Chase Rogers
Robert Morrow, former chairman of the Republican Party of Travis County, is heading into a runoff election with party-backed candidate Lani Popp for a seat on the 15-member State Board of Education.
Having garnered 40.1 percent of the vote in the March 3 primary over Popp’s 33.9 percent, Morrow will face his own party, which opposes him obtaining the office, in addition to the Democratic nominee for the seat, Rebecca Bell-Metereau, should she win the runoff.
Morrow has an acknowledged history of making sexist, racist and obscene remarks toward athletes and major political figures, including former first lady Michelle Obama and former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Because of this history, neither party wants to see Morrow elected to office.
Morrrow is characteristically known for wearing a multi-colored jester’s hat, and for a top campaign issue that is unique to most Republicans; “to impeach, convict and remove Donald Trump and throw his sorry ass in prison.”
Morrow was unexpectedly elected chairperson of the Travis County Republican party in 2016 but was forced to resign the position after having filed to run for president as a write-in candidate that same year.
Ballot returns from Super Tuesday on March 3 showing Morrow’s lead over the two other Republican challengers and the possibility of a runoff prompted vehement responses from party leaders, with Travis County Republican chairman Matt Mackowiak tweeting “(We) will crush him on May 26 or I will light myself on fire."
Running along Interstate 35 between San Antonio and Austin, district 5 was held for 14 years by Republican incumbent Ken Mercer, who did not seek reelection.
The runoff election will occur on May 26.
