Friday, February 7, 2025

Hopper defeats Stucky in HD 64 runoff

Decatur Software Engineer Andy Hopper has ended Sanger Veterinarian Lynn Stucky’s run as the representative for Wise County and part of Denton County in the Texas House of Representatives.

And yes, the inescapable daily text messages about this race should be over, too.

Neither Hopper nor Stucky was able to secure more than half the vote in the March Republican Primary Election for HD 64, triggering Tuesday’s runoff. According to unofficial election results from the Wise and Denton county elections offices, Hopper earned about 58% of the vote.

“Tonight is a massive victory for principled conservatives in Wise and Denton counties,” Hopper said in a statement Tuesday night. “To Texans for Lawsuit Reform and every dark money interest group in Austin who spent hundreds of thousands lying to our neighbors, District 64 has been returned to the voters. Our conservative movement is resounding, and I thank every single person who believed in our mission.”

Hopper, who proudly calls himself a “conservative outsider,” has criticized Stucky as not being a true conservative, a claim Stucky refutes. According to his website, Hopper’s legislative priorities include protecting the Second Amendment, eliminating local school taxes, strengthening the border, school choice, improving public safety and more. Hopper owns a farm in Decatur and co-founded the grassroots Wise County Conservatives group. Stucky has served as the HD 64 representative since 2016, while Hopper has not held public office before.

“For the last nine years, it has been my greatest honor to represent you in the Texas House,” Stucky said in a statement Tuesday night. “While the outcome of tonight’s election was not what we had hoped for, it does not change my passion and commitment to leaving a legacy of faithful stewardship for the next generation.

“Over the last three years, Andy Hopper has pitted neighbor against neighbor and community against community in our district in a win-at-all-costs quest for power. Tonight, the votes in Wise County have borne that out.”

Hopper — proudly claiming the “NOT A RINO (Republican In Name Only)” label on his yard signs — had earned the endorsements of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and many more conservatives, locally and from around the state. Stucky’s top endorsements came from Gov. Greg Abbott and established Republican local and county officials.

Next, Hopper will face Democrat Angela Brewer in the November General Election for the seat; Hopper will be the heavy favorite in that race.

Mark Smith
Mark Smith
Mark Smith is the Digital Editor of The Cross Timbers Gazette.

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