Primary election preview: Shofner challenges Clardy in hotly contested Republican primary for Texas House seat

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) - The Republican primary for Texas House District 11 is among the most contentious races on the ballot in East Texas, as Joanne Shofner challenges incumbent Travis Clardy to represent Nacogdoches, Rusk, Panola, Shelby, Sabine, and Newton counties.

“We’ve done a lot of great work,” said Clardy. “I’m proud of what we’ve done. But we’ve got a lot of big things to do.”

Clardy was first elected to the Texas House in 2012 and is now in a fight to stay there.

“We’re in this crazy season, and there’s been this distraction and it’s like we’re caught in some fever dream right now. Some conflict among our Texas Republicans,” he said.

The Nacogdoches attorney is one of several Republican lawmakers facing revenge from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for voting against his school voucher agenda last year.

“I believe in our rural East Texas communities and the 30 school districts I’m proud to represent,” Clardy said. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done. And those people that take care of our kids, we’ve got to do a better job of taking care of them. But Gov. Abbott has found a bunch of new friends, and those new friends are out-of-state billionaires who want their hands on our public tax dollars, on our Texas tax dollars, that should go to public education. They want to divert it off to their companies and siphon off 8% a year clip that will go to their companies that manage the funds. It’s a money grab.”

Clardy’s opponent, Joanne Shofner, is endorsed by Gov. Abbott, former President Donald Trump, and Sen. Ted Cruz. Abbott has traveled to East Texas twice to stump for Shofner and has another visit planned for Monday, March 4.

When it comes to policy, the biggest difference between the two candidates is the issue that’s made this race what it is: school vouchers.

“I want to give school choice to parents who are not able to move or get out of schools that are failing. So, we want to be able to give them the option and the choice to move to a different district or move to a different to a private school. But have those funds, those education savings account funds, their tax dollars, go with the child and follow the child around,” she said.

Campaign finance reports show Shofner, the president of the Nacogdoches County Republican Women, has outraised and outspent her opponent. Throughout the campaign, a barrage of television advertisements and mailers funded by pro-voucher groups have targeted her opponent. Despite the attention of special interest groups, Shofner said she intends to represent her constituents, not lobbyists.

“I’m my own person,” she said. “These organizations that have been supporting or sending mailers or things like that - it’s against the law for me to even speak to them or for them to speak to me. So, I see some of these mailers for the first time in my mailbox just like everyone else. I’m so grateful that my campaign has been positive the whole time.”

Shofner said the biggest difference between her and Clardy is that she’ll “vote Republican every time, not just some of the time.”

Clardy worries the influence revenge that has fueled this campaign in part could have serious ramifications.

“If they can pervert the values and the ideals and the culture and the faith that we have in East Texas and win these races, it will be a very sad day and I don’t see how we pull back away from it,” Clardy said.

“We are earning every single vote that we have,” said Shofner. “And we’re just so grateful and thankful for the privilege and the opportunity and honor to represent.”

Election Day is Tuesday. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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