Kevin Sparks
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kevin Sparks (born May 10, 1964)[1][2] is an American businessman and politician serving in the Texas Senate for the 31st District since 2023. A Republican, Sparks won the Texas Panhandle and Permian Basin seat unopposed in 2022, where incumbent Republican Kel Seliger announced his retirement.[3]
Kevin Sparks | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Texas Senate from the 31st district | |
| Assumed office January 10, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Kel Seliger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 10, 1964 |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Oil and gas operator |
Website | Campaign website |
Early life and education
Sparks was raised in Midland, Texas, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a business degree.[2] He received the Eagle Scout rank from the Boy Scouts of America in 1978.[4]
Career
Oil
Sparks is president of Discovery Operating, Inc, a family-owned and operated oil and gas company in Midland. He has previously served as a board member of the Natural Gas Producers Association and the Texas Public Policy Foundation.[5]
Politics
Sparks announced a primary campaign against incumbent Republican Kel Seliger, regarded as a more moderate member of the Republican caucus, in 2022.[6][7] He was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, United States Senator Ted Cruz, as well as Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and quickly became the seat's frontrunner after Seliger announced his retirement.[8] He won the Republican primary in March with over 50% of the vote, avoiding a runoff, and faced no Democratic opponent in the general election in November.[9]
Election history
2022
| Primary election | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
| Republican | Kevin Sparks | 45,867 | 54.9 | ||
| Republican | Tim Reid | 19,039 | 22.8 | ||
| Republican | Stormy Bradley | 13,573 | 16.2 | ||
| Republican | Jesse Quackenbush | 5,101 | 6.1 | ||
| Total votes | 83,580 | 100.0 | |||
| General election | |||||
| Republican | Kevin Sparks | Unopposed | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
