Gary Wilton Gates Jr. (born July 22, 1959) is a Texas businessman and a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for House District 28, which is located in Fort Bend County in the southwest Houston metro area.
Texas House of Representatives On January 28, 2020, Gates won the special runoff election for Texas House District 28. He defeated the Democrat, an educator, Elizabeth A. "Eliz" Markowitz of Katy, Texas, by 58% of the vote to 42%, a 16-point win that has been characterized as an "easy win". Saying the district was a bellwether, Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren endorsed Markowitz; and Mike Bloomberg and Julian Castro endorsed Markowitz and block walked for her, attempting to flip the district and defeat Gates. Former U.S. Senate nominee and presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke knocked on doors and rallied canvassers.Egan, Lauren. Republican projected to beat Democrat for Texas state House, in race watched for 2020 clues, NBC News, January 28, 2020.Weber, Paul J. Democrats' early 2020 blitz to strike in Texas flops, CBS Austin-KEYE TV, January 29, 2020. The race was Gates' seventh run for political office.
After the election, the Republicans criticized the Democrats as overplaying their hand in the Gates special election; while the Democrats pointed to unique aspects of the campaign, specifically Gates' ability to self-fund his campaign. Gates spent about $1.8 million of his own money on the campaign.Weber, Paul J. GOP wins closely watched Texas special election , Associated Press, January 28, 2020. Markowitz was given political donations from Forward Majority for $420,000, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee for $170,000, and State Representative Celia Israel's Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee of $120,000.Taylor, MaKenzie. The Back Mic: Big Spenders in the House District 28 Special Election, The Texan, Austin, Texas, January 31, 2020.
Turnout for the special runoff election was very high and possibly historic since there were over 30,000 voters, a 20 percent turnout which is the highest in Texas since at least 1992. Gates defeated a Republican opponent, small business owner Michelle D. "Schell" Hammel of Katy, in the March 3, 2020 primary, receiving 95% of the vote.Para, Jen. Gary Gates wins 2020 Republican primary for House District 28 seat, Community Impact, March 4, 2020.March 3, 2020 primary election results, Texas Tribune, March 3, 2020. Gates faced Markowitz again in the November general election where he was reelected to a full term.
During the 2023 legislative session, Gates supported a ban on Democrats being given committee chairmanships as long as the Republicans hold the majority of seats.Johnson, Brad. The Back Mic: Legislators Opposed to Democratic Chairs Listed, Rep. Moody Quells DA Appointment Rumors, House Rules Discussed, The Texan, December 9, 2022. The rule change went into effect in the 2025 session.
Electoral history
Personal life Gates lives in Richmond, Texas, a suburb of Houston southwest of the city, with his wife, Melissa, and his 13 children, of whom 11 are adopted.Malewitz, Jim. Child Abuse Case Resurfaces in Railroad Commission Race, Texas Tribune April 28, 2016.Tyer, Brad. A Father's Retribution, Houston Press, October 5, 2000.
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