The race for the District 71 seat in the Texas House of Representatives is drawing a crowded field.
As of Tuesday, four candidates had announced their intentions to run in the Republican Primary on March 3. Candidates have until Dec. 8 to file to run in the primary election.
Jay Hardaway
Jay Hardaway, Blaise Regan, Joshua Ohlemacher and Liz Case will compete for their party’s nomination to replace veteran Rep. Stan Lambert, R-Abilene, who will retire at the end of his term.
Hardaway is a former member of the Abilene City Council and has worked as senior policy advisor to Lambert. He also worked as district director for U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Lubbock.
He is employed as director of legislative affairs and public policy at Hendrick Health, according to that company’s website.
His campaign Facebook page said he will work toward “meaningful and permanent property tax relief and to secure our border and keep our communities safe, promote policies to ensure Texas students have the best teachers and schools, protect private property owner rights, defend life and the Second Amendment.”
Blaise Regan
Regan, an attorney, is a member of the Abilene City Council and operates Six Brothers Brewery.
“The people of Callahan, Jones, Nolan, and Taylor County deserve a strong voice in Austin,” he said on his Facebook campaign page. “As a conservative Republican I will give them one with passion, energy, and optimism.”
Joshua Ohlemacher
Ohlemacher said on his campaign website he believes in “limited government, fiscal responsibility, and individual liberty, including Second Amendment rights.”
According to the website, “Joshua isn’t a career politician."
He has managed construction projects across the Big Country, including at Dyess Air Force Base, the website said.
Liz Case
Taylor County rancher Liz Case has also announced she’ll run for the GOP nomination.
Lambert defeated her when she ran in 2023.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Race for state rep seat gets crowded