Today, the Texas Association of Realtors announced its decision to endorse 53 candidates for Texas office in their contested primary races this spring. In making the announcement, Texas Association of Realtors Chairman Dan Hatfield applauded all the candidates for their commitment to the interests of Texas property owners.

"As Texas continues to face the challenges of a large, rapidly growing state, many discussions are centered on providing for the state's infrastructure," said Hatfield. "We believe these candidates understand that we must ensure Texas remains a great place to do business and will do what's right for Texas property owners, which is why we've pledged our full support."

Texas Realtors support conservative solutions to enhance the lives of Texas property owners, such as consumer protections against unscrupulous lenders in 2013, elimination of most private transfer fees on real estate transactions in 2011 and significant pro-consumer reform to the property appraisal system in 2009. To learn more about Texas Realtors' legislative advocacy on behalf of its members and Texas property owners, visit TexasRealEstate.com.

About the Texas Association of REALTORS®

With more than 90,000 members, the Texas Association of Realtors is one of the largest not-for-profit professional membership associations in Texas. The association represents Texas Realtors involved in all aspects of real estate and advocates on behalf of the real estate industry and private-property owners. For more information, visit TexasRealEstate.com.

Candidate Endorsements

Statewide Offices

Governor       Greg Abbott
Attorney General       David Dewhurst
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts       Glenn Hegar
Texas Land Commissioner       George P. Bush
Supreme Court of Texas, Chief Justice       Nathan Hecht
Supreme Court of Texas, Place 6       Jeff Brown
Supreme Court of Texas, Place 8       Phil Johnson

Texas Senate

District 2       Bob Deuell
District 7       Paul Bettencourt
District 15       John Whitmire
District 16       John Carona
District 17       Joan Huffman
District 25       Donna Campbell
District 31       Kel Seliger

Texas House of Representatives

District 1       George Lavender
District 4       Lance Gooden
District 6       Skip Ogle
District 8       Byron Cook
District 11       Travis Clardy
District 12       Kyle Kacal
District 15       Bruce Tough
District 18       John Otto
District 21       Dade Phelan
District 22       Joe Deshotel
District 23       Bob Senter
District 36       Sergio Muñoz, Jr.
District 53       Rob Henneke
District 55       Ralph Sheffield
District 58       DeWayne Burns
District 59       J.D. Sheffield
District 60       Jim Keffer
District 64       Myra Crownover
District 71       Susan King
District 72       Drew Darby
District 75       Mary Gonzalez
District 76       Naomi Gonzalez
District 77       Marisa Márquez
District 79       Joe Pickett
District 81       Austin Keith
District 83       Charles Perry
District 90       Lon Burnam
District 92       Andy Cargile
District 94       Diane Patrick
District 102       Stefani Carter
District 105       Linda Harper-Brown
District 108       Chart Westcott
District 112       Angie Chen Button
District 115       Bennett Ratliff
District 121       Joe Straus
District 129       Dennis Paul
District 132       Ann Hodge
District 134       Sarah Davis
District 150       Debbie Riddle

Pierpont Communications
Stacy Armijo, 512-448-4950
Mobile: 512-791-9325
sarmijo@piercom.com