After more than a decade atop Texas agriculture policy, longtime commissioner Sid Miller is facing a rare, fully loaded Republican revolt.
Gov. Greg Abbott and GOP power players lining up behind political newcomer Nate Sheets in the March 3 primary, turning what’s usually a low-drama statewide post into a high-stakes fight.
The big picture
Miller, 70, is seeking a fourth term after 12 years as agriculture commissioner and another dozen in the Texas House.
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Once known for touting his 22 world championship rodeo titles, he now finds himself under pressure from former allies who say Texas agriculture needs a reset.
Nathan Sheets, founder of Nature Nate s Honey Co. based in McKinney.
Sheets, a beekeeper and businessman and first-time candidate, has quickly become the establishment-backed alternative.
He has picked up endorsements from Abbott, former Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs, the Texas Farm Bureau’s political arm and several Republican state senators.
Messaging battle
Backed by Abbott: The governor has accused Miller of a “history of corruption” and questioned his honesty, while Sheets’ other supporters have leaned heavily into his outsider credentials.
Abbott’s corruption jab appears tied to Miller’s former chief of staff, Todd Smith, who pleaded guilty to commercial bribery connected to hemp licenses issued by the agriculture commission.
Combs said her experience leading the agency taught her the importance of “principled, results-driven leadership rooted in integrity.”
She said Sheets “is not a career politician” but “a builder who understands agriculture, business, and accountability.”
Sid Miller, Texas Commissioner of Agriculture during a general meeting as part of the 2022 Republican Party of Texas State Convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas on Friday, June 17, 2022.
Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer
Miller’s response: Miller has cast the challenge as insiders trying to sideline a populist conservative, saying critics “come after me every time because they can’t tell me what to do.”
He has downplayed the Smith case as politically motivated, calling it “a railroad job” and insisting authorities “never, never got anything on any of us,” adding Smith “is one of the best hires I ever made.”
Miller described Sheets as “the establishment candidate,” putting himself forward as “the MAGA candidate,” “the MAHA candidate,” and “the Trump candidate.”
President Donald Trump has praised and endorsed Miller in past races but has not weighed in on this year’s primary.
Sheets’ pitch: Sheets argues the agriculture commission needs modernization driven by business expertise, saying there has “never been a Texas agriculture commissioner that has 30 years of food marketing, food distribution, grocery store branding, sales.”
Pointing to the growth of Nature Nate’s Honey from a backyard hobby into a national brand, he said the success came because he “understood exactly what consumers were wanting.”
The political read
University of Houston political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus said Abbott’s backing could carry the most weight.
He noted the governor has had recent success influencing GOP primaries and “wants to shape it in the direction that he prefers.”
Miller has brushed that off, pointing out that in 2022 he received more votes statewide than Abbott. He did, by about 43,000 votes.
Where policy collides
New World Screwworm threat: Miller is pursuing what he calls a “fly bait” approach that has not received federal approval and has said it is inevitable the parasite will cross into Texas.
Sheets has argued Miller waited too long, saying the “danger has been building for years” and that “leadership isn’t waiting until the threat comes knocking.”
Trump’s Argentine beef imports: Sheets has framed the proposal as a short-term affordability move, saying Trump is “completely focused on affordability” and calling it “a good short-term decision.”
Miller has warned it would mostly affect hamburger meat, saying imports would not lower prices for “high-quality cuts like ribeyes, strips, and sirloin.”