Governor, Attorney General and the other statewide offices down-ballot, perhaps the most impactful votes will be coming from rural Texas. } font-weight: bold; } margin: 8px auto; A longtime writer and journalist, Jessica was thrilled to join the Texas Signal where she could utilize her unique perspective on politics and culture. The agency is also responsible for helping rural hospitals with financial aid and technical assistance through its rural health division. Take, for example, rural health care. Hays promotes practices that could help farmers boost their crop growth even with Texas changing climate. For Hays, it was Brownwood, a one-high-school town. And so this office and who knew? .non_result_row div { Texas farmers and ranchers are facing tough financial hardships from the effects of the drought and extreme heat. p.survey-response {margin-left:10px;} } The job of this position is to bring as many federal dollars back to Texas as possible. Early voting ended Nov. 4. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit statewide news organization dedicated to keeping Texans informed on politics and policy issues that impact their communities. The Democrat says she has a plan to address rural health care in Texas. DALLAS Attorney Susan Hays says she knows the marijuana issue is garnering most of the headlines in her race for Texas agriculture commissioner. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. } One thing Ive seen by studying cannabis policy in other states, when the government gets behind the market, bad things happen. My Magic 8 Ball seems to think so. Instead of just throwing out press releases, attacking groups of peoples, or mimicking national red-meat politics. by Jayme Lozano Carver Before he was elected in 2014, Miller served six terms in the Texas House. padding-bottom: 8px; } position: absolute; What influenced your decision to take on Sid Miller? This November, voters will decide contests for a number of statewide offices, from governor to attorney general. .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { I spent the pandemic in a county that shares a hospital with two other counties with 25 hospital beds and three ventilators, Hays said. Jessica attended Harvard College, is a onetime fitness blogger, and has now transitioned to recreational runner (for which her joints are thankful). EVALI was the acronym for the condition that people developed. } The winner of this election will lead the state agriculture department that juggles several tasks. text-align: left; })(); See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. The consequences of that ban were on full display in the U.S. Senate when Amanda Zurawski testified about her harrowing ordeal that should never have happened. Democratic challenger Susan Hays, left, will face Republican Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in November. And when we say legalize, that doesnt necessarily mean hippies running wild in the streets, which I think is what a lot of haters might visualize. background-color: #ccc; Our medical cannabis program is comically rudimentary. Building warmth with higher humidity and rain chances later in the week. Im running for Agriculture Commissioner because corruption is bad for business. by Jessica Montoya Coggins | Dec 14, 2021 | Politics, Texas Elections. font-weight: 200; Counties | } However, crop insurance does not make up for the millions of dollars in lost products, whether that be cotton or vegetable crops. Compare the candidates answers to our questions in our Voter Guide. Op-Ed: How This Election Is Putting Real Safety On The Ballot In Texas. left: 0; New HBO Max series Love & Death anchors a Texas true crime story in the human condition. Incumbent Sid Miller defeated James White and Carey Counsil in the Republican primary for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture on March 1, 2022.

. width: 100% padding-left: 10px; Greg Abbott signed a bill that allowed patients under the Texas Compassionate Use Program to access cannabis with up to 1% THC, which is twice the current limit. The deadline to register to vote in the 2022 primary election was Oct. 11. vertical-align: top; background-color: grey; Are you tired of Texas Republicans pushing big lies and trying to steal your vote? .clearfix { Susan Hays, a prominent cannabis lawyer and hemp advocate, announced she was running for agriculture commissioner, giving Democrats their first candidate to challenge Republican incumbent Sid Miller. | .external_links_table { width: auto !important; } background-color: #dac113; overflow-x: auto; As the state agriculture commissioner, Miller conducted Operation Maverick, which investigated more than 7,000 businesses operating with illegal scales, and has overseen the Farm Fresh program, a farm-to-school initiative that has led to schools purchasing $65 million worth of fresh food from local farmers. She directly against the corruption surrounding the selling hemp licenses for absurd prices ($25,000 vs. the expected $100). Attorney Susan Hays filed to run as a Democratic candidate for agriculture commissioner, taking on the current occupant Republican Sid Miller. } max-width: 75px; Hays, a longtime rancher and equal rights lawyer, campaigned on a platform of rebuilding rural communities, sustainable agriculture and legalizing cannabis. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Hes late to the party, and Texas is already behind the times, said Susan Hays during an interview on Capital Tonight. Hays, 53, is a headstrong Democrat and an equal rights lawyer who has fought for women, pregnant minors and Texas voters. .widget-row.Green { And that means focusing on your job and engaging on analyzing how to do that effectively, and then actually doing it. County election offices are supposed to post on their websites information on polling locations for Election Day and during the early-voting period by Oct. 18. margin: 0px 10px; Check if youre registered to vote, Not always. Hays has an height: 22px; Farming is hard, but ethics should be easy., 2023 KCDP. [1][2], .votebox { font-size: 16px; width: 350px; How to run for office | overflow-y: hidden; } $('.showResponses').hide(); padding-bottom: 8px; Source, tusa-race-stage-summary, tusa-person-summary, tusa-filing-dates { Ill also say this about rural healthcare, having grown up in rural Texas, I know how important having a rural hospital is to the local economy. width: 100% !important; Hays believes it could be a cash crop opportunity for farmers and a boost to the Texas economy. His opponents James White on the Republican side and Susan Hays on the Democratic side are saying, Hey, hes your 30-year, longtime political consultant. Thanks for donating today. letter-spacing: .03em; .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper { Republican Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Democratic challenger Susan Hays. .race_header.republican { $('.hideResponses').hide(); Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. padding-left: 8px; This is the first time Hays is running for elected office, but shes no stranger to Texas politics. } Hays and her husband bought land in Alpine, a small town framed by mile-high mountains and an hours car ride north of Big Bend National Park. margin-top: 1px; color: black; margin-bottom: .75em; Example video title will go here for this video. We respect each other, and we can sit down and have a conversation. What does that title mean? Hays displays a firm command of policy and also struck us as a clear communicator. } Aside from trying to help make sure there are more rural health care facilities, she said she would also push for the Republican-controlled Legislature to pass a bill expanding Medicaid in the state under the Affordable Care Act. You know, at times statutory changes are needed. Were recommending Hays because we think she possesses a more detailed grasp of key issues, deeper experience and is Democrats best option for agriculture commissioner. Hays spoke against Millers lawsuit opposing the U.S. Department of Agricultures program to provide funds and debt relief for farmers of color. A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin | Contact us, A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, Rising values of adobe hit home in West Texans, Indigenous tribe renews yearslong fight to reclaim human remains from UT, Major leak hits Grand Theft Auto VI, sending stock in the games developer tumbling, Carmen Tafolla goes public with her love of art and artists, Security in place at San Antonios Migrant Resource Center in days after controversial DeSantis flight, H-E-B madness grips North Texas as first Metroplex store opens in Frisco, Texas Republicans push to end countywide voting. Miller touts a list of accomplishments over his two terms in office, such as the Farm Fresh program, a farm-to-school initiative that saw schools purchase $65 million worth of fresh food, and Operation Maverick, which investigated more than 7,000 businesses operating with illegal scales. This includes Millers reputation for making offensive remarks about immigrants, spreading falsehoods on social media, and the indictment of his longtime political consultant on charges of theft and bribery in exchange for state hemp licenses. She directly against the corruption surrounding the selling hemp licenses for absurd prices ($25,000 vs. the expected $100). Not much I can do about that, other than pray.. Do you really trust Sid Miller with your kids school lunch? Trump was in power, and Sid was an early Trump supporter. background-color: green; color: white; They could not make it without that expanded patient base. Its a national security issue. position: relative; We dont own the land, the land owns us, Miller said. font-size: 12px; Susan Hays ( Democratic Party) ran for election for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. Most recently, Hays has found herself practicing law in the cannabis industry she helped write and pass the Texas hemp legalization bill in 2019 and was named Texas first cannabis super lawyer by Thomson Reuters. Miller, a De Leon native, lives in Stephenville, where he began his political career as a school board member. He points to the work the department did with distilleries during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide sanitizer and other resources. Hays has more than doubled Millers fundraising efforts, reporting more than $111,500 to his $48,000, according to Oct. 11 campaign finance reports. Texas is one of 12 Republican-controlled states that havent expanded coverage under the Affordable Care Act. display: inline; In 2019, she advocated for and helped craft the Texas law allowing any hemp product with less than 0.3% THC. Troy Nehls strange spat with Capitol Police and more, listen in the audio player above. Winner of 2022 Pulitzer Prize in editorial writing. All contents licensed under the, Progressive Views: Commerce Department and the CHIPS Act, Progressive Views: Democrats: Contributing to Our Local Community, Progressive Views: Climate Change: Part 3, Progressive Views: The State of the Union is Strong, Guest Column: Christian Values drive local GOP, 216 E. Blanco, Suite 201, Boerne TX 78006, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Int'l License. Theyre back to doing elective surgeries which were at times put on hold during the pandemic and its business as usual now.. $('.hideResponses').show(); } You can contact your county elections official or call the Texas Secretary of State's helpline at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683). In a phone interview, Miller said he has always been in favor of legalizing medical marijuana. background: #4c4c4c; When it comes to farming and ranching, the chief of the Texas Department of Youre allowed to vote by mail only if: You will be 65 or older by Election Day, you will not be in your county for the entire span of voting, including early voting, you cite a sickness or disability that prevents you from voting in person without needing personal assistance or without the likelihood of injuring your health, youre expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day or you are confined in jail but otherwise eligible (i.e., not convicted of a felony). Election Day results are unofficial because officials still have to account for late arriving mail-in ballots, ballots from military or overseas voters and provisional ballots. padding-left: 0; } .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper .image-candidate-thumbnail { $('.showResponses').show(); But I watched him not be able to change anything, not be able to use the power youd think hed have as a Trump guy. Horrors Of Texas Abortion Ban Recounted In The Senate, What The Latest Mifepristone Ruling Means For Texans, Banning Medication Abortion Is Deeply Unpopular, Documentary Sheds Light On Black Maternal Care. z-index:1; I decided in large part to run because of that experience..