Texas judge accused of breaking law after asking his university students to vote for him

A candidate running against a Central Texas district judge is accusing her opponent of using his adjunct teaching position at Texas State University to encourage students to campaign and vote for him, violating state law.

According to a letter sent to Texas State President Kelly Damphousse by a lawyer representing Alicia Key, Judge Tanner Neidhardt emailed his students on Oct. 21 asking them to vote for him and to encourage their friends to do so as well.

Any student who helped campaign for him at the on-campus polling location would receive a free campaign t-shirt and pizza, according to a screenshot of the email provided to The Texas Tribune by Key’s attorney, Chevo Pastrano.

“I’ve always told you that you will make a difference in the future of our justice system,” Neidhardt wrote. “In fact, you can make a difference right now. When you support a judge committed to a better justice system, I can keep working to improve it.”


https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/