Hewitt attorney Jon Ker drops out of state senate race after Trump endorses opponent

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Hewitt attorney Jon Ker surprised a group of about 50 supporters Thursday who came to hear his formal announcement that he was entering the District 22 Texas Senate race by declaring that he had changed his mind and would not be a candidate after all.

KWTX reported Tuesday that Ker, 78, a retired Green Beret colonel and decorated combat veteran of two wars, would oppose Jon Gimble and David Cook in the Republican primary to succeed retiring State Sen. Brian Birdwell.

However, also on Tuesday, President Donald Trump threw his support behind Cook, thereby diverting donations from political action committees tied to the president that Ker counted on to fill his campaign coffer.

So with U.S. Congressman Pete Session on board to introduce and endorse Ker at Thursday’s courthouse announcement, the two-time Bronze Star Medal recipient shifted gears and left the race instead of formally jumping in.

“I expected that Trump was going to endorse Cook,” Ker said. “I knew that going into this. So that didn’t bother me, even though Trump’s endorsement is powerful but doesn’t guarantee victory. But when Trump said he would endorse Cook, funds from two PACS with ties to Trump dried up pretty quick and I don’t have that ability to self-fund a campaign like that. So I thought discretion is the better part of valor.”

Ker, 78, said those who donated to his campaign will receive refunds.

He said he will withhold an endorsement of either Gimble or Cook “to see if anybody else is entering the race.”

Ker pledged to “make Texas Texas again” and help restore traditional Texas values.

Gimble, 48, has served as McLennan County district clerk since 2015 and was the first Republican elected to that position. He resigned his office to run for the Senate.

Cook, 53, of Mansfield, is serving his third term in House District 96 and ran for House speaker before this past legislative session.

Senate District 22 includes all of Bosque, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Ellis, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, McLennan and Somervell counties and portions of Ellis and Tarrant counties. Birdwell, R-Granbury, has represented the district since 2010.

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Pledging to “make Texas Texas again,” Hewitt attorney Jon Ker, a decorated Green Beret combat veteran of two wars, is joining the Republican primary race to succeed State Sen. Brian Birdwell.

Ker, 78, the recipient of two Bronze Star Medals, is set to formally announce his candidacy for the State Senate 22 seat at 10 a.m. Thursday on the steps of the McLennan County Courthouse. U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions is scheduled to introduce Ker Thursday morning and is endorsing Ker in the race, Ker said.

Ker joins McLennan County District Clerk Jon Gimble, 48, and State Rep. David Cook, 53, of Mansfield, in the March primary contest to replace the retiring Birdwell.

Ker said his campaign will focus on duty, integrity and service.

“The first thing is I will work to make Texas Texas again,” Ker said. “There are all these outside influences trying to invade our area and go against our traditional Texas values, and I will work to see that Texas remains true to Texas.”

Ker served as former McLennan County Republican Party chairman from 2016 to 2020 and said he would like to continue his decades of service to Texas and the nation that he exemplified as a Green Beret, a party leader and as an attorney for almost 50 years.

Ker is a retired Green Beret colonel who saw combat in Vietnam in 1969 and in Iraq in 2003 and 2004. He has two Combat Infantry Badges, a U.S. and South Korean Master Parachutist Badge and other commendations.

His last official duty assignment was as a staff member of the U.S. War College Strategic Studies Institute in Pennsylvania. He retired in 2006 after 39 years and seven months of military service.

“So duty is real high on my priority list,” Ker said. “I have put my life on the line twice to serve this nation. I have represented this senatorial district as State Executive Committee committeeman, and this district knows me. If elected, I will serve in that office with integrity.”

Senate District 22 includes all of Bosque, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Ellis, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, McLennan and Somervell counties and portions of Ellis and Tarrant counties. Birdwell, R-Granbury, has represented the district since 2010.

Ker acknowledges that he and Gimble will split the Republican vote in McLennan County and possibly help Cook, who is backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

“Jon is my friend,” Ker said. “He will be my friend throughout the race and he will be my friend after. We are going to split the county vote here, and I know that. But that’s part of running for office. You expect you are going to split the vote.”

Gimble, 48, has served as district clerk since 2015 and was the first Republican elected to that position.

Cook is serving his third term in House District 96 and ran for House speaker before this past legislative session.

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