While the races to decide the leaders of county parties across the state are typically sleepy affairs, in one West Texas community, this year’s contest might be a marquee race for the area.

In Ector County, voters are heading to the polls to decide who will be the next chair of the Ector County Republican Party. Incumbent Tisha Crow is seeking re-election and is being opposed by Donna Kelm, a business owner who is the president of a local Republican women’s group.

The race between Crow and Kelm has focused on the role the local party should play in getting conservatives elected to office. Crow, who has been heavily involved in many local elections in the Odessa area, believes the party should take a proactive role in pushing individual conservative candidates over others who do not align with the party’s values.

Meanwhile, Kelm’s campaign has focused primarily on returning the county party to a level of civility. While Kelm has not outright said the party should not be involved in local elections, she has criticized current party leaders for the role they played in the 2020 ousting of several moderate members of the Odessa City Council in favor of electing a conservative majority.

Beyond the race between Crow and Kelm, precinct chair races in Ector County have also been hotly contested between candidates aligned with Crow and those aligned with Kelm. Similarly, the primary issues in most of the precinct chair races have centered on how active the party should be in electing conservatives over other Republicans in contested races. Candidates have also debated whether civility should be a priority of the county party.

Voters will decide these elections in the March 5, 2024 Republican primary election.