Gary Gates (politician)

Gary Gates
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 28th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 29, 2020
Preceded by	John Zerwas
Personal details
Born	Gary Wilton Gates Jr. (1959-07-22) July 22, 1959 (age 65)
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Melissa
Children	13
Residence(s)	Richmond, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	Rogers State University
Occupation	Real estate
Website	Campaign website

Gary Wilton Gates Jr. (born July 22, 1959) is a Texas businessman and a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for House District 28, which is located in Fort Bend County in the southwest Houston metro area.[1][2]

Texas House of Representatives

On January 28, 2020, Gates won the special runoff election for Texas House District 28. He defeated the Democrat, an educator, Elizabeth A. "Eliz" Markowitz of Katy, Texas, by 58% of the vote to 42%, a 16-point win that has been characterized as an "easy win".[3][4] Saying the district was a bellwether, Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren endorsed Markowitz; and Mike Bloomberg and Julian Castro endorsed Markowitz and block walked for her, attempting to flip the district and defeat Gates.[5][6] Former U.S. Senate nominee and presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke knocked on doors and rallied canvassers.[7][8] The race was Gates' seventh run for political office.[8]

After the election, the Republicans criticized the Democrats as overplaying their hand in the Gates special election; while the Democrats pointed to unique aspects of the campaign, specifically Gates' ability to self-fund his campaign.[3] Gates spent about $1.8 million of his own money on the campaign.[9][10] Markowitz was given political donations from Forward Majority for $420,000, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee for $170,000, and State Representative Celia Israel's Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee of $120,000.[9]

Turnout for the special runoff election was very high and possibly historic since there were over 30,000 voters, a 20 percent turnout which is the highest in Texas since at least 1992.[11] Gates defeated a Republican opponent, small business owner Michelle D. "Schell" Hammel of Katy, in the March 3, 2020 primary, receiving 95% of the vote.[12][13] Gates will face Markowitz again in November 2020 in the general election.[12][3]

Gates supports a ban on Democrats being given committee chairmanships as long as the Republicans hold the majority of seats.[14]

Personal life

Gates lives in Richmond, Texas, a suburb of Houston southwest of the city, with his wife, Melissa, and his 13 children, of whom 11 are adopted.[15][16]

References

1. "Gates Wins Closely Watched Texas House 28 Race Over Markowitz". Sugar Land, TX Patch. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
2. "GOP wins closely watched Texas special election". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
3. Svitek, Patrick (January 30, 2020). "Democrats regroup after Republicans score easy win in Texas House special election". Texas Tribune. Austin, Texas. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
4. Svitek, Patrick (January 29, 2020). "Republican Gary Gates handily beats Democrat Eliz Markowitz in Texas House District 28 runoff". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
5. Rove, Karl (January 29, 2020). "Texas Is About to Go Blue! Never Mind". Wall Street Journal. New York, New York. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
6. Scherer, Jasper (January 28, 2020). "Gates staves off Markowitz in 'bellwether' Fort Bend runoff; Eastman beats LaRotta". Houston Chronicle. Houston, Texas. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
7. Egan, Lauren. Republican projected to beat Democrat for Texas state House, in race watched for 2020 clues, NBC News, January 28, 2020.
8. Weber, Paul J. Democrats' early 2020 blitz to strike in Texas flops, CBS Austin-KEYE TV, January 29, 2020.
9. Taylor, MaKenzie. The Back Mic: Big Spenders in the House District 28 Special Election, The Texan, Austin, Texas, January 31, 2020.
10. Weber, Paul J. GOP wins closely watched Texas special election, Associated Press, January 28, 2020.
11. Miller, Justin (January 29, 2020). "What the GOP's Big Win in Fort Bend County Means for 2020". The Texas Observer. Austin, Texas. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
12. Para, Jen. Gary Gates wins 2020 Republican primary for House District 28 seat, Community Impact, March 4, 2020.
13. March 3, 2020 primary election results, Texas Tribune, March 3, 2020.
14. Johnson, Brad. The Back Mic: Legislators Opposed to Democratic Chairs Listed, Rep. Moody Quells DA Appointment Rumors, House Rules Discussed, The Texan, December 9, 2022.
15. Malewitz, Jim. Child Abuse Case Resurfaces in Railroad Commission Race, Texas Tribune April 28, 2016.
16. Tyer, Brad. A Father's Retribution, Houston Press, October 5, 2000.

External links

• Gary Gates at Ballotpedia

Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by John Zerwas	Texas State Representative for District 28 (Fort Bend County) 2020–present	Succeeded by Incumbent