Star-Telegram endorsement: Texas Senate seat for Arlington, rural counties
State Rep. David Cook of Mansfield fell short of a big prize last year when he was defeated in the race for House speaker. Republican voters should give him a consolation prize of sorts by nominating him for a Texas Senate seat.
District 22 blends most of Mansfield and Euless, half of Arlington, Waco and its home county and more than a half-dozen rural counties, including Hood (Granbury). It needs a multitasker of a senator, attuned to both rural and suburban needs.
Cook, 54, has served three terms in the House after a dozen years as Mansfield’s mayor. A lawyer by trade, he’s a smart legislator who votes consistently conservative and understands that different communities can and will approach problems in varied ways. He noted that over his time there, Mansfield shifted from a somewhat rural community to a booming suburb.
In the Senate, he told us, he wants to focus on using technology to address water needs. Rural residents’ concerns about noisy, resource-eating data centers that are popping up in unincorporated areas need attention, Cook noted, but the state has to be careful to avoid a patchwork of local regulations that hamper innovation and job creation.
Cook has become a leader in the House on juvenile justice. It’s an important under-the-radar issue for Tarrant County, which sends more young offenders to state custody than any other county. We hope he’ll be able to continue the work in the Senate and use his higher profile to nudge county leaders toward better solutions.
Also on the ballot are Jon Gimble, a former McLennan County official who is running in part on his experience representing rural constituents, and Rena Schroeder, a 62-year-old rancher who lives near the Falls County town of Lott. She displayed a good grasp of some rural issues, but on most questions, she fell back on a professed desire to fight for constituents who feel unheard.
Early voting runs Feb. 17-27. If no candidate wins a majority of the vote, the two top finishers will compete in a May 26 runoff. The winner then will face Democrat Amy Martinez-Salas in the fall.
The ultimate winner will replace Sen. Brian Birdwell, who is retiring from the seat and slated for a Defense Department post. Senators serve four-year terms.
About our campaign endorsements
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; Bud Kennedy, columnist; and Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor.
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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 February 12, 2026 at 1:34 PM.