Overview

• Pierson, a prominent Tea Party activist, defeated Holland in a closely watched runoff.
• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton supported Pierson despite initial hesitation.
• Holland faced backlash for opposing school vouchers and voting to impeach Paxton.
• Pierson's victory signals a shift towards more hard-line conservative policies in Texas.
• With no Democratic opponent, Pierson is expected to win the general election in November.