Gary VanDeaver

American educator and state representative

Gary Wayne VanDeaver

Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 13, 2015
Preceded by	George Lavender

Personal details
Born	(1958-09-25) September 25, 1958 (age 65) Grimes County, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Pamela Sue Nevill VanDeaver (m. 1983)
Children	2
Residence(s)	New Boston, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	Texas A&M University–Commerce
Occupation	Educator
Website	garyvandeaver.com

Gary Wayne VanDeaver (born September 25, 1958)^[1] is an American politician serving as the state representative for the Texas House of Representatives' 1st district, which formerly encompassed Bowie, Franklin, Lamar, and Red River counties in northeastern Texas. Beginning In 2022, the new House District 1 includes Bowie, Cass, Lamar, Morris, and Red River Counties.^[2] He is a retired lifelong educator with the Avery Independent School District, Rivercrest Independent School District ^[3] and finally at New Boston Independent School District in New Boston, Texas, where he still resides.

VanDeaver was first elected in 2014, and has been re-elected by his district four times, in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022.^[4] He has defeated the previous incumbent, George Lavender, on three separate occasions, and has never faced opposition in a general election. He identifies as a Conservative Republican.

Background

VanDeaver was born in Grimes County south of College Station, Texas.^[1]^[5]^[6] He grew up on a cattle ranch in Red River County outside of Clarksville TX ^[7]

Political Life

VanDeaver was first elected in 2014, defeating the incumbent George Lavender by 54.34%-45.66% in the 2014 Republican primary election.^[8] VanDeaver faced no opposition in the 2014 general election.

VanDeaver defeated Lavender in a rematch in the 2016 Republican primary on March 1, 2016.^[9] VanDeaver received 18,263 votes (61.93 percent) to Lavender's 11,242 (38.07 percent).^[10] VanDeaver faced no opposition in the 2016 general election.

VanDeaver ran unopposed in the 2018 Republican primary.^[11] VanDeaver ran unopposed in the general election held on November 6, 2018.^[12]

VanDeaver ran unopposed in the 2020 Republican primary.^[13] VanDeaver ran unopposed in the general election held on November 3, 2020.^[14]

VanDeaver ran again in the 2022 Republican primary, once again defeating Lavender (and a third candidate, Ray Null); the margin being 62.88%-28.96% over Lavender with Null taking only 8.16%.^[15] VanDeaver was the only candidate in the race who has been endorsed by the Associated Republicans of Texas, National Rifle Association, Texas Alliance for Life, Texans for Life Coalition, Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, Texas Municipal Police Association, Texas Farm Bureau, National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Forestry PAC, Texas State Teachers Association, Association of Texas Professional Educators, and Governor Greg Abbott.^[16] As with his previous general election races, VanDeaver again faced no opposition.

References

^ ^a ^b "Gary Wayne VanDeaver". search.ancestry.com. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
^ "Texas Legislature Online - 87(3) History for HB 1". capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
^ "Tallant, VanDeaver PJC Distinguished Alumni". 6 October 2015.
^ Representatives, Texas House of. "Texas House of Representatives". www.house.texas.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
^ "Conservative Republican Gary VanDeaver for State Representative". garyvandeaver.com. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
^ "Gary VanDeaver". Texarkana Business Journal. Archived from the original on November 3, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
^ "Biography – Gary VanDeaver".
^ "Race Summary Report. 2014 Republican Party Primary Election. 3/4/2014". Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ "2016 Filed Primary Candidates". texasgop.org. Archived from the original on January 19, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
^ "Republican primary returns". Texas Secretary of State. March 1, 2016. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
^ Murphy, Ryan (March 6, 2018). "Texas Primaries 2018: Full election results". Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
^ "Gary VanDeaver". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
^ Astudillo, Carla (2020-03-03). "Texas primary 2020 results: Live updates from elections". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
^ "Texas 2020 election results". The Texas Tribune. 2020-11-03. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
^ "Press". Gary VanDeaver. 2021-08-15. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
^ "Endorsements". Gary VanDeaver. 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2022-01-12.