May 23, 2014 5:05 PM

Branch steps into the fray over who should succeed him in the Texas House

Nasty Dallas House race includes accusations of alcoholism and an "Amnesty Extravaganza!"

After staying silent for months on the question of who should replace him in the Texas House, Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, on Friday endorsed one of the men vying to take over the seat he's held since 2003. Branch, of course, has been more focused on his intense contest with Sen. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, to be the Republican nominee for attorney general.

Branch has now endorsed Morgan Meyer, a partner at Bracewell & Giuliani, over young businessman Chart Westcott. On March 4, Meyer led the field of three candidates with 47 percent. Westcott grabbed 30 percent in March, forcing the runoff.

Since then, Tea Party and self-described “Liberty Movement” leaders like Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, have gotten behind Westcott, who up until Election Day hadn’t displayed any obvious reasons for the Tea party to support his candidacy. Before the vote, the third-place finisher in the race Court Alley was thought to be the Tea Party candidate. He scored about 20 percent, by the way.

From Branch’s perspective, something has changed.

“In this race, I admire both men and their families. It was always my intention to stay neutral, but this week a line was crossed,” Branch said. “Morgan Meyer will honorably serve our state, putting first the needs of our district and not those of outside special interests.”

Because Branch’s statement doesn’t specify what “line was crossed,” we at Buzz Central were naturally curious. As it turns out, two mailers went out this past week from Westcott’s campaign that some folks found quite offensive. This expensive House race – campaign spending now tops $2 million – has become one of the nastiest in the state.

By Scott Braddock