good Government Fund, Cruz’ father Rafael Cruz, and Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC. were also among the grassroots groups that supported the Burton campaign, which was also noted in the Breitbart Texas article.
Burton has been a familiar face in the senate district because of her role as a longtime grassroots leader in the Northeast Tarrant Tea Party. Earlier on, she campaigned for Tea Party favorite Cruz in his US Senate race and later on Stickland for Texas state Senate.
True to her conservative roots, state Senator-elect Burton considers the state budget her biggest issue, calling the large increase during last session an act of fiscal irresponsibility.
With a photo of Libby Willis in the background that said “Libby for Texas Senate” Come and Take It, Burton said “Hey Battleground Texas, we came and took it.”
Burton added, “Tonight our neighbors have spoken, all of the hard work put in by each of you, has paid off. Nationally, the American people have rejected President Obama’s agenda.” she continued, “In Texas, the people have sent Battleground Texas packing. In Tarrant County, we have replaced one of the most radical, liberal voices it ever had — Wendy Davis — with a conservative voice .. I am honored to be the one to be elected to office to represent all of you.”
In a taped message from Senator Ted Cruz, he said to Burton, “let me be the first to say, Madame Senator.” He also thanked her for all her support in his race for US Senator.
Follow Merrill Hope, an original member of the Breitbart Texas team, on Twitter @OutOfTheBoxMom.