The Amarillo Pioneer’s Editorial Board makes the following recommendations for the March 5, 2024 Republican primary elections.

President of the United States

The Amarillo Pioneer recommends Donald J. Trump.

Donald Trump’s tenure in the White House was unprecedented, to say the least. Trump brought in a different style to Washington and approached issues in a way that many Americans had not seen in government before. His work has earned him a loyal following – and his fair share of controversy. Still, he is the best choice for President in the Republican field.

Make no mistake, we didn’t always agree with everything Trump did. He could have been more forceful in combatting the rising national debt and could have done more to improve the nation’s financial health. However, his tenure marked days of prosperity that many American consumers long for – and that America could desperately use again.

Trump is undoubtedly going to win the Republican nomination for president and will go on to the general election to face Joe Biden. We believe Texans should give Trump their seal of approval and do their part to send him on to the general election.

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Presiding Judge

The Amarillo Pioneer recommends Justice David J. Schenck.

David J. Schenck is among the most experienced and qualified judicial candidates on the statewide ballot this year. A Dallas-area attorney and former judge, Schenck’s knowledge of the law – both civil and criminal – is impressive and his commitment to showing up for every part of Texas is commendable.

It is worth noting that, if elected, Schenck would be one of the only statewide judges elected from an area north of Austin, and that is some geographical diversity that is desperately needed. Schenck will be prepared to handle the docket on his first day in court and will represent Texans well as their Court of Criminal Appeals presiding judge.

Texas House District 86

The Amarillo Pioneer recommends John Smithee.

John Smithee has proven to be a steady conservative hand representing the Panhandle in Austin. He earned the backing of Governor Greg Abbott by being one of the few members of the State House to back the Republican Party platform on education. In fact, Smithee is the only candidate in the race who has refused to stand with Democrats on educational freedom.

Smithee also demonstrated his leadership skills during the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton. While tensions were running high on all sides, Smithee stood apart from the crowd by calmly expressing his opposition to the impeachment on the grounds of transparency.

Texas House District 87

The Amarillo Pioneer recommends Caroline Fairly.

When Four Price announced he would not be seeking reelection, there was a flurry of speculation regarding who would run for the open seat. Since then, the field has narrowed to four candidates vying for the Republican Party nomination. Looking closely at each candidate’s platform, the clear choice for conservative voters is Caroline Fairly.

Fairly doesn’t just have the most conservative platform in the race. She also has relationships with leaders in Austin needed to get things done. Beyond that, she has relationships with leaders at a local level to help bridge the gap between local needs and Austin politics. She also has the support of conservative leaders in Washington, including Congressman Ronny Jackson and Senator Ted Cruz.

Randall County Commissioner Precinct 1

The Amarillo Pioneer recommends Rick Cooper, Vance Snider, and Brian Bailey.

In the three-way race to replace Rusty Carnes on the Randall County Commissioners’ Court, The Amarillo Pioneer Editorial Board is endorsing every candidate on the ballot.

Rick Cooper has been a community figure held in high regard for many years. He brings a unique form of leadership experience to local politics, having coached basketball at WTAMU for two decades.

Vance Snider has been involved in local politics for many years and has proven himself to be a leader for area conservatives. There isn’t a more proven conservative on the ballot than Vance Snider.

Brian Bailey is a businessman who knows the importance of managing a budget, which is one of the key aspects of the job of a county commissioner. With tensions between Randall County and the City of Amarillo making headlines, it is also reassuring to know that Bailey has the backing of Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley.

Randall County Republican Party Chair

The Amarillo Pioneer recommends Kelly Giles.

Before Kelly Giles was appointed as the new chair of the Randall County Republican Party, the county party was in disarray. Advocating for conservative principles had taken a backseat to infighting and drama. After Giles took over, the turnaround has been remarkable, with Giles proving to be a great leader. Additionally, Giles has recently been appointed to the State Republican Executive Committee, strengthening the relationship between the state party and local conservatives.

Potter County Tax Assessor

The Amarillo Pioneer recommends Thomas Warren III.

In the race for Potter County Tax Assessor, qualifications matter.

Only one candidate in the race has experience running a business. Only one candidate in the race has a degree in government administration. Only one candidate in the race has experience on the Potter County Appraisal District Board. Only one candidate in the race has a record of defeating nearly a billion dollars in tax hikes. Only one candidate in the race has strong relationships with the people who worked to draft recent major changes to both the tax code and to motor vehicle registration laws.

That candidate is Thomas Warren III.

Warren is also the only candidate in the race who believes improvements can actually be made in the Potter County Tax Office. Warren is the only candidate in the race who believes in using his position to advocate for taxpayers by continuing to push for tax relief.

Potter County Commissioner, Precinct 1

The Amarillo Pioneer recommends Chip Hunt.

Chip Hunt, a small business owner and longtime political mainstay, has shown herself to be completely committed to standing up for the taxpayers. Hunt believes that the taxpayers of Potter County should be prioritized when it comes to issues surrounding debt issuances and tax increases. In particular, Hunt has scrutinized the Potter County District Courts Building project as one that should have been put before voters, instead of being rammed through by Nancy Tanner and her County Commission loyalists.

We agree with Hunt on this issue and believe that she is the right person to represent Potter County for the next four years.

Potter County Constable, Precinct 1

The Amarillo Pioneer recommends Darryl Wertz.

Darryl Wertz has served Potter County residents well for the past 12 years and deserves another four years on the job. Wertz, a career peace officer, has turned the Constable position in Precinct 1 into an active office that processes numerous types of court documents and proceedings.

While this is a sleepy race that has flown under many peoples’ radars, Wertz has been a consistent and dedicated public servant. And he deserves the chance to continue serving the voters of Potter County.

Unopposed Recommendations

While the following candidates are unopposed in their primary elections, we recommend voters still check the box for them and show their approval as they head on to the general election:

Ronny Jackson for U.S. House, District 13
Aaron Kinsey for State Board of Education, District 15
Alex Yarbrough for 7th Court of Appeals
Richard Beals for Randall County Constable
Georgia Estrada for Potter County Constable, Precinct 2

Races With Recommendations TBA

Our Editorial Board is currently considering recommendations in the following races and will make announcements in the coming days:

Railroad Commissioner
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
108th District Court Judge
Randall County Sheriff
Potter County Commissioner, Precinct 3

Please note: Thomas Warren, candidate for Potter County Tax Assessor-Collector, is not serving on The Amarillo Pioneer’s Editorial Board for this election cycle.