State of Texas
State Representative, District 71
Jay Hardaway
Republican- On ballot as
- JAY HARDAWAY
- Current role
- Finance and oil and gas (per Secretary of State filing)
- Background
- Abilene Christian High School graduate (per campaign)
- McMurry University graduate (2005) (per campaign)
- Early career: Central Texas investment firm focused on commercial real estate (per campaign)
- Moved back to Abilene in 2011 (per campaign)
- Works for a family business based in Albany, Texas (per campaign)
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- 2025 campaign chair, United Way of Abilene, with his wife (per campaign)
- Has been Vice Chair, Taylor County Republican Party (per campaign)
- Experience
- Senior Policy Advisor, State Rep. Stan Lambert's office (joined 2021) (per campaign)
- Former district director, Congressman Jodey Arrington (from 2017) (per campaign)
- Former Abilene City Council member; elected 2014, served until 2017 (per campaign)
- Open seat: Rep. Stan Lambert not running for re-election
- Republican primary (March 3, 2026): won, 56.5% over three other candidates
- Top priorities
- Property tax relief: "Deliver meaningful, permanent tax cuts to protect hardworking families."
- Secure the border: "Defend Texas communities and stop illegal immigration."
- Private property rights: "Defend landowners against abusive eminent domain."
- Jobs and growth: "Champion economic policies that make Texas the envy of the nation."
- Tidbits
- Abortion: Campaign site priority, "Protect Life & Liberty": "Protect the unborn, safeguard the Second Amendment."
- Border and immigration: Campaign site priority, "Secure the Border": "Defend Texas communities and stop illegal immigration."
- Guns: Campaign site priority, "Protect Life & Liberty": "Protect the unborn, safeguard the Second Amendment."
- Public schools and vouchers: Campaign site priority, "Strong Schools": "empower parents, and keep politics out of classrooms."
- Property taxes: Campaign site priority, "Property Tax Relief": "Deliver meaningful, permanent tax cuts to protect hardworking families."
- Endorsements
- Texas Home School Coalition
- Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) PAC
- TEXPAC (Texas Medical Association Political Action Committee)
- Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
- Texas Farm Bureau AGFUND
- Rep. Stan Lambert (primary)
- Campaign website
- jayhardawayfortexas.com
Open in the full comparison: Callahan County, Jones County, Nolan County, Taylor County