Three years ago, Republican state Reps. Todd Smith and Kelly Hancock were on opposite sides of a fight over how to dig the Dallas-Fort Worth area out of gridlock.

Now, as the two men vie for a rare open state Senate seat covering portions of Tarrant and Dallas counties, that disagreement has hardened into a key philosophical divide that supporters on both sides say paints their candidate as the true conservative in the primary race.

Both men have long-standing ties to their House districts. Smith, of Euless, cut his teeth serving on his hometown City Council before advancing to the ...

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