As early voting kicks off this week, it appears that current House District 85 Rep. Stan Kitzman’s chief of staff is asking hundreds of lobbyists in the Austin swamp to help stand at polling locations in his district.
In a recently released email, Kitzman’s chief of staff, Nicole Gonzales, contacted Austin requesting assistance at the polls, stating they could “stand as long as you like.”
The email was dated February 13, 2026—just four days before early voting began—appearing to be a dire call for volunteers for Kitzman’s campaign.
Kitzman is currently running for reelection as the Republican candidate for House District 85. His Republican opponent in the primary is Dennis Geesaman, who served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force for 21 years.
The request for lobbyists to be poll watchers isn’t the only controversy surrounding Kitzman’s campaign. According to Transparency USA, he has also received contributions from Texas Sands PAC and Texans for Lawsuit Reform, both of which are known for using their financial influence to control legislators.
Texas Sands PAC is linked to Las Vegas Sands Corp., a pro-gambling company seeking to influence Texas lawmakers to legalize casino gambling in the state. The group has donated to both Republicans and Democrats to support pro-gambling candidates.
TLR is also a major political donor and has been accused of influencing lawmakers to pass restrictive tort reform legislation. In 2025, TLR supported House Bill 4806 and Senate Bill 30, which aimed to limit the amount of medical damages accident victims could recover. Trial lawyers argued the bills would restrict fair compensation and leave victims burdened with unpaid medical debt.
Additionally, Kitzman’s voting record has also raised concerns among conservative voters.
During the 89th legislative session, Kitzman voted in favor of House Bill 2, which authorized $8.5 billion in new funding to public schools, including raises for teachers and staff, early-childhood programs, and bilingual education.
Kitzman also voted alongside Democrats to elect State Rep. Dustin Burrows as Speaker of the House, despite State Rep. David Cook receiving the Republican nomination.
Geesaman has been endorsed by multiple conservative organizations, including Texas Gun Rights, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, and Protecting Texas Children.
Early voting runs from February 17 through February 27.
Election Day is Tuesday, March 3, 2026.