And at the time we really needed some better regulations out of USDA. 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. } Instead of just throwing out press releases, attacking groups of peoples, or mimicking national red-meat politics. I would love to see more of an investment financially, as well as with time and resources. As the Features and Opinion Editor, she is responsible for coordinating editorials and segments from diverse authors. We have the science on what it helps and what it doesnt., Legalizing medical marijuana would still depend largely on the Republican leadership in Texas Abbott, Lt. Gov. However, hemp in Texas hasnt lived up to expectations. } The vaping crisis.

, See also:Texas Agriculture Commissioner election, 2022. }. width: 150px; But a big part of this job is pulling down those federal dollars for economic development programs or health care. font-size: 1.2em; } Susan Hays' career experience includes owning a law practice and working as a lawyer and farmer. Susan will fight hard for us. Ive always been deeply attached to the land, and enjoy being out in it and getting dirt under my fingernails, Hays said. Susan Hays ( Democratic Party) ran for election for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. Voting machines and software are certified by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and the Texas Secretary of State. So there are loans and grants that USDA administers that help stabilize farmers and help them make it in the lean years so they can keep producing our food and fiber. ul.key-messages {list-style-type: none; margin-left:10px; } Miller, a De Leon native, lives in Stephenville, where he began his political career as a school board member. background-color: #003388; Source, tusa-race-stage-summary, tusa-person-summary, tusa-filing-dates { Susan Hays, Democratic candidate for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. You have to only use approved varieties. } Id like to see more of that happening and to try and bridge this gap of urban and rural health care disparities.. padding-bottom: 0px; And thats not fair to rural Texans. padding-bottom: 8px; Both candidates displayed humor, a solid understanding of the job, and maturity levels that seemed to far exceed the incumbents. border: 1px solid #999; Talk about how we have to get ahead of the markets.

Its a sleeper issue in this race.. width: 90%; padding-left: 0; .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { Agriculture commissioner is also on the ballot, with incumbent Sid Miller, a Trump-backed Republican, facing Democrat Susan Hays. 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. State executives | 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. Obviously, the current agriculture commissioner, Sid Miller, is quite a character. } --title-background: #334aab; But since 2015, 16 rural hospitals have closed, according to TORCH. Miller believes there is enough support in the Legislature for a bill to pass, but we do have to get it by leadership, Miller said. We have a really great hemp bill, at least I like to think so because I helped write it. And weve got some work to do there.. So are we, thats why were fighting back against the right-wing lie machine. For Miller, it was De Leon, a town with less than 3,000 people. So it is absolutely the job of the AG Commissioner to look for new economic models for agriculture and promote them. The fight to expand Medicaid, save rural hospitals, and create a thriving rural economy, isnt. .inner_percentage.Libertarian { SAN ANTONIO - Susan Hays is a Democrat candidate Texas Agriculture Commissioner. And the candidate says lastly, there must be more competition in the insurance marketplace in rural counties with more health plans to choose from. And one thing about the ag industry that many outside of it dont fully get or havent been exposed to is ag is a heavily subsidized industry. display: table; And he touts the Texas Sunset Advisory Commissions review of the agency from 2021 in which the department was called well-managed.. width: 100%; The Democratic nominee will face a tough race in the fall against a Republican in a state that hasnt elected a Democrat statewide in nearly 30 years. top: 0px; font-weight: bold; } Paper ballots are also stored in locked boxes and must be preserved for at least 22 months after an election. Your gift helps pay for everything you find on texasstandard.org and KUT.org. The deadline to register to vote in the 2022 primary election was Oct. 11. She is also the host of the podcast the Tex Mix, as well as the co-host for the weekly SignalCast. I am truly humbled, Miller said on Twitter on Tuesday night. We spoke to Hays about her background, her candidacy, and how she would approach the role of agriculture commissioner. How is this playing out in socially conservative Texas? } I know what Texas has been, and I know what Texas could be if we purge the government of corruption and work together to build rural Texas back up, said Hays, a fifth-generation Texan. And the fact that we havent expanded Medicaid. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan. Hays says after that, the state must figure out how to get more health care workers in rural Texas, such as providing rural students more incentives to enter medical school. Hays says number one, the state should expand Medicaid. letter-spacing: .03em; position: relative; margin-top: 16px; background-color: #f9d334; display: inline-block; .race_header { Texas requires counties that use electronic machines to count votes to conduct a partial manual audit after the election. font-weight: bold; } If you look at survival rates from traumatic accidents or heart attacks, you know its the first hour that matters, Hays said. Miller banked $48,000 during the same period. Several studies, reports and courts have found that voter fraud is relatively rare, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy institute. Hes late to the party, and Texas is already behind the times, said Susan Hays during an interview on Capital Tonight. 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. } Race for Texas agriculture commissioner: Republican incumbent Sid Miller, Legalizing marijuana is a hot issue in the race for Texas agriculture commissioner, Hemp has been legal in Texas for three years. @media screen and (max-width: 350px) { 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. } An example is the Delta-8 issue. For legalization, there is a partisan split, but Democrats and independents want to see it legalized, and an increasing number of Republicans want to see it legalized. Miller also led Hays 51%-40% among almost certain voters in a poll late last month by the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation. .widget-row.Republican { Unfortunately for Texans, weve had an agriculture commissioner whose seven-year tenure has been full of ethical lapses and embarrassing errors in judgment. .inner_percentage.Green { Incumbent Sid Miller defeated James White and Carey Counsil in the Republican primary for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture on March 1, 2022. letter-spacing: 0.03em; [The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)] collects data on varieties. margin-bottom: .75em; Election day is Nov. 8. This option is fairly limited in Texas. Our medical cannabis program is comically rudimentary. For Hays, it was Brownwood, a one-high-school town. It sounds like maybe the Legislature would be more of a fit, if youre talking about the kind of sweeping changes youre suggesting. Here's what the data says. font-weight: bold; display: block; Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. float: right; AUSTIN, Texas When Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller called for expanding medical marijuana use in Texas, his Democratic opponent was quick to question his timing. I dont have the power to do that with the snap of my fingers, but I can get down to the Capitol and talk and advocate, Hays said. By not legalizing marijuana, she said the state is missing out on economic development opportunities and tax revenues that could be used for health care funding. display: inline-block; 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. Getting to know the new district superintendents in North Texas, DFW weather: Warming temps and storm chances this week. Do you really trust Sid Miller with your kids school lunch? width: 250px; None of them are credible.. } Its estimated that Texas would receive $6.3 billion annually, and coverage would be expanded to include 1 million enrollees. Cities | Hays conceded Wednesday morning in a statement in which she thanked voters for their support. Hays appears to have a fundraising edge. p.survey-response {white-space: pre-line;} letter-spacing: .04em; Thanks for donating today. One is a former rodeo cowboy caught in controversy. 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There was a period, where because hospitals in Midland and El Paso were full, they had no place to send patients. width: 50%; He is a University of Texas graduate, and Spanish is his first language. Could you talk a little more about that? padding-left: 10px; Their visions of government, and its responsibilities, are worlds apart. Susan Hays, Democratic candidate for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. var nTimer = setInterval(function() { The arrest didnt seem to affect the outcome of the primary, which Miller won with more than 58% of the vote. GOP leaders say ballot shortage was targeted at Republicans. font-size: .9em; } Counties must count results from each polling location within 24 hours of the polls closing. She sees the office as a way to help improve health care for farmers and rural communities. } In July, Miller announced he was in favor of legalizing medical marijuana, becoming the highest-ranking Texas Republican to endorse the measure. But, you know, he wasnt much help. Hays loves being in a rural community now, but growing up, she was pulling off cow ticks and helping her brothers castrate calves and looking for a way out. This is the first time Hays is running for elected office, but shes no stranger to Texas politics. Well, I grew up in rural Texas. That hospital drew from all the surrounding counties. .non_result_row div { margin: 8px auto; .votebox-results-metadata { .widget-row.heading { What can you tell them that might convince them to vote for a Democrat for this position? Instances of alleged fraud have also in some cases turned out to be mistakes by elections administrators or voters, few discrepancies between manual and electronic counts. Miller continued, Together with the legislature and all of you, we will pass compassionate use, fund our rural healthcare, ban China from buying TX lands, and unleash our resources to meet our water and power needs for the next 100 years!. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Throughout her legal career, text-align: left !important; } An example from only a few years ago. Those counts are added in increments to the tally, which is then updated online. Sid Miller, 66, has twice been investigated by the Texas Rangers, given hundreds of thousands in bonuses to employees, taken taxpayer-funded out-of-state excursions and pushed more fees on farmers and businesses. I mean, there are a lot of hemp farmers who feel that theyre sort of high and dry. font-weight: bold; In recent days that speculation has solidified, with sources telling Texas Signal that by Jessica Montoya Coggins | Apr 26, 2023. 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. font-weight: bold; LUBBOCK A mere 44 miles, a flyspeck on the map, separates the Central Texas towns where Sid Miller and Susan Hays grew up. font-size: 12px; Our commitment to ethical, fact-based journalism is vital to our democracy, and we cant do it without you. Miller, who faced similar attacks during a three-way primary earlier this year that he won handily, said controversies about him are a Democratic strategy and a low way to campaign. }) U.S. Congress | .panel-heading:hover { cursor: pointer;} I had an opportunity to speak with some of the physicians about what they went through. The job of this position is to bring as many federal dollars back to Texas as possible. padding-top: 3px; .results_table_container { Updated: 10 AM Central. by SBG San Antonio. Republican Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Democratic challenger Susan Hays. Both found success, Hays as a lawyer fighting for human rights and Miller as a national award-winning rodeo cowboy. Counties | .mw-content-ltr td.votebox-results-cell--text, font-size: 12px;

. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; What's on my ballot? Get the latest. EVALI was the acronym for the condition that people developed. Hes just not suited for public office and not suited for this management role and outreach role that this office demands, Hays said. Texas leads the country in rural hospital closures. max-height: 580px; One of her slogans is Farming is hard. There were no incumbents in this race. Hays has about half that with $85,157. } Voters who vote by mail can use an online tracker to check the status of their mail-in ballot. For months rumors have swirled that Congressman Colin Allred is considering a challenge to Senator Ted Cruz in 2024. .race_footer { Whether its Miller or Hays in office next year, the agriculture commissioner has several issues coming to a head. @media (max-width:600px) { 4 min read. float: left; height: 56px; .infobox { He was first elected in 2014 and has since been able to stave off being unseated by both Democratic and Republican challengers. Weve got to do it to save what hospitals are left, Hays told Inside Texas Politics. display: block; SAN ANTONIO - Susan Hays is a Democrat candidate Texas Agriculture Commissioner. left: 0px; Aarn is an Austin native who previously covered local government for The Kansas City Star and high school sports for the Knoxville News Sentinel. background-color: grey; Susan Hays offers a much-needed and sensible new vision for state Agriculture Department The Texas Department of Agriculture commissioner has a big job. The Democrat says she has a plan to address rural health care in Texas. margin-bottom:16px; overflow-x: scroll; }) .percentage_number { } He later turned it into 20 world rodeo championships. Voters can check with their county election officials to see whether their vote was counted. So are we, thats why were fighting back against the right-wing lie machine. What influenced your decision to take on Sid Miller? Troy Nehls strange spat with Capitol Police and more, listen in the audio player above. .widget-key { Find more details here. It provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers, offers infrastructure grants in rural communities to attract development, markets Texas products and oversees measuring devices in grocery stores. } This years election cycle saw low turnout for early voting compared with 2020 and 2018, and more people waited to vote on Election Day this year. Hays, 53, grew up in Brownwood, about two hours west of Waco, and lives in Alpine, where she and her husband purchased land several years ago to grow hemp and hops. height: 100%; Republican Sid Miller has been reelected as Texas agriculture commissioner, defeating Democratic candidate Susan Hays on Tuesday night in a Hays has more than doubled Millers fundraising efforts, reporting more than $111,500 to his $48,000, according to Oct. 11 campaign finance reports. margin-bottom: 1px; A few years ago, rural life was calling her home. text-align: center; But Hays doesnt. vertical-align: top; The deadline to register to vote in the 2022 primary election was Oct. 11. Republican primary election Republican primary for } She lost in the general election on November 8, 2022. width: 100%; WebSusan Hays defeated Ed Ireson in the Democratic primary for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture on March 1, 2022. The data is from our partner Decision Desk HQ, which gathers information from the Texas Secretary of States office and a representative sample of 50 counties to provide estimates as to how many votes are left to be counted and call winners. } Susan Hays: Seeing how poorly that agency is run and the notorious graft and corruption. Running for: Texas Agriculture Commissioner. Elections in 2023 | About eighty percent of the budget of that agency is school lunch for people with disabilities and people with food security. 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. color: black; Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller onstage on the final day of the Texas Republican Convention in San Antonio on June 16, 2018. And because it [was] run by an out-of-state corporation that doesnt particularly care. background-color: #003388; the governor has said he does not support legalizing the drug, Beto ORourke, the Democratic nominee for governor, Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (TORCH), Gov. p.survey-response {margin-left:10px;} 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. .inner_percentage.Democratic { Miller also sees the rural health care landscape differently. But some of Millers political actions have caught the publics attention, and not in a good way. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. (Opinion), Do Bible verses belong in newspapers? You describe yourself as the first cannabis super lawyer. .votebox_legend .non_result_row { .race_header.republican { If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support it here. And I know that legalizing cannabis is a major plank of yours. Listen to her full Inside Texas Politics interview to learn more. Contact our sales team. Susan Hays (Democratic Party) ran for election for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. .votebox { Hemp is very climate sensitive and also photo sensitive. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Susan Hays. One is a former rodeo cowboy caught in controversy. As part of working on that hemp bill, I saw up close and personal just how dysfunctional the ag department is, Hays told us. The winner of this election will lead the state agriculture department that juggles several tasks. color: white; }) Mon, February 21st 2022, 5:35 PM PST. .key-messages li {margin-bottom: 10px;} To help people live better lives. color: black; If youre an hour away from getting emergency care, youre more likely to die or be permanently disabled.. However, weve heard from Republican Sid Miller about things like abortion, Second Amendment, property taxes and obviously part of the larger political conversation, to be sure. background-color: #f4f4f4; } Texas farmers and ranchers are facing tough financial hardships from the effects of the drought and extreme heat. This summer put its profitability to the test, Voting Guide: Here's everything you should know about the Nov. 8 election in North Texas. 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. .non_result_row th { } height: 22px; .votebox-scroll-container { display: inline-block; five election-related convictions during that period. color: #888; Who a person voted for is not public record. He served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2001-13. overflow-y: hidden; Both candidates have high-profile endorsements three former Texas Supreme Court justices, all Republican, have endorsed Hays, while Miller has former president Donald Trumps endorsement. The other piece of it is once we have stable cannabis markets, which were a long way from right now, its one of the few crops somebody can make a living off of on an acre or less.. } Hays questioned Millers ethics during the race and said he was not suited for public office. text-align: center; When it comes to farming and ranching, the chief of the Texas Department of The Editorial Board is made up of opinion journalists with wide-ranging expertise whose consensus opinions and endorsements represent the voice of the institution defined as the board members, their editor and the publisher. .votebox_legend { We think Hays is the best choice for Democratic voters. Source. Our Ag Commissioner and his political operatives apparently missed those lessons, Hays said in the news release. They or someone they know has tried it and found it to be very helpful, Hays said. Were way behind where the public is. During this election cycle, high-ranking Texas Republicans were privately undermining Miller, too. Hays has questioned Millers ethics and pointed to his controversies. | She directly against the corruption surrounding the selling hemp licenses for absurd prices ($25,000 vs. the expected $100). Republican Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, seeking a third term, is facing Democrat Susan Hays, an Alpine attorney who worked for the Legislature and Texas Supreme Court, in the Nov. 8 election. 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I could lose everything: Dallas drag performers say Texas bills could impact their jobs, Facebook users can now apply for a portion of a $725 million settlement. And then there is rural health care, a topic Hays evoked at a recent rally with gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke at Texas Tech University. And yet, you think about, well, what about the ag department? Now youre going out there saying, I believe in rural Texas, I want to legalize marijuana. My husband and I are now out in Brewster County and a lot of counties like Brewster, there are only one, maybe two, health insurance providers and they get to dictate the terms and that is not fair to rural Texans, said the Democrat. div.oneoff-scrollbox.regular { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. If you voted through a provisional ballot because of an administrative issue or photo ID problem, you should receive a notice by mail letting you know if your ballot was counted by Dec. 2. The job of this position is to bring as many federal dollars back to Texas as possible. But long term, as the markets stabilize and government action absolutely plays a role in market stabilization with cannabis, it does provide an opportunity for a high-value crop where a farmer can make a living off a relatively small amount of land if they get good at growing it. For local elections, you can find results on your countys website. top: -1px; color: white; } Miller and Hays can both legitimately claim deep Texas roots, but from those roots grew two diametrically opposed politicians now running against each other for Texas agriculture commissioner. He was drawn to the Republican Party because he saw it as the party of freedom. Which is the exact opposite of what an AG Commissioner ought to be doing. Texas is one of 12 Republican-controlled states that havent expanded coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Doing more to help farmers instead of nickel and dime tax them to death, which is what Miller does. This state is not prepared to deal with something like that because of the lack of enforcement mechanism. width: 250px; Were way behind where the marketplace is. You can access the tracker here. Republican Sid Miller has been reelected as Texas agriculture commissioner, defeating Democratic candidate Susan Hays on Tuesday night in a heated race. Those results are usually posted online shortly after polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day.