Chase West is a candidate in the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 132.
CourtesyBoth candidates in the March 1 primary for Texas House of Representatives District 132 are impressive, but short on political experience.
Cameron Campbell, 39, is a former University of Houston football player and teaches children about safe play for a community outreach program of the Texans. He has gone by “Coach Cam” since coaching for KIPP Houston High School. He also has a sports construction company, which builds sports facilities like softball and baseball fields. He handled all of our questions with charisma and presence all while feeding a toddler on his lap.
His opponent, Chase West, also 39, spoke about having to work two jobs to make ends meet, and about the ups and downs of losing a job during the pandemic. Since then he has grown his own recording studio business. The uncertainty he experienced informed his decision to run. He said he wants to make government work for working people.
Campbell and West have similar policy positions, and both favor marijuana legalization and greater environmental protections, for instance.
But we recommend voters choose West in this very competitive match-up. His responses to questions about state policy were more focused.
One example of why we feel that way emerged as the candidates discussed climate change. Both acknowledge it as a serious threat but West had a nuanced understanding of what a transition to a low-carbon future means.
“Of course climate change is real, but oil and gas is not the devil,” West told the Chronicle. “We need them, but we also need to focus on solar, wind and geothermal.”
Whoever wins in March will face a difficult election in November. The district includes much of Katy and unincorporated areas of Harris County. In 2020, former Rep. Mike Schofield reclaimed the seat from Democrat Gina Calanni, even though the district had supported Biden that year.
“There are a significant number of Republicans who had been embarrassed by Trump,” he said.
He also noted that the district doesn’t look like it did two years ago. Last year, the Texas Legislature changed the boundaries to increase the share of Republican voters.
We believe that West’s mix of policy nuance and engaging personality, along with his determination to, as he put it, make America work for its workers makes him the best choice.
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