Never Trumper Texas State Rep. Justin Holland Faces Grassroots Challenge From America First Candidate Katrina Pierson

In March of 2023, Republican State Rep. Justin Holland posted on X that President Donald Trump is "not welcome in Texas," but in March of 2024, his own voters might decide Holland is not welcome in the Texas House.

First elected in 2016 by a 99-vote margin, Holland was opposed in 2022 by underfunded grassroots candidates. But after voting to impeach Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and to side with Democrats against Gov. Greg Abbott's school choice, the Never Trump candidate is facing his toughest re-election campaign yet.

This time, Holland faces a challenge: Katrina Pierson, a grassroots activist-turned-political spokesman and commentator who worked on President Donald Trump's presidential campaigns. While House District 33 represents only a portion of Texas, it could serve as a preview of what NeverTrumper candidates like Holland can expect in primaries nationwide.

Pierson touts the endorsements of Paxton, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, grassroots organizations, and local officials. Since entering the race, Pierson has attacked Holland on his open disdain for Trump and a voting record more in touch with Austin lobbyists than the conservative suburban voters he represents.

From a fiscal standpoint, Holland is one of the most liberal Republicans in the Texas Legislature—earning a 53 on Texans for Fiscal Responsibility's Fiscal Responsibility Index for votes against property tax relief, protecting wind and solar energy subsidies, and protecting government DEI employees' jobs.

Holland also earned a failing grade of 58% on the Texas Family Project's report card for votes to expand regulated gambling, protect DEI in public colleges and universities, and oppose school choice.

It's the school choice vote that drew Holland the ire of Abbott, who made school choice his top priority in the legislative session. And after Holland and 20 other Republicans in the Texas House voted to kill school choice, Abbott made the issue his top priority in campaign season—working to defeat the lawmakers in their re-election campaigns.

The gun vote Abbott refers to is Holland's decision to side with Democrats in an effort to pass legislation to raise the age necessary to purchase a semiautomatic rifle from 18 (current Texas law) to 21. Holland was one of only two Republicans in the Texas Legislature to support such legislation.

That vote made Holland a target of Second Amendment organizations like Texas Gun Rights and even Kyle Rittenhouse.

"Rep. Holland (you blocked me so I can't tag you), your first problem with this statement is 'a perfect vote record with the NRA. The second problem is that if you can go off to war or enlist in the military you should be allowed to own a AR-15 or any other gun," Rittenhouse wrote on X.

In 2022, Justin Holland said President Trump "is no longer electable, is out of touch, and is not a true Statesman."

This election, we'll find out if Holland is right about Trump or if voters believe it to be true of him instead. Early voting for the Republican primary election is ongoing, and Election Day is March 5.

Cary Cheshire is a conservative activist and commentator. He lives in Fort Worth, where he serves as the president and treasurer of Tarrant County Patriots PAC