background-color: #f9f9f9; And if you look at polling data, medical [marijuana] is almost perfectly bipartisan and its high support. max-width: 600px; WebSusan Hays defeated Ed Ireson in the Democratic primary for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture on March 1, 2022. A variety that does really well in Oregon, wont do well in Texas. width: 100% !important; He was drawn to the Republican Party because he saw it as the party of freedom. Check if youre registered to vote here. } Super lawyer is sort of a private promotion and branding deal thats been around for some time. However, polling locations may change, so be sure to check your countys election website before going to vote. Public policy. .contact_office { margin-top: 0.3em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} And the rural lifestyle is increasingly endangered. p.survey-response {margin-left:10px;} I decided in large part to run because of that experience.. Texas Agricultural Commissioner .results_row.winner { Ballot measures, Who represents me? That data could be analyzed in a way that would make it really helpful to farmers. For more than two decades, Republicans have held every statewide office. Federal courts | .votebox-results-cell--number { Sid Miller declares victory in Texas agriculture Texas is one of 12 Republican-controlled states that havent expanded coverage under the Affordable Care Act. font-weight: bold; County officials can begin counting early voting results, including mail-in ballots, on as early as the last day of early voting in large counties. } indictment of a top aide on corruption charges. This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. What influenced your decision to take on Sid Miller? } Hes proven himself to not be trustworthy.. We can produce a crop of very, very high quality, but we have to continue to use all the platforms we have to promote that, Bessent explained. Were way behind where the public is. | How to run for office | clear: both; [The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)] collects data on varieties. And yeah, the cannabis markets, like any new market, are very volatile. State executives | Both have deep Texas roots, but Sid Miller and Susan Hays offer Id like to see more of that happening and to try and bridge this gap of urban and rural health care disparities.. } Hays said she would support that program, which is now stalled, and also diversify the agriculture departments staff. font-size: .9em; The fight for sustainable agriculture and rational, safe cannabis laws, including legalization, isnt.. Our Ag Commissioner and his political operatives apparently missed those lessons, Hays said in the news release. display: block; He was first elected in 2014 and has since been able to stave off being unseated by both Democratic and Republican challengers. background-color: grey; margin-bottom:0px; color: white; What can you tell them that might convince them to vote for a Democrat for this position? .race_header { Susan Hays, Democratic candidate for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. How is this playing out in socially conservative Texas? height: 22px; by Jessica Montoya Coggins | Dec 14, 2021 | Politics, Texas Elections. font-size: 16px; } .expand-all:hover, .collapse-all:hover {cursor: pointer; text-decoration: underline;} Ireson said hell prioritize updating the agriculture departments technology so staff members can better engage with Texans. } A lot of what I witnessed has now led to the commissioners political consultant being indicted for trying to sell $100, unlimited hemp licenses for tens of thousands of dollars to the unwitting. } font-size: 1.25em; .inner_percentage, .inner_percentage.Nonpartisan, .inner_percentage.Independent, .inner_percentage.Constitution, .inner_percentage.unknown { 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. Then the impact of COVID-19. He is a University of Texas graduate, and Spanish is his first language. } Texas Agriculture Commissioner The agency is also responsible for helping rural hospitals with financial aid and technical assistance through its rural health division. Editorial: We recommend Susan Hays in Democratic primary for Agriculture Commissioner, Letter from the editor: Introducing our exclusive new newsletter, More Recommendations from Editorial Board. As the state agriculture commissioner, Miller conducted Operation Maverick, which investigated more than 7,000 businesses operating with illegal scales, and has overseen the Farm Fresh program, a farm-to-school initiative that has led to schools purchasing $65 million worth of fresh food from local farmers. Agriculture is the heartbeat of America., When it comes to keeping agriculture stable, though, Millers conservative views are vastly different from Hays. The deadline to register to vote in the 2022 primary election was Oct. 11. I mean, there are a lot of hemp farmers who feel that theyre sort of high and dry. So financially, theyre pretty sound, Miller said. The fight to expand Medicaid, save rural hospitals, and create a thriving rural economy, isnt. width: 100% If you look at survival rates from traumatic accidents or heart attacks, you know its the first hour that matters, Hays said. This takes time as polling places are closed down and election materials are transported back to county election officials. } The Texas Attorney Generals office also opened 390 cases looking at potential electoral fraud from January 2020 to September 2022, but it only secured five election-related convictions during that period. And the other reality we need to deal with is that cannabis products are already here. Voters can check with their county election officials to see whether their vote was counted. Agriculture commissioner is also on the ballot, with incumbent Sid Miller, a Trump-backed Republican, facing Democrat Susan Hays. Republican primary election Republican primary for Attorney Susan Hays filed to run as a Democratic candidate for agriculture commissioner, taking on the current occupant Republican Sid Miller. } .election_results_text { Jessica attended Harvard College, is a onetime fitness blogger, and has now transitioned to recreational runner (for which her joints are thankful). } Unfortunately for Texans, weve had an agriculture commissioner whose seven-year tenure has been full of ethical lapses and embarrassing errors in judgment. $('#candidate-connection-twitter-105181').on('click', () => { ga('send', 'event', 'surveycta', 'surveycta-click-twitter'); }); However, crop insurance does not make up for the millions of dollars in lost products, whether that be cotton or vegetable crops. She also plans to push for increased fiscal support for farmers markets and expand a partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to educate young Texans about agriculture and nutrition. 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. Should inmates in Texas be eligible for early parole if they exhibit good behavior? Mon, February 21st 2022, 5:35 PM PST. Texas agriculture commissioner I spent the pandemic in Alpine, and I now pretty much live there. Hays, a longtime rancher and equal rights lawyer, campaigned on a platform of rebuilding rural communities, sustainable agriculture and legalizing cannabis. .external_links_table { width: auto !important; } DALLAS Attorney Susan Hays says she knows the marijuana issue is garnering most of the headlines in her race for Texas agriculture commissioner. vertical-align: top; Republican Sid Miller has been reelected as Texas agriculture commissioner, defeating Democratic candidate Susan Hays on Tuesday night in a heated race. Talk about how we have to get ahead of the markets. p.survey-question {font-weight:bold;} letter-spacing: .04em; } Doctors were providing care that they practiced a few times in medical school and dont regularly do because theres no other option. padding:7px 8px 8px; You know, at times statutory changes are needed. Instead of just throwing out press releases, attacking groups of peoples, or mimicking national red-meat politics. And out there, theres three counties that share one hospital with 25 beds and only three ventilators. If you were to have to interact with him, how would you navigate that? He and his wife, Debra, have been married for going on 45 years. For Hays, it was Brownwood, a one-high-school town. .votebox-results-cell--check { width: 57%; font-weight: bold; Our commitment to ethical, fact-based journalism is vital to our democracy, and we cant do it without you. During this election cycle, high-ranking Texas Republicans were privately undermining Miller, too. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; What's on my ballot? Susan Hays' career experience includes owning a law practice and working as a lawyer and farmer. Susan Hays, candidate for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture padding-left: 10px; } They have two sons, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren. Susan Hays ( Democratic Party) ran for election for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. Susan Hays The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit statewide news organization dedicated to keeping Texans informed on politics and policy issues that impact their communities. During the most recent campaign fundraising period, July 1 through Sept. 30, Hays raised $115,505. .large-date { text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600;} Another reason Texas leads the nation in rural hospital closures is because it has the largest number of rural hospitals in the country with 158. Instead, it means having a healthy regulatory regime that makes sure the products consumers can access are safe and accurately labeled. font-size: 1.2em; .top_disclaimer {

Susan Hays is a Democrat running to be Texas commissioner of agriculture This November, voters will decide contests for a number of statewide offices, Government can be used to help people make money. Sid Miller, former Dallas County Democratic chairwoman in race for Texas ag commissioner, (Photo courtesy of Hays Campaign / Courtesy of Hays Campaign), promotion of conspiracy theories, false stories and racist memes on social media. left: 0px; font-weight: 300; It sounds like maybe the Legislature would be more of a fit, if youre talking about the kind of sweeping changes youre suggesting. 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. Contact our sales team. }. vertical-align: middle; .race_footer { Hemp is very climate sensitive and also photo sensitive. He used taxpayer money to take two out-of-state trips one involved getting a Jesus Shot medical injection in Oklahoma, the other competing in a Mississippi Rodeo Show. Source. 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. Elections in 2023 | position: absolute; Incumbent Sid Miller defeated Susan Hays in the general election for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture on November 8, 2022. } Ill also say this about rural healthcare, having grown up in rural Texas, I know how important having a rural hospital is to the local economy. The other And youre hours away from your next best option. display: inline-block; Disclosure: Texas Tech University and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. They could not make it without that expanded patient base. @media screen and (max-width: 350px) { .widget-row.value-only.white { Texas requires counties that use electronic machines to count votes to conduct a partial manual audit after the election. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan. .race_header, .results_text, .results_table_container, .votebox_legend { overflow-y: hidden; } It needs to be updated and we need to be ready. None of them are credible.. 2023 Texas Standard. A longtime writer and journalist, Jessica was thrilled to join the Texas Signal where she could utilize her unique perspective on politics and culture. Well, you anticipated what I was going to ask, because when you started talking about hospitals, I thought, agriculture commissioner, really? .electionsectionheading { Hays has an extensive legal background, including as a cannabis attorney. margin-bottom: 0; font-weight: bold; Before Roe v. Wade was overturned, Texans had been living under a de facto abortion ban for months. By not expanding Medicaid, we strangled rural hospitals economically. Getting to know the new district superintendents in North Texas, DFW weather: Warming temps and storm chances this week. No one trusts the incumbent to do whats right for Texas. Well, you can be a character without being a nonstop scandal. padding-bottom: 5px; Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Building warmth with higher humidity and rain chances later in the week. Hays promotes practices that could help farmers boost their crop growth even with Texas changing climate. .widget-row.Libertarian { padding-bottom: 8px; I spent the pandemic in a county that shares a hospital with two other counties with 25 hospital beds and three ventilators, Hays said. @media (max-width:600px) { font-weight: 300; Read more about election safeguards here. } Her law practice took her to advising cannabis producers and businesses, and pushing Texas to open the door to this high-value crop with the hemp program. My Magic 8 Ball seems to think so. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h5.votebox-header-election-type { } color: white; The Sunset Commission said were the best state agency theyve ever reviewed, so I think that says a lot about what weve done and what type of people we have with the TDA, Miller said. And she wants to pay farmers for putting carbon back into the soil to combat climate change, which can be done through methods like cover crops or conservation tilling. Home Tag Susan Hays | The Texan The 88th Session Kickoff Event Join The Texan reporters in Austin on Jan. 24, 2023 as they moderate panels of lawmakers discussing the issues and priorities of the 88th Legislative Session! Hays appears to have a fundraising edge. Both candidates displayed humor, a solid understanding of the job, and maturity levels that seemed to far exceed the incumbents. Right now the government is engaging in a head-in-the-sand stance on it and thats not helpful to anyone, Hays told the board. Im a policy wonk and smart enough to figure out how to get things done the right way, Hays said. } Susan Hays .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { Youll want to check for open polling locations with your local elections office before you head out to vote. Well, I mean, I wouldnt ask that question on the nose. .widget-row.Republican { Op-Ed: How This Election Is Putting Real Safety On The Ballot In Texas. } The man behind Mattress Mack: salesman, gambler introvert? Were spending a billion dollars on the border, and we cant get ten million dollars to get our forensic crime labs where they need to be to handle things like a mystery substance in a vape. 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. It also hit the hemp crop. } Hays says number one, the state should expand Medicaid. background-color: #db0000; five election-related convictions during that period. padding-left: 8px; One of her slogans is Farming is hard. overflow: hidden; Hays believes it could be a cash crop opportunity for farmers and a boost to the Texas economy. Susan Hays, candidate for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture background-color: #f9d334; 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 said shes going to take her message directly to conservatives shes already appeared on the Mark Davis radio show and also connect directly with rural voters of color, an often-overlooked constituency. text-align: center; .widget-row.Green { 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. He was not criminally charged for either trip following investigations into the travel by Travis County prosecutors. Voters can still cast votes without those IDs if they sign a form swearing that they have a reasonable impediment from obtaining a proper photo ID or use a provisional ballot. Its a national security issue. They or someone they know has tried it and found it to be very helpful, Hays said. Susan Hays offers a much-needed and sensible new vision for state Agriculture Department The Texas Department of Agriculture commissioner has a big job. How do you feel about that? 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. font-style: italic; Hays conceded Wednesday morning in a statement in which she thanked voters for their support. line-height: 1.5em; Youll need one of seven types of valid photo ID to vote in Texas: A state drivers license, a Texas election identification certificate, a Texas personal identification card, a Texas license to carry a handgun, a U.S. military ID card with a personal photo, a U.S. citizenship certificate with a personal photo or a U.S. passport. Susan Hays also discusses her ideas for sustainable agriculture. Those results are usually posted online shortly after polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day. And theres a lot of potential in those programs. If youre an hour away from getting emergency care, youre more likely to die or be permanently disabled.. Both grew up managing cattle at their families ranches. .contact_entity {font-size: 1.0em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 0.5em;} top: -1px; He said rural hospitals are in good shape since federal and state funds were distributed to facilities around Texas during the pandemic. overflow-y: auto; 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. Aarn is an Austin native who previously covered local government for The Kansas City Star and high school sports for the Knoxville News Sentinel. You can access the tracker here. font-size: .9em; display: inline; Its the deep frustration of watching whats happening to the state and watching the communities where I grew up and used to run around as a teenager, not do near as well as they should because of policy choices. So it is absolutely the job of the AG Commissioner to look for new economic models for agriculture and promote them. .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper { Candidate Spotlight: Susan Hays - Democratic Party of Kendall Miller banked $48,000 during the same period. by Vanessa Fuentes & Jalen McKee-Rodriguez | May 1, 2023. ; Its amazing how popular it is. U.S. Congress | I was thinking when you were talking about drafting the hemp law Miller embraced it, as I recall now. a[aria-expanded=false] .fa-chevron-down { display: none; } Shes worked as an attorney and a lobbyist. That hospital drew from all the surrounding counties. float: right; Both found success, Hays as a lawyer fighting for human rights and Miller as a national award-winning rodeo cowboy. She sees the office as a way to help improve health care for farmers and rural communities. In 2019, she advocated for and helped craft the Texas law allowing any hemp product with less than 0.3% THC. WebCommissioner Miller is a businessman who breeds and trains American Quarter Horses. Youre allowed to vote by mail only if: You will be 65 or older by Election Day, you will not be in your county for the entire span of voting, including early voting, you cite a sickness or disability that prevents you from voting in person without needing personal assistance or without the likelihood of injuring your health, youre expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day or you are confined in jail but otherwise eligible (i.e., not convicted of a felony). Susan Hays is called back to rural life This is the first time Hays is running for elected office, but shes no stranger to Texas politics. background-color: #f9d334; 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. font-style: italic; For months rumors have swirled that Congressman Colin Allred is considering a challenge to Senator Ted Cruz in 2024. Most recently, Hays has found herself practicing law in the cannabis industry she helped write and pass the Texas hemp legalization bill in 2019 and was named Texas first cannabis super lawyer by Thomson Reuters. (Opinion), Israeli-Palestinian progress means mutual recognition (Opinion), Huffines: Lege property tax cut proposals are Band-Aid solutions, Ten Commandments don't belong in Texas public schools (Opinion). $(".collapse-all").on('click', () => { padding-left: 0; One thing Ive seen by studying cannabis policy in other states, when the government gets behind the market, bad things happen. The contest to serve as rural Texas ambassador to the state has become animated. Show us with your support. Well the root of the problem is it doesnt rain, Miller said. Sid Miller claims outright victory in Republican primary for agriculture commissioner The two-term Republican will face Democrat Susan Hays, assuming his lead holds in the Republican primary. The secretary of states website will also have information on polling locations closer to the start of voting. Miller opposes legalizing marijuana for recreational use in Texas. Miller claimed there havent been many rural hospital closures during his tenure, citing that a majority go back to 2005 a decade before he became commissioner. .results_text { Farming is hard, but ethics should be easy, Hays said Thursday as she announced her campaign against the scandal-prone Miller. by Jayme Lozano Carver })

   .contact_entity {font-size: 1.5em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} 			width: 100%; Show us with your support. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you.   --subtitle-background: #334aab; Texas Agriculture Commissioner 		color:white; Seeking ag commissioner job, Democrat Susan Hays focuses on  Were way behind where the marketplace is. Example video title will go here for this video. 		width: 100%; } Not looking for ways for small farmers or even medium-sized operations to do well in agriculture.  Texas agriculture commissioner race 2022: Susan Hays 	.results_row td { Its a sleeper issue in this race.. Adrian Billings is a family medicine physician with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, where he focuses on reviving rural health care. Failure to expand Medicaid is a great example of Republican policies that are terrible for rural Texans. I was in a county that had kind of a regional hospital that used to be locally controlled  its now privately held and poorly run. 	} 	padding-left: 10px; 		letter-spacing: 0.03em; And he touts the Texas Sunset Advisory Commissions review of the agency from 2021 in which the department was called well-managed.. } 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. 	} As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. 		padding-left: 0; As for the marijuana issue, Hays differs from her opponent, Republican incumbent Sid Miller, in that she wants to legalize marijuana, while Miller is only advocating expanding access to medical marijuana. Farming is hard, but ethics should be easy.,  2023 KCDP. Yeah, he did. 	} } Her political ideologies are driven by her lessons in vacation Bible school and growing up around politicians whom she considered good examples for public service. Hays, 53, is a headstrong Democrat and an equal rights lawyer who has fought for women, pregnant minors and Texas voters. 		color: #6db24f; Instances of alleged fraud have also in some cases turned out to be mistakes by elections administrators or voters, according to the center. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? 		display: block; 		color: #0645ad; Biography Susan  	} $('.pastResponses').show(); However, hemp in Texas hasnt lived up to expectations. 		width: 90%; 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. background-color: white; $('.showResponses').hide(); Which is the exact opposite of what an AG Commissioner ought to be doing. 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. This election season, Texans around the state will turn to The Texas Tribune for the information they need on voting, election results, analysis of key races and more. Find more details here. 	} 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. 		font-size: 0.9em; Im running for Agriculture Commissioner because corruption is bad  Hays faces an uphill battle to get elected statewide as a Democrat. I would get three different answers from three different people. Their visions of government, and its responsibilities, are worlds apart. A coalition of voting rights groups is also helping voters navigate election concerns through the 866-OUR-VOTE (687-8683) voter-protection helpline. 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. He served on the Trump campaigns agriculture advisory committee in 2016. U.S. President | She said a top priority is to address the rural hospital shortage by revitalizing agriculture programs now rotting in the basement that can boost rural economic development and rural hospitals. Could you talk a little more about that? 		padding-bottom: 0px; We need to quickly, fully expand the medical cannabis program, and then we also need to both decriminalize and legalize. 		margin-right: 12px; 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. And she believes she would be the right agriculture commissioner to see the task through. $('.collapse').collapse('show'); Hays and her husband bought land in Alpine, a small town framed by mile-high mountains and an hours car ride north of Big Bend National Park. But for too long, fear-mongering politics have hijacked and overshadowed conversations about what communities actually want and need to build real safety. Hays said she would continue to advocate for those priorities in the future.