Longtime State Rep. John Smithee announces bid for re-election

Longtime State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, announced Thursday his plans to run for re-election in the spring Republican party primary.

“Today I announced that I am seeking re-election to the Texas House," Smithee said in a news release. "There are significant issues facing House District 86, the Panhandle and the state of Texas that require conservative leadership, thoughtful independence, and experience. For instance, last session I was proud to be a part of a team of area legislators that secured critical funding for a state hospital in Amarillo that will serve the entire Panhandle. As a legislator, I have always been deeply focused on the priorities of my district and our region, ensuring that our values and needs have a strong champion in the state legislature."

As previously reported, the Texas Legislature appropriated $158 million from its state budget surplus last month for a new mental health facility in Amarillo.

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The Texas Tribune reported that at the end of Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gave a blistering speech about the House's process, but he extolled Smithee, who vigorously opposed Paxton’s impeachment at the time, giving a speech from the floor that argued the case was based upon “triple hearsay.” Some of Paxton’s allies are touting Smithee as a House speaker candidate as current speaker Dade Phelan faces calls to resign, according to the Texas Tribune.

"I think if you're going to go through an impeachment process, you've got to respect the rule of law, and you've got to respect basic constitutional due process rights of the person," Smithee said during a panel discussion at the Texas Tribune's "Amarillo and the 2023 Legislative Session" event, moderated by the Tribune's High Plains reporter Jayme Lozano Carver at Amarillo College's Innovation Outpost June 15. "I don't think either one of those occurred in the House."

The Amarillo attorney has served in the Texas House since 1985 after he was first elected to his position in 1984 and represents Armstrong, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Hartley, Oldham, Parmer, Randall counties as part of the 86th District.

Smithee was among local legislators and the 23 House Republicans who voted against impeaching Paxton, while a large majority of the House supported the impeachment during proceedings in late May.

"The last several months have been an extremely tumultuous time for the Texas House and the legislature as a whole," Smithee, continued in the re-election announcement. "I look forward to returning to the Texas House to provide a steady hand, assist in unifying our Party, and help set a course for strong Republican victories in Novembers to come and beyond."

"I am excited about the opportunities ahead to continue to serve the people of this amazing district and the state of Texas," Smithee said.

The news release notes that Smithee was "instrumental last session in providing historic funding for state border operations, securing $12 billion in new property tax relief for Texans, banning life-altering gender modification surgeries and procedures on minors, and continuing to foster a culture of life in our state."

Smithee faces an election opponent in Jamie Haynes, an Amarillo real estate agent who has become a prominent activist for “parental rights” and who launched her campaign in late June.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, announces re-election bid