Who can fill Rep. Michael Burgess’ shoes? Our endorsement in Denton County district | Opinion
Losing Rep. Michael Burgess is a blow to both the 26th Congressional District he served for two decades and the Texas delegation overall.
The district, which covers much of Denton and Wise counties, deserves a successor to Burgess who has a chance to develop into an effective legislator. Only Democrat Ernest R. Lineberger III fits the description.
Lineberger, a first-time political candidate, is a retired Navy officer with a long career as a Texas Instruments industrial engineer. He listed his top concerns as continuing funding for Ukraine’s war against Russia, restoring the Voting Rights Act, tackling the federal deficit and reinstating abortion rights as his top priorities.
In our interview, Lineberger also identified key concerns in the fast-growing congressional district, such as transportation and the need for support for school districts.
Lineberger, 66, who lives in Carrollton, acknowledges that he’d face a steep learning curve coming into Congress. And he faces tough odds in a heavily Republican district where the GOP nominee, Brandon Gill, enjoys the support of former President Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz.
Gill, a 30-year-old Flower Mound resident, is clearly more interested in advancing as a conservative influencer than legislating on behalf of his district. And he is a super-charged election questioner, having helped his father-in-law, activist Dinesh D’Souza, with his discredited film “2000 Mules,” which alleged a vast fraud conspiracy in 2020.
Gill, who did not respond to our interview request, will probably win. But voters more interested in seeing problems solved than more politics-as-entertainment should go with Lineberger.
Also on the ballot is Libertarian Phil Gray. Early voting begins Oct. 21 and is available through Nov. 1. Election Day is Nov. 5. The winner will earn a two-year term.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHey, who is behind these endorsements?
Members of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice, decide candidates and positions to recommend to voters. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bradford William Davis, columnist and editorial writer; Bud Kennedy, columnist; and Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
How does the process work?
The Editorial Board interviews candidates, asking about positions on issues, experience and qualifications, and how they would approach holding the office for which they are running. Board members do additional research on candidates’ backgrounds and the issues at hand. After that, members discuss the candidates and generally aim to arrive at a consensus, though not necessarily unanimity. All members contribute observations and ideas, so the resulting editorials represent the board’s view, not a particular writer.
How do partisanship and ideology factor in?
We’re not tied to one party or the other, and our positions on issues range across the ideological spectrum. We tend to prefer candidates who align with our previously stated positions, but qualifications, temperament and experience are important, too.
This story was originally published October 18, 2024 at 5:25 AM.