Cate Brennan will face Republican Keller Mayor Armin Mizani in the race for Texas House District 98.
TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Democrat Cate Brennan knows what she’s up against: a Republican opponent with deep pockets and a district considered one of the most conservative in the entire country.
Still, she remains undaunted because she believes Democrats have some momentum.
“Between the bag of fatigue, the wonderful overperformance of Democrats voting almost three times, three-to-one, Republicans in this past primary, and a female advantage, and the real concern about the public schools, which is a great reason why people moved to House District 98, so all of that tied up, I think will bring me within in the margin of error of winning. So, I’m in it to win it,” Brennan explained on Inside Texas Politics.
Brennan is a nonprofit business executive and Democratic precinct chair who’s never run for office before.
In addition to the specter of being outspent, Brennan also admitted to us that in the days leading up to the primary, she spent more time campaigning for Taylor Rehmet, who scored a special election upset victory over Republican Leigh Wambsganss in Texas Senate District 9, giving Democrats some hope for the fall.
Because TX SD 9 does overlap some with TX HD 98, Brennan expects that to work in her favor.
“I think I can raise the money that’s necessary to get my name recognition out there with a lot of social media, of course, and earned media. So, I’m looking forward to that and working on the real grassroots, having coffees at people’s houses and just trying to talk to everyone, whether that’s an independent or a disgruntled Republican,” she said.
Brennan will face Republican Keller Mayor Armin Mizani in the fall.
If she wins, the Democrat says her number one priority would be trying to repeal the school voucher program. She also wants to raise the minimum wage and expand Medicaid.
When it comes to lowering property taxes, Brennan advocates for legalizing gambling and marijuana to pay for it.
“You can’t just reduce a property tax or any other taxes without replacing it. And I think younger people in the next generation, they know that,” Brennan argued. “So, we need new revenue, tax revenue that will provide a consistent source of income and revenue for the state in order to permanently reduce the property taxes.”
TX HD 98 is currently held by Republican state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, who decided not to run for reelection.
The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3.