01/12/2026
Updated times:
Herald front (Jan. 15 issue)
Final details released for Saturday’s candidate debate in Canton
DOC COLLINS
Republican Club of Van Zandt County President
The largest political debate of the 2026 State Republican Primary Season will be occurring in Van Zandt County.
Please pay close attention to all the information so you can make plans to attend this once in an election cycle all out debate/forum scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 17 starting at 10:30 a.m. with doors opening at 10 a.m.
It will be held at the Canton Civic Center located at 800 Flea Market Rd. Get there early to get a good seat.
The top of the card begins with the race for U.S. Senate featuring candidate Congressman Wesley Hunt, followed by the Texas Attorney General race between Aaron Reitz (Ken Paxton's endorsed candidate) and Chip Roy (Ted Cruz's endorsed candidate).
It may be better than a 50 percent chance that one of these two will be elected replacing AG Paxton. This is one ‘Show Down at High Noon’ debate you will not want to miss.
The next race will be for Texas Comptroller of Accounts where you will get to hear from Don Huffines, Christi Craddick, and present Controller of Accounts Kelly Hancock.
It continues through the afternoon with candidate for Governor Pete ‘Doc’ Chambers; Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller; Railroad Commissioner candidates Bo French and Jim Matlock; State Board of Education candidates Kason Huddleston and Rachel Hogue; and to finish the top of the ticket will be for Texas District 2 State Senate with Jason Eddington challenging sitting State Senator Bob Hall.
After the morning session, those of you from out of our county may want to excuse yourselves as the voters of VZC continue in the afternoon evaluating all our local county elections which include candidates for VZC Judge Don Good, Chad LaPrade, Andy Reese, Karen Reeves and Jeffry Whitworth; VZC Republican Party Chair candidates Lance Lenz and Tom Duke; VZC Pct. 4 Commissioner candidates Brandon Barton, Ryan Hanson and Dan Marrow; VZC Pct. 4C Chair candidate Gavin Whitaker; VZC Pct. 4E Chair candidates Lori Reese and Jan Box, VZC Pct. 2 Commissioner candidates Cliff Williams, James Warrington, James Cooley, and David Marshall; VZC Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace candidates Mickey Henson and Wade McMillan; VZC Pct. 3 JP candidates Herbert Dunn and Jennifer Taylor; and rounding out the evening will be the important position of VZC Criminal District Attorney with candidates Tonda Curry, Richard Schmidt, and Joseph Secola.
The lower ticket candidates will not be doing more than introductions as they explain their qualifications for the positions they are seeking, however, do expect in-depth debating for VZC Judge, VZC Pct. 2 Commissioner, VZC Pct. 4 Commissioner, and especially for our VZC Criminal District Attorney’s race.
The entire event will be live streamed through the Grand Saline Sun with the taping of the event done by the Erwin Ministries of Edgewood, however, we highly encourage you to attend in person so you can meet the candidates face-to-face and interact with fellow voters.
Below is a posting of the timeline of events which will give you the opportunity to come and go as you please, however, keep in mind there may be last-minute changes due to unforeseen circumstances.
If you do not want to leave the grounds, we have contracted two food trucks with delicious food, snacks and drinks.
For comfort and convenience, we do encourage you to bring your own lawn chairs because we are anticipating a shortage of seats.
I must add kudos for our Republican Club of VZC team that there isn’t a county in Texas the size of ours that has as much positive political activity as VZC.
Oh sure, you can point out lots that could be corrected but we are considered one of the reddest counties in the state.
10 a.m.: Doors open to the public.
10:30 a.m.: Debate opening.
10:45 a.m.: U.S. Senator: Wesley Hunt.
11 a.m.: Attorney General: Aaron Reitz and Chip Roy.
11:30 a.m.: Comptroller: Don Huffines, Christi Craddick, and Kelly Hancock.
12:15 p.m.: Governor: Pete ‘Doc’ Chambers.
12:30 p.m.: Lt. Governor: Perla Hopkins.
12:45 p.m.: Agriculture Commissioner: Sid Miller.
1 p.m.: Railroad Commissioner: Jim Matlock and Bo French.
1:45 p.m.: State Board of Education: Rachel Hogue and Kason Huddleston.
2:15 p.m.: State Senator: Bob Hall and Jason Eddington.
2:45 p.m.: VZC Judge: Don Good. Chad La Prade, Andy Reese, Karen Reeves, and Jeffrey Whitworth.
4:20 p.m.: VZC Republican Party Chair: Lance Lenz and Tom Duke.
4:50 p.m.: VZC Pct. 4 Commissioner: Brandon Barton, Ryan Hanson, and Dan Marrow.
5:30 p.m.: VZC Pct. 4 Chair: Gavin Whitaker.
5:35 p.m.: VZC Pct. 4E Chair: Lori Reese and Jan Box.
5:45 p.m.: VZC Pct. 2 Commissioner: Cliff Williams, James Warrington, James Cooley, and David Marshall.
6:45 p.m.: VZC Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace: Mickey Henson and Wade McMillan.
6:55 p.m.: VZC Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace: Herbert Dunn and Jennifer Taylor.
7:05 p.m.: VZC Criminal District Attorney: Richard Schmidt, Tonda Curry, and Joseph Secola.
8 p.m.: Close debate.
Members of the Republican Club of VZC Debate Committee include the following:
Nancy White, Gina Simmons, Michael Evans, Brad Blakemore, Rob James, Kaleb Irving, Aaron Lloyd, Betsey McCarty, David Roach, Dwayne Collins, and Debbie Decker.
