(updated 8/4/26) It is risky for a candidate to express opinions on the issues. People have their own opinions and the Lieutenant Governor is not a dictator who issues decrees. My commitment is to serve the public interest and you should know my thinking on issues. Even if you disagree with positions I have expressed, you should still vote for me, Kevin McCormick for Lieutenant Governor. Our state government has been given over to special interests by the establishment parties and I want to restore the public interest as the priority. Understand that electoral politics is a gradual process and do not allow your vote to be taken for granted.

Have a strategy

Think of voting as a strategic choice. We are told in the media to "vote your concience" or vote for one party to prevent the other party from being elected, that a vote for third-party candidates is a "wasted" vote. The first past the post electoral system favors establishment parties — whoever gets the most votes wins the election. Since wealthy donors control both establishment parties, the policies will remain the same regardless of changing the establishment politicians. However, there are more independents than partisans for either establishment party and the partisans are evenly divided. In the current electoral system, it takes only 3% of the vote for a third party candidate to send a message to the establishment that change is necessary. Far from a wasted vote, the third-party vote may actually change the direction and agenda of public policy.

Regarding elections, it is said that doxa defeats episteme — confident ignorance defeats humble expertise (the Trump administration is our example of doxa). It is also said that the Overton Window —the range of acceptable ideas— is defined by campaign and media propaganda shaping public conciousness. By making the public interest a measurable priority this voting strategy can be very productive in our electoral system.

The establishment parties do not really care about public opinion, but the do care deeply about public actions. In other words: they don't believe what you say, but they believe what you do. My campaign is centered on the principal of serving the public interest using the measure of health —healthy people, healthy society, and healthy environment— so that state government policies can be evaluated by whether they support or degrade our health. I have not forgotten about the economy because I believe that making Texas a desirable place to live is the best way to maintain a strong economy. Voting for Kevin McCormick for Lieutenant Governor is a step outside the electoral corral and a statement that health matters and the voters have a measure to apply to government policies.

There is also the idea of "winning" the election. The voters never win with the establishment parties. Voting for an establishment party means that you will not win. Voting for an establishment party is simply choosing which flavor of ruling class policies is the least bad; a negative vote. Voting for third party candidates is the way to say you are in favor of change in policies; a positive vote.

The real issues are not on TV

The most important political issues are about resources and money; not about identities or partisan rivalries. The media constantly reports on establishment party candidates while ignoring other voices. The media emphasizes identities and partisan rivalry, while neglecting or mis-reporting issues of resources and money. Today a financial elite and their corporations and bureaucracies control both resources and money, while the public is expected to work harder, pay more, and receive less. The Texas state government is largely controlled by special interests —state agencies managed by corporate lobbyists— with corporations and bureaucracies manipulating the system for their own advantage.

The establishment parties, Republican or Democratic, will continue to serve special interests unless the voters demand action by voting for third-party candidates. The establishment parties calculate how to win elections. If talk, identity politics, and token gestures are enough to win the vote, then talk, identity politics, and token gestures are what the voters will get. The voters must prove they want better public service by casting their votes for third-party candidates.

Change is possible

I believe that we can overcome special-interest control and restore serving the public interest as the purpose of state government. We must design the incentives in our system so that public service is rewarded and special interest manipulation is discouraged. It is a process that begins with a few crucial reforms — reform the election process to reward public service rather than partisan division, reform transportation system policy to serve the entire public by allowing alternative modes and align infrastructure with public needs. Our approach to agriculture should be to revitalize the rural economy and promote environmental stewardship. We should also reform the property tax system to achieve fairness, affordable tax rates, and provide valuable public services.

Use your vote to make a difference

I have designed my campaign around a few important issues and the idea that government should serve the public interest over special interests. Voting for me says you want improvements on these issues and a change in government philosophy. Whatever your opinion may be, the more votes for Kevin McCormick for Lieutenant Governor the more likely it becomes that the Texas state government will increase the priority of serving the public.

Regards