Quackenbush/Photo by Quackenbush State Senate Campaign

Amarillo attorney Jesse Quackenbush has filed paperwork to potentially enter the race to replace outgoing State Representative Four Price.

Quackenbush has been a controversial figure in Amarillo. In 2020, Quackenbush briefly opened a restaurant called “Big Beaners,” which was met with backlash by many who called the name of the restaurant racist. Following the closure of the restaurant, Quackenbush stated that the restaurant was an art exhibition with a name that was intentionally “derogatory and racist.” His daughter has also been a source of controversy. In 2017, she shot a homeless man in Nashville and was later sentenced to 11 months and 29 days of unsupervised probation for the incident.

This isn’t the first time Quackenbush has entered the political arena. In 2022, Quackenbush ran in the Republican primary to replace outgoing State Senator Kel Seliger. According to his response to our voter guide, his priorities included protecting panhandle water from frackers, protecting the border, lowering property taxes, banning critical race theory, preserving local control, and criminal justice reform. Quackenbush received 5,101 votes and placed last in the four-person race with 6.1%.

House District 87, which covers much of the northern Texas panhandle, including Potter County, has been represented by Four Price since 2011. Price announced in July that he will not seek reelection in 2024.

So far, the only other candidate who has publicly announced an intention to run has been Potter County Republican Party chairman Dan Rogers. Aside from Rogers and Quackenbush, City of Amarillo intergovernmental affairs liaison Carter Estes has stated he is considering running for the office. Businessman Alex Fairly has declined to run but has hinted he will be backing a candidate.

The primary election will be held on Tuesday, March 5th, 2024.