Perry Gives Kolkhorst Second Big Endorsement in Two Days

State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst on Tuesday scored the endorsement of Gov. Rick Perry in her bid to succeed Glenn Hegar in the Texas Senate. On Monday, the Brenham Republican earned the backing of Gov.-elect Greg Abbott.

In a statement posted to Kolkhorst's Facebook page, Perry said, "As a hard-working small business owner, Lois Kolkhorst knows the importance of limiting government's influence on the private sector and understands how to balance budgets." A spokeswoman in the governor's office confirmed the endorsement Tuesday afternoon.

Kolkhorst is one of three Republicans and two Democrats running in the Dec. 6 special election to fill the Senate District 18 vacancy left after Hegar was elected earlier this month as the state's next comptroller. Early voting in the contest begins Wednesday. The other two Republicans in the race are Gary Gates and Charles Gregory III and Democrats Cynthia Drabek and Christian E. Hawkins.

Hegar endorsed Kolkhorst for the seat last week.