Greetings Van Zandt and Surrounding Counties,
The largest political debates of the 2026 State Republican Primary Season will be occurring in Van Zandt County!!! Please pay close attention to all the information so you can make plans and attend this once in an election cycle all out debate/forum scheduled for Saturday, January 17th starting at 11:00 AM with doors opening at 10:00 AM. It will be held at the Canton Civic Center, 800 Flea Market Rd. Canton TX 75103. Get there early to get a good seat!
The top of the card begins with the race for Texas Attorney General between Aaron Reitz, Ken Paxton’s endorsed candidate and Chip Roy, Ted Cruz’s endorsed candidate. It may be a better than 50% chance that one of these two will be elected replacing AG Paxton. This is one Show Down at High Noon you will not want to miss.
The next race will be for Texas Comptroller of Accounts where you will get to hear from Don Huffines, Christi Craddick and present Controller of Accounts Kelly Handcock. It continues through the afternoon with candidate for US Senate Congressman Wesley Hunt, Pete “Doc” Chambers for Governor, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, Railroad Commissioner Candidates Bo French and Jim Matlock, State Board of Education candidates Kason Huddleston and Rachel Hoge and to finish the top of the ticket will be for SD-2 State Senate with Jason Eddington challenging setting State Senator Bob Hall.
After the morning session those of you from out of our county may want to excuse yourselves as the voters of Van Zandt County continue in the afternoon evaluating all our local county elections which include candidates for VZ Co. Judge Don Goode, Chad LaPrade, Andy Reese, Karen Reeves and Jeffry Whitworth, VZ Co. Chair candidates Lance Lenz and Tom Duke, Pct 4 Commissioner candidates Brandon Barton, Ryan Hanson and Dan Marrow, Pct. Chair 4c candidate Maria Calloway and Gavin Whitaker, Pct. Chair 4e candidates Lori Reese and Jan Box, Pct 2 Commissioner candidates Cliff Williams, James Warrington, James Cooley and David Marshall, JP Pct 1 Candidates Mickey Henson and Wade McMillan, JP Pct 3 Herbert Dunn and Jennifer Taylor and rounding out the evening will be the all important position of VZ Co. District Attorney with candidates Tonda Curry, Richard Schmidt and Joseph Secola.
The lower ticket candidates will not be doing more than introductions as they explain their qualifications for the positions they are seeking. However, do expect in-depth debating for County Judge, Precinct Commissioners and especially for our District Attorney.
The entire event will be live streamed through the Grand Saline Sun with the taping of the event done by the Erwin Ministries of Edgewood. However, we highly encourage you to attend in person so you can meet the candidates face to face and interact with fellow voters.
Below is a posting of the timeline of events which will give you the opportunity to come and go as you please, however keep in mind there may be last minute changes due to unforeseen circumstances.
If you do not want to leave the grounds, we have contracted two food trucks with delicious food, snacks and drinks. For comfort and convenience, we do encourage you to bring your own lawn chairs because we are anticipating a shortage of seats.
I must add kudos for our Republican Club team that there isn’t a county in Texas the size of ours that has as much positive political activity as Van Zandt. Oh, sure you can point out lots that could be corrected but we are considered one of the reddest counties in the state. Help us keep it that way.
Dwayne “Doc” Collins, President
Republican Club of Van Zandt County
10:00 am Doors Open
11:00 pm Debate Opening (15 min open/organize)
11:15 Attorney General-
Aaron Reitz*
Chip Roy*
11:45 US Senator-
Wesley Hunt*
12:00 Governor-
Pete “Doc” Chambers*
12:15 LT Governor
Perla Hopkins*
12:30 Agriculture Commissioner –
Sid Miller*
12:45 Comptroller-
Don Huffines*
Craddick*
Hancock*
1:30 Railroad Commissioner-
Jim Matlock*
Bo French*
2:00 SBOE-
Rachel Hogue*
Kason Huddleston*
2:30 State Senate-
Bob Hall*
Jason Eddington*
3:00 Judge-
Don Goode*
Chad Laprade*
Andy Reese*
Karen Reeves*
Jeffrey Whitworth*
4:00 County Chair
Lance Lenz*
Tom Duke*
4:30- Pct 4 Commissioner-
Brandon Barton*
Ryan Hanson*
Dan Marrow*
5:10 Pct chair 4c
Maria Calloway*
Gavin Whitaker*
5:20 Pct Chair 4e
Lori Reese*
Jan Box*
5:30- Pct 2 Commissioner-
Cliff Williams*
James Warrington*
James Cooley*
David Marshall*
6:20 JP pct 1-
Mickey Henson*
Wade McMillan*
6:30 JP pct 3-
Herbert Dunn*
Jennifer Taylor*
6:40 District Attorney-
Tonda Curry*
Richard Schmidt*
Joseph Secola*
7:20-7:30 pm Close Debate