We recommend in the race for Texas’ 6th Congressional District

There are many areas where we disagree with U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey, but he has been a consistent conservative voice in a solidly red district. And at times when it mattered most, he stood up to the most extreme voices in the Republican Party.

Particularly in foreign policy, Ellzey has demonstrated a clear understanding of the role America should play on the global stage. We recommend him for re-election to Texas’ 6th Congressional District.

Ellzey, 54, did not respond to our Voter Guide questionnaire and attempts to contact him by phone and email were unsuccessful.

But his interviews and social media presence show he is a congressman aware of the needs of his constituents in a district that includes much of the mostly rural counties, including Anderson, Hill and Navarro, as well as some urban ones and suburban areas in Tarrant and even Dallas County. Still, his record is mixed.

Ellzey helped pass the Water Resources and Development Act and added language to expand the capacity of Aquilla Lake in Hill County, expressing concern about population growth in the region he represents. But he voted against the CHIPS and Science Act, which would bring jobs to the state and much-needed U.S. competitiveness in semiconductor manufacturing.

As a staunch conservative, Ellzey has the potential to bring more bipartisanship to Congress. He is rightly opposed to government shutdowns and supports funding the Ukrainian military to fight the Russian invasion. In an interview with WFAA-TV (Channel 8) earlier this year, he compared that conflict to the Nazi annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938, an event that sparked World War II. His military experience as a Marine pilot in Afghanistan and Iraq is an advantage.

In 2021, we found him to be to the right of this newspaper’s position on immigration, election security and other issues, but we found common ground on tax relief, the national debt, government spending and personal freedom. We stand by this assessment.

Ellzey has been highly critical of President Joe Biden’s border policies and most recently spoke in a social media post about the possible threat from the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, but stuck to the facts and avoided false rhetoric.

Last year, he was one of three Texas Republicans, along with U.S. Reps. Tony Gonzales and Kay Granger, to vote against Jim Jordan, a MAGA loyalist who tried but failed to become speaker of the House.

Democrat John Love III is running against Ellzey.

Love, 56, has experience as a council member in Midland from 2013 to 2020 and has served on statewide committees such as the Border Trade Advisory Committee and president of the Texas Municipal League. While he hasn’t been able to make a convincing case that it’s a better option than the incumbent, we encourage him to view the Texas Legislature as a better choice for his expertise.

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