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Fennell Withdraws From HD 60 Race, Citing Shift in Republican Party
Reporting By Amy Meyer | Mineral Wells Area News
Once the party of local control, “now influenced by national figures and shadowy mega-donors”
Republican candidate Amy Fennell announced Tuesday that she is withdrawing from the race for Texas House District 60, ending her primary challenge against incumbent Rep. Mike Olcott.
Fennell said the decision came after conversations with her family and supporters.
“I entered this race for one reason: the betterment of House District 60,” Fennell said. “My campaign was built around practical, solution-oriented priorities—strengthening our water infrastructure, improving transportation, promoting responsible economic development, ensuring public safety, and protecting public school funding. Those issues remain critically important, and my commitment to this community has not changed.”
Fennell said her decision was driven by what she described as a fundamental shift in the political environment surrounding the race.
“Historically, the Republican Party stood for independence, integrity, and accountability,” Fennell said. “It was the party of limited government, local control, and leaders who answered to their communities, not to national political figures and shadowy mega-donors. Over the past several weeks, I have come to realize that this is no longer the case.”
She said the party’s “growing emphasis on personal loyalty over principle” was irreconcilable with her values.
“The same party that claims to fight to protect women’s spaces has been willing to excuse or minimize a president’s well-documented history of sexual misconduct. I have daughters — I cannot reconcile the party’s contradictions, and I will not be silent about them,” she said. “I will not be part of a party where loyalty comes before all, even at the expense of Constitutional requirements, just and righteous decisions, and fiscally conservative policies.”
Fennell said she intends to remain committed to conservative principles of limited and accountable government.
“I will continue to love and serve my neighbors, regardless of how they vote,” Fennell said. “I am an independent Texas woman, and I pray that, in the end, love and decency will prevail.”
Fennell said stepping out of the race was especially difficult because of the supporters she met in House District 60 — particularly in Palo Pinto County.
“The supporters in Palo Pinto County are some of the kindest, most sincere people I have encountered,” she said. “Their encouragement and willingness to stand with me meant more than they will ever know. Thinking of them made this decision incredibly difficult, and I remain deeply grateful for their outpouring of support.”
She expressed further appreciation for volunteers and those who backed her candidacy.
Click here to read Amy Fennell’s complete statement.
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Sorry to hear this. I was impressed with this candidate.
Sounds like the “shift in the Republican party” is that she’s behind in the primary. Which, if you think about it, tells you a lot about her.
Or she possibly was ‘encouraged’ to wihdraw?
Her run would be a waste of money. Olcott won in a historic landslide agains a RINO incumbent (Glen Rogers)…telling you the voting tendencies in this district. She did not have even the slightest chance of making any measurable fight to unseat Olcott…especially because she is also a RINO and that was apparent on day one of her announcement to run…which was like yesterday…or it seemed like it anyway.
Amy, is accurate and truthful, Parker county and many other counties republican party has been highjacked and no longer operates with respect to the constitution.
Her effort and voice was and is needed.
The party is a circular firing squad, Good honest people across Texas no longer are willing to run for office, because of the assault tactics and deception surrounding the west tx oligarchs destroying TX.