| Occupation: | Real estate |
| Alma Mater: | Rogers State University |
| Residence: | Richmond, Texas, U.S. |
| Children: | 13 |
| Spouse: | Melissa |
| Birth Name: | Gary Wilton Gates Jr. |
| Party: | Republican |
| Preceded: | John Zerwas |
| Term Start: | January 29, 2020 |
| District: | 28th |
| State: | Texas |
| State House: | Texas |
| Gary Gates | |
| Website: | Campaign website |
Gary Wilton Gates Jr. (born July 22, 1959) is a Texas businessman and a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for House District 28, which is located in Fort Bend County in the southwest Houston metro area.[1] [2]
On January 28, 2020, Gates won the special runoff election for Texas House District 28. He defeated the Democrat, an educator, Elizabeth A. "Eliz" Markowitz of Katy, Texas, by 58% of the vote to 42%, a 16-point win that has been characterized as an "easy win".[3] [4] Saying the district was a bellwether, Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren endorsed Markowitz; and Mike Bloomberg and Julian Castro endorsed Markowitz and block walked for her, attempting to flip the district and defeat Gates.[5] [6] Former U.S. Senate nominee and presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke knocked on doors and rallied canvassers.[7] [8] The race was Gates' seventh run for political office.[8]
After the election, the Republicans criticized the Democrats as overplaying their hand in the Gates special election; while the Democrats pointed to unique aspects of the campaign, specifically Gates' ability to self-fund his campaign.[3] Gates spent about $1.8 million of his own money on the campaign.[9] Markowitz was given political donations from Forward Majority for $420,000, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee for $170,000, and State Representative Celia Israel's Texas House Democrat Campaign Committee of $120,000.[10]
Turnout for the special runoff election was very high and possibly historic since there were over 30,000 voters, a 20 percent turnout which is the highest in Texas since at least 1992.[11] Gates defeated a Republican opponent, small business owner Michelle D. "Schell" Hammel of Katy, in the March 3, 2020 primary, receiving 95% of the vote.[12] [13] Gates will face Markowitz again in November 2020 in the general election.[12] [3]
Gates supports a ban on Democrats being given committee chairmanships as long as the Republicans hold the majority of seats.[14]
Gates lives in Richmond, Texas, a suburb of Houston southwest of the city, with his wife, Melissa, and his 13 children, of whom 11 are adopted.[15] [16]