Texas Land Commissioner wasn't Dr. Dawn Buckingham's ideal when she began her political career, but her time in service has helped her realize the importance of the position.
Buckingham currently represents Kerr County in District 24 of the Texas State Senate. In a campaign-wrapped Sprinter van, Buckingham is exhaustively traveling the state to introduce herself.
State Sen. Dawn Buckingham visited Ingram on Friday.  |
She's no stranger to Kerr County, but on Friday, she stopped by Ingram Joanne Marie and Me Wine Boutique to visit with constituents, civic leaders, law enforcement and fellow Republicans.
"The campaign is going great," said Buckingham, who had to fight through a crowded primary field and win a runoff to earn the GOP nomination.
In Kerr County, she earned 64% of the vote in the March primary and then routed Tim Westley in the runoff.
The winner of this November race will replace George P. Bush, who did not run for re-election and instead made a hugely unsuccessful bid to unseat Attorney General Ken Paxton.
From left Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha, Sen. Dawn Buckingham, Precinct 4 Commissioner |
"I was very happy in the Senate, but it's such an important role," Buckingham said. "I feel like we needed someone who understood state government."
For the uninformed, the Texas General Land Office predates the governor's office — a holdover for the state's decade as an independent republic.
The office touches the lives of almost all Texans in some way, and it's the keeper of the state's most cherished shrine — the Alamo. Most importantly, it manages the state's expansive land holdings — more than 13 million acres.
There are vast mineral riches on those 13 million acres, much of it for the Permanent School Fund. So, a significant portion of the Land Commissioner job is managing those revenues and funds.
Buckingham carries the endorsements of many of the top Republicans, including former President Donald Trump.
Democrat Jay Kleberg, a scion of the King Ranch family, is Buckingham's opponent but faces an uphill battle against the well-funded Buckingham campaign.
Kleberg's primary focus hasn't been on Buckingham but Gov. Greg Abbott. Kleberg spent much of this week attacking Abbott over the state's electric grid, which faced a pair of conservation alerts this week.
