Rand Paul Endorses Stickland

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul has taken interest in a Texas state House race.

Paul, R-Ky., has endorsed fellow Tea Party supporter Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, in his re-election bid in House District 92, according to a video greeting scheduled to be played Saturday at a Stickland fundraiser.  

“I want to congratulate you on electing Jonathan before, and hope you re-elect him again,” Paul said in the video. “I also want to congratulate Jonathan on being rated the most conservative member of the state House.”

Paul, whose brother Robert now lives in Fort Worth, grew up 300 miles southeast in Lake Jackson.

Andy Cargile, a local school board trustee and retired high school principal, is challenging Stickland in a race that has drawn attention because it pits Tea Party backers against Cargile's mainstream Republican supporters.

Cargile drew major endorsements this week from the Texas Association of Realtors and the Texas Municipal Police Association, but he trails in fundraising, according to this week's filings. 

Stickland reported raising about $188,600 since July, with most coming from his July 29 “Defend Texas Liberty Moneybomb.” He goes into 2014 with nearly $220,000 left in his campaign account. Cargile, meanwhile, raised about $21,400 and has less than $7,800 in his account.