State Representative, District 97 - Texas Ballot Compare

John W. McQueeney

Republican Incumbent

On ballot as: John W. McQueeney
Current role: State Representative, Texas House District 97 (first elected 2024; since January 2025)
Background: Businessman; has operated McDonald's franchises, a FedEx contracting and logistics operation, and Chicken Express restaurants
Graduate, Texas Christian University's M.J. Neeley School of Business
Advisory director, Austin County State Bank, Bellville
Lives in Fort Worth with his wife and two children
Experience: Member, House State Affairs and Licensing & Administrative Procedures committees
Coauthor, 2025 school finance bill (per campaign)
Republican primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities: "Property tax relief – Push for meaningful, permanent tax compression and tighter limits on appraisal growth."
"Public safety – Support law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders with the tools and resources they need."
"Economic growth – Protect a pro-business climate that creates jobs while ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with growth."
Campaign site: "will push for a zero-tolerance approach to encampments in public spaces"
Campaign site: wants data center policy that ensures "local communities are put first"
Tidbits: Abortion: His campaign site describes him as "a pro-life Christian"
Border and immigration: In a Fort Worth Report questionnaire (answered before the March 2026 primary): "Texas must continue taking decisive action to secure the border."
Guns: No public statement found
Public schools and vouchers: Campaign site: favors "continued public school investment, keeping teacher pay competitive, and giving parents more say in where their kids learn"
Property taxes: In a Fort Worth Report questionnaire (answered before the March 2026 primary): "I support meaningful, long-term relief by increasing homestead exemptions, compressing tax rates, and placing stronger limits on appraisal growth."
Claims and the record
Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements: Texas Home School Coalition
Texas Alliance for Life (primary)
Tarrant County Patriots PAC (primary)
President Donald Trump (listed by campaign)
Senator Ted Cruz (listed by campaign)
Show all 31
Governor Greg Abbott (listed by campaign)
Speaker Dustin Burrows (listed by campaign)
Hon. Dawn Buckingham (listed by campaign)
Hon. Kelly Hancock (listed by campaign)
Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (listed by campaign)
Rep. David Cook (listed by campaign)
Rep. Charlie Geren (listed by campaign)
Rep. John Lujan (listed by campaign)
Rep. Jared Patterson (listed by campaign)
Rep. Tony Tinderholt (listed by campaign)
Tarrant Co. Comm. Manny Ramirez (listed by campaign)
Tarrant Co. Comm. Matt Krause (listed by campaign)
Tarrant County Constable Jon Siegel (listed by campaign)
City of Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker (listed by campaign)
City of Crowley Mayor Billy Davis (listed by campaign)
Hon. Betsy Price (listed by campaign)
AFC Victory Fund – AFCVF (listed by campaign)
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association PAC (listed by campaign)
Associated Republicans of Texas (listed by campaign)
CLEAT (listed by campaign)
GOPAC Election Fund (listed by campaign)
Texas Association of REALTORS PAC (listed by campaign)
Greater Fort Worth Association of REALTORS PAC (listed by campaign)
National Federation of Independent Business (listed by campaign)
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC (listed by campaign)
Hammer & Nails PAC (listed by campaign)
Campaign website: mcqueeneyfortexas.com

Beth Llewellyn McLaughlin

Democratic

On ballot as: Beth Llewellyn McLaughlin
Current role: Retired Fort Worth ISD high school teacher
Background: Former French teacher, Southwest High School, Fort Worth ISD (29 years)
B.A. in French, German and political science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Volunteer docent at the Kimbell Art Museum since 2012
Former board member, voter groups Tarrant Together and Texans Defending Democracy (per candidate)
Experience: Ran for this seat (2018)
No prior elected office found
Democratic primary runoff (May 26, 2026): won, 56.4% over Diane Symons
Top priorities: "Fully fund public education."
"Protect individual freedoms. Texas should not pass laws that restrict how Texans choose to live their lives."
"Expand access to Medicaid and reclaim our federal tax dollars to benefit Texans who need it the most."
Campaign site: "For dark money out of politics"
Tidbits: Abortion: Campaign site, under "For freedom in decisions about your health and how to live your life": "No law should restrict what you choose to do with your own body."
Border and immigration: In a 2026 Fort Worth Report questionnaire: "We need to follow and fund current laws that regulate legal immigration and curb illegal entry into the USA."
Guns: No public statement found
Public schools and vouchers: In a 2026 Fort Worth Report questionnaire: "Vouchers should be repealed. Tax money paid by all is meant to serve ALL Texas children."
Property taxes: In a 2026 Fort Worth Report questionnaire, on cutting property taxes: "doing so without replacing revenue that funds schools and other critical services is irresponsible"
Claims and the record
Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: bethfor97.com