Lyle Larson, who has long been referred to as Bexar County's 'Mister Republican' for his role in shaping the growth of the GOP locally and statewide, is facing a primary challenge for re-election to his north side Legislative seat neat year, in another indication of the growing divide between tranditional pro-business Republicans, and the growing movement and Tea Party wing of the party, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Chris Fails, the Mayor of Hollywood Park and a small business owner in the upscale suburb, says he will challenge Larson, who he calls 'one of the most liberal Republicans in the Legislature,' in the March Republican primary.
"I've been approached by businessmen, Republican activists, and other elected officials who are tired of liberal Lyle's voting record and unwillingness to work with conservatives to advance common sense policy," Fails said.
A primary challenge against Larson from movement and evangelical Republicans has been almost assured after Larson clashed with Gov. Abbott over ethics reform in the 2017 session.
Larson proposed a bill that would prohibit governors from appointing major campaign contributors to key positions on state commissions and Boards of Regents, ending a key fundraising channel that both Democrat and Republican governors have taken advantage of for decades.
On the floor of the House, Larson, a Texas A&M graduate, mocked the practice by bemoaning that the 'going rate' for appointment to the A&M Board of Regents is donations of $300,000, while it takes $400,000 to get a big donor named to the University of Texas System board.
The conservative group 'Empower Texas' called Larson's bill ' a petty insult to the governor in light of his conservative agenda.'
Abbott retaliated by vetoing several of Larson's water related bills.
But the main reason for Larson's challenge from the GOP's right wing is is close association with House Speaker Joe Straus (R-Alamo Heights).
Straus has become the focus of the anger of movement conservatives after he blocked several of the group's key goals, including the so called 'Bathroom Bill,' as well as a measure that would limit local government property tax increases.
Larson, who has been a friend of Straus since childhood, has stood solidly behind the Speaker, who many Republicans consider to be insufficiently conservative.
Larson has also, along with Straus, emerged as a leader of the traditional, pro-business wing of the Republican Party in the Legislature, which clashed frequently with movement conservatives over several issues in the past session.
There has also been a lot of talk that Abbott, who is sitting on a campaign warchest in excess of $50 million, will use that money to support conservative challengers to not just Democrats in the Legislature, but also Republicans who oppose his agenda.
It is not known whether Abbott will donate to Fails' campaign, but Fails' announcement comes just days after U.S. Rep Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) announced he will not run against Abbott, making it more likely that Abbott will not face a well-funded Democrat in 2018, and allowing him to use his campaign fund to support other candidates.
Larson has been one of the most prominent figures in San Antonio politics over the past two decades, serving on the San Antonio City Council and Bexar County Commissioners Court, as well as losing a run for U.S. Congress, before being elected to the Legislature in 2010.
Larson has not yet announced whether he plans to seek re-election.