Facing backlash, former Texas District 60 candidate Amy Fennell has withdrawn from the race.
In August, Fennell announced she would be challenging incumbent State Rep. Mike Olcott in the Republican nomination for HD 60, which encompasses Parker, Palo Pinto, and Stephens Counties.
However, as the race began to heat up, posts were uncovered from Fennell’s X account revealing her opinions of President Donald Trump and conservative values.
Despite her campaign website stating she is pro-life, pro-Second amendment, and supportive of securing the border, her X account told a different story.
In one post bashing Texas’ pro-life laws, Fennell claimed that the legislation would punish women seeking healthcare when they have a miscarriage, arguing that people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between an abortion and a miscarriage.
In another post regarding border security, Fennell criticized Gov. Greg Abbott’s use of property tax dollars arguing that the funds shouldn’t be going to “building a dotted line for National security,” but should be used to fund schools and solve the water crisis.
On the issue of the Second Amendment, she posted a response to a Senate Republicans advertisement seeking signatures to protect gun rights, saying, “For the love of gravy!! Calm down. Nobody’s coming for your effing guns.”
Additionally, during the 2024 presidential race, Fennell shared multiple posts expressing her disdain for Trump and her belief that then-Vice President Kamala Harris was more qualified to be president.
Following the resurfacing of these posts, Fennell announced last week that she would withdraw her name from the race.
“I entered this race for one reason: the betterment of House District 60,” Fennell told Mineral Wells Area News. “My campaign was built around practical, solution-oriented priorities—strengthening our water infrastructure, improving transportation, promoting responsible economic development, ensuring public safety, and protecting public school funding. Those issues remain critically important, and my commitment to this community has not changed.”
Fennell said her decision to withdraw came from the fundamental shift in the political environment in the race.
“Historically, the Republican Party stood for independence, integrity, and accountability,” Fennell said. “It was the party of limited government, local control, and leaders who answered to their communities, not to national political figures and shadowy mega-donors. Over the past several weeks, I have come to realize that this is no longer the case.”
Fennell also emphasized her contempt for President Trump in her statement, saying he has a “well-documented history of sexual misconduct.”
“The same party that claims to fight to protect women’s spaces has been willing to excuse or minimize a president’s well-documented history of sexual misconduct. I have daughters — I cannot reconcile the party’s contradictions, and I will not be silent about them,” she said. “I will not be part of a party where loyalty comes before all, even at the expense of Constitutional requirements, just and righteous decisions, and fiscally conservative policies.”
After her withdrawal, Fennell continued to post anti-Trump messages, including a comment on one of Trump’s posts about the alleged rigged 2020 election.
“Donald Trump’s obsession has nothing to do with secure elections. He wants to take over states’ rights. Secure elections are a Trojan horse,” Fennell wrote.
She also shared a post stating, “I’m voting for whoever the ‘prosecute them all’ candidate is.” The post was shared in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arresting criminal illegal aliens.
With Fennell now out of the race, Olcott remains the lone Republican candidate seeking the seat.
The Republican primary election will be held on March 3, 2026.