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Don Huffines
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 16th district
In office
January 13, 2015 – January 8, 2019
Preceded byJohn Carona
Succeeded byNathan M. Johnson
Personal details
Born (1958-04-26) April 26, 1958 (age 66)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMary Catherine Huffines
Children5
EducationUniversity of Texas, Austin (BBA)

Donald Blaine Huffines is an American politician and businessman from the state of Texas. Huffines co-owns and operates Huffines Communities, a real estate development company in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. A conservative,[1] Tea Party[2] Republican, Huffines represented District 16 in the Texas Senate from 2015 to 2019. He lost his re-election campaign in 2018.

Remaining active in politics, Huffines ran for Governor of Texas in the 2022 Republican primary, challenging incumbent Greg Abbott[3] after the COVID-19 pandemic and government lockdowns.[4]

Huffines now serves as president of the Huffines Liberty Foundation, a fiscally conservative Texas think-tank.[5] Huffines has published numerous op-eds with the Foundation in the Houston Chronicle and Dallas Morning News on property taxes.[6][7]

Background

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Early life, education, and family

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Don Huffines is a fifth-generation[8] Texan born in Dallas on April 26, 1958. He has two older brothers, James and Ray, and an identical twin brother, Phillip. In his childhood, his brothers and he spent time assisting at their grandfather’s car dealership. Don Huffines' grandfather, James Lecil "J.L." Huffines, started the Huffines Motor Company in Denton, Texas, in 1924. The company has grown into a large network of metroplex dealerships run by Don's brother, Ray Huffines.

Huffines graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.B.A in finance.[8]

Huffines and his wife of 35 years, Mary Catherine, have five children and six grandchildren.[8]

Real-estate career

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Huffines and his brother Phillip are the founders and co-owners of Huffines Communities, a real-estate company established in 1985 that is located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.[9][10]

Huffines is now the president and founder of Huffines Enterprises.[11]

Texas Senate

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Huffines in 2014

In 2014, Huffines ran for a seat in the Texas State Senate. He challenged the incumbent of Senate District 16, Senator John J. Carona, in the Republican primary. Huffines ran to the right of Carona, claiming Carona was not a true conservative, and ultimately won the primary against him on March 4, 2014. A combined total of $6.3 million was spent by both candidates in the primary race.[citation needed]

In the November 4 general election, Huffines ran unopposed.[12] Huffines campaigned on the themes of term limits, school choice, funding highway construction, opposing new toll roads, cutting taxes, and teaching creationism in public schools.[13]

Tenure

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During his time in office, Huffines authored many bills addressing Republican priorities[14] and consistently voted along his party line on conservative legislation.

A Rice University Baker Institute study by political science fellow Mark Jones named Huffines the fourth-most conservative member of the 2017 Texas Senate.[15] Huffines earned a 100% score for two consecutive legislative sessions on the Texas Right to Life "pro-life scorecard"[16] for his votes on pro-life policy. He earned a 97% score on the Texans for Fiscal Responsibility Index.[17] And, Huffines received a 92% career rating from Young Conservatives of Texas.[18] Huffines was also recognized as a "Faith & Family" champion by Texas Values Action, with a score of 98%.[19]

Huffines served as Vice-Chair of the Texas Senate Border Security, Veteran Affairs, and Transportation committees. Huffines also served as a member of the Education, Business & Commerce, Intergovernmental Regulations, and Natural Resources & Economic Development committees.[20]

In 2017, Huffines passed a bipartisan bill to end vehicle inspections. In passing the legislation, Huffines was joined by his Republican colleagues and seven Democrats. The Texas Tribune claimed that if Huffines' bill were to become law, it would eliminate the state’s vehicle safety inspection requirement for most vehicles and save about $140 million per year statewide.[21][22][23] The bill died in the Texas House without a vote on the floor.

Huffines also proposed a bill in 2017 that would have required 30% voter turnout for any bond election in Texas to be successful. At the time, most such elections drew fewer than 10% of voters to the polls. The San Antonio Express-News claimed that were Huffines' bill to become law, it would make a successful bond election nearly impossible in Texas.[24]

Huffines is known for advocating the elimination the Dallas County Schools that allegedly mismanaged taxpayer money.[25] Six people were imprisoned after being exposed for their roles in the scheme.[26][27][28][29]

On November 6, 2018, Huffines lost his re-election bid to Democrat Nathan M. Johnson, who was the first Democrat to win Senate District 16 in over three decades. Huffines received 45.9% of the vote.[30]

2022 Gubernatorial Candidacy

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Huffines remained politically active after losing his Senate re-election campaign. He was critical of Governor Greg Abbott's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically lockdowns,[31] and was the first former elected official to call for the reopening of the state.[32]

On May 10, 2021, Huffines announced that he would challenge Abbott in the 2022 Republican primary for governor of Texas.[33] As a candidate, Huffines campaigned on shutting down the Texas Border, exposing voter fraud, eliminating property taxes, and ending abortion.[34] The Don Huffines Campaign had 12 field offices across the state, over 70 people on payroll, and raised over $20 million dollars.[35][36]

In a widely circulated video on Twitter, Huffines accused Abbott of using tax dollars to "promote transgender sexual policies to Texas youth".[37] Huffines criticized the Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS) website, a state agency overseen by Governor Abbott, pointing out it encourages children to "express their identities."[38] This webpage was promptly taken down within minutes of Huffines' initial video.[39] Huffines took a victory lap claiming credit for the move.[40]

Huffines is credited with pushing Abbott to the right on a variety of issues. The Texas Signal wrote that Huffines is "the most dangerous man in Texas," writing that he has been "effective at pushing Abbott to the right on a plethora of issues including vaccine mandates."[41] On October 15, 2023, Democrat Senator Nathan Johnson, who defeated Huffines in 2018, tweeted "I don’t understand how Don Huffines is running state policy. I beat him."[42]

Huffines declined to fire a staffer who had previously worked for far-right conspiracy website InfoWars and who had ties to the white nationalist movement; in a statement, Huffines said that he had over 70 people on payroll and that his campaign would not engage in "cancel culture".[43][36]

On March 1, 2022, Huffines lost the Republican primary, placing third with 12% of the vote against Abbott.[44] In his concession statement, Huffines celebrated "driving the narrative", writing that he forced Governor Abbott to "deliver real conservative victories" on policy such as the Texas Heartbeat Act, Constitutional Carry, and protecting children from "abusive transgender transitioning".[45]

Huffines Liberty Foundation

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In June 2022, Huffines launched the Huffines Liberty Foundation. The mission of the Huffines Liberty Foundation is to advance the cause of liberty, prosperity, and virtue in the State of Texas by educating citizens so they may hold their elected officials accountable.[5]

The Foundation focuses on "common sense liberty principles" of individual rights, fiscal restraint, personal responsibility, limited government, and social conservatism.[5] The think-tank has released over 15 white papers since October 2022.[46]

During the 88th Legislative Session in 2023, Huffines actively wrote commentary pieces in the Dallas Morning News and Houston Chronicle about the Foundation's plan to eliminate property taxes in Texas.[7][6]

In June 2023, Governor Greg Abbott called a special session to eliminate property taxes,[47] a priority of both the Don Huffines Campaign and Huffines Liberty Foundation.[34] Democrat Senator Nathan Johnson, who defeated Huffines in 2018, tweeted a photo of Governor Abbott's special session announcement and wrote "STILL don’t understand how Don Huffines is running state policy. I beat him (5-1/2 years ago)."[48] Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick also credited Huffines for continuing to influence state policy on property tax elimination.[49]

Election history

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2022

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2022 Texas gubernatorial election republican primary results[50]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Greg Abbott (incumbent) 1,299,059 66.48%
Republican Allen West 239,557 12.26%
Republican Don Huffines 234,138 11.98%
Republican Chad Prather 74,173 3.80%
Republican Ricky Lynn Perry 61,424 3.14%
Republican Kandy Kaye Horn 23,605 1.21%
Republican Paul Belew 11,387 0.58%
Republican Danny Harrison 10,829 0.55%
Total votes 1,954,172 100%

2018

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Texas's 16th State Senate District General Election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nathan Johnson 159,228 54.13
Republican Don Huffines (incumbent) 134,933 45.87
Total votes 294,161 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2014

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Texas Republican primary election, 2014: Senate District 16[51]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Huffines 25,141 50.64
Republican John Carona (incumbent) 24,509 49.36
Texas Republican general election, 2014: Senate District 16
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Huffines (unopposed) 106,546 100

References

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  1. ^ KERA, Elizabeth Myong (May 11, 2021). "Who Is Don Huffines? Former State Senator Challenges Gov. Greg Abbott". Houston Public Media. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  2. ^ "Huffines victory shows the fight for the soul of the Texas GOP is over, and the tea party won". Dallas News. August 17, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  3. ^ "Texas Primary Election Results". The New York Times. March 2022.
  4. ^ Huffines, Don (April 15, 2020). "Commentary: Gov. Abbott is Not Leading". Texas Scorecard. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "About". Huffines Liberty Foundation. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "This is why Texas should eliminate school property taxes". Dallas News. June 6, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Huffines, Don (April 28, 2023). "Huffines: Property tax cuts proposed by House and Senate are Band-Aid solutions". Houston Chronicle.
  8. ^ a b c "About".
  9. ^ Hethcock, Bill (October 4, 2019). "Building on Inspiration: Q&A with Don Huffines, co-owner of Huffines Communities". BizJournals.com.
  10. ^ "Who We Are : Huffines Communities". huffinescommunities.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  11. ^ "About". Huffines Enterprises. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  12. ^ "Donald Huffines". ballotpedia.org.
  13. ^ Shelley Kofler (March 19, 2014). "Don Huffines, Likely Headed To Texas Senate, Supports Term Limits, School Choice, Creationism". keranews.org.
  14. ^ Rocha, Polo (July 8, 2015). "Just One Bill Among Three Freshman Senators". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  15. ^ "The 2017 Texas Senate, from Right to Left, by Mark P. Jones". TribTalk. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  16. ^ "Don Huffines Pro-Life Scorecard" (PDF). Texas Right to Life.
  17. ^ "Don Huffines". index.texastaxpayers.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  18. ^ "Don Huffines". ratings.yct.org. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  19. ^ "2017 Faith & Family Scorecard | Texas Values ActionTexas Values Action | The Advocacy Arm of Texas Values". Texas Values Action | The Advocacy Arm of Texas Values. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  20. ^ "Donald Huffines". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  21. ^ Afiune, Giulia (June 27, 2017). "Hey, Texplainer: Do I still have to get my car inspected every year?". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  22. ^ Cheshire, Cary (May 5, 2017). "Huffines Passes Bill to End Vehicle Inspections". Texas Scorecard. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  23. ^ Aguilar, Julián (May 4, 2017). "Senate passes bill to eliminate most vehicle safety inspections". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  24. ^ "Bill would wreck bond elections" (opinion), San Antonio Express-News, February 26, 2017, p. F2.
  25. ^ "Huffines: Shut Down 'Rogue Bureaucracy' Dallas County Schools". March 9, 2017.
  26. ^ Huffines, Don (June 5, 2020). "Commentary: New Guilty Plea in Dallas County Schools Scandal Calls for Citizen Reflection". Texas Scorecard. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  27. ^ Kecseg, Ross (September 1, 2016). "Huffines: Abolish Redundant and Costly Education Bureaucracy". Texas Scorecard. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  28. ^ Anderson, Erin (March 9, 2017). "Huffines: Shut Down 'Rogue Bureaucracy' Dallas County Schools". Texas Scorecard. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  29. ^ George, David (September 4, 2019). "FBI Details Dallas County Bribery Scandal Over School Bus Stop-Arm Cameras". School Transportation News. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  30. ^ "Election Returns". Texas Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  31. ^ Wallace, Jeremy (July 22, 2021). "Sen. Rand Paul wades into Texas governor's race against Abbott". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Newspapers. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  32. ^ Huffines, Don (April 15, 2020). "Commentary: Gov. Abbott is Not Leading". Texas Scorecard. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  33. ^ Svitek, Patrick (May 10, 2021). "Republican former state Sen. Don Huffines launches primary challenge to Gov. Greg Abbott". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  34. ^ a b "Texas Issues | Don Huffines For Governor : Don Huffines For Governor". February 12, 2022. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  35. ^ "Donald Huffines - Texas Candidate". Transparency USA. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  36. ^ a b "Texas Candidate For Governor Won't Fire Staffer With White Nationalist Ties". HuffPost. January 19, 2022.
  37. ^ "It's offensive to see @GregAbbott_TX use our tax dollars to advocate for transgender ideology. This must end". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  38. ^ Waltens, Brandon (August 31, 2021). "Texas State Agency 'Celebrates' Transgender Youth, Promotes LGBT Organization". Texas Scorecard. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  39. ^ "Texas Removed an L.G.B.T.Q. Resource Page After a Candidate Complained (Published 2021)". October 14, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  40. ^ Scherer, Jasper (October 12, 2021). "Prompted by Abbott challenger, Texas agency removes webpage with suicide hotline for LGBTQ youths". The Houston Chronicle.
  41. ^ Coggins, Jessica Montoya (October 14, 2021). "Don Huffines is the most dangerous man in Texas". Texas Signal. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  42. ^ "I don't understand how Don Huffines is running state policy. I beat him". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  43. ^ Hernandez, Emily (January 20, 2022). "Texas GOP gubernatorial candidate says he won't fire staffer tied to white nationalist movement". The Texas Tribune.
  44. ^ Svitek, Patrick (March 2, 2022). "Greg Abbott, Beto O'Rourke easily win gubernatorial primaries, setting up November race". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  45. ^ "Official statement from Don Huffines". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  46. ^ "Issues". Huffines Liberty Foundation. August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  47. ^ "Governor Abbott Announces Second Special Session Agenda". gov.texas.gov. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  48. ^ "STILL don't understand how Don Huffines is running state policy. I beat him (5-1/2 years ago)". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  49. ^ "This plan was put together by a guy who just spent $10 million to get about 8% of the vote to run against Abbott," Patrick says, taking aim at @DonHuffines". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  50. ^ "Candidate Information". Texas Secretary of State John B. Scott. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  51. ^ "2014 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
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