Dan Flynn
Dan Flynn (Republican Party) was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 2. He assumed office in 2003. He left office on January 11, 2021.
Flynn (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 2. He lost in the Republican primary runoff on July 14, 2020.
Flynn ran in one of 48 contested Texas state legislative Republican primaries in 2018. To read more about the conflict between Republican factions in the primaries, including who the factions were, which races were competitive and who key influencers lined up behind, click here.
Flynn died on October 28, 2022.[1]
Biography
A graduate of McCallum High School in Austin, his professional experience included working as a businessman and rancher. Flynn also worked in consultant/member relations for the American Bankers Association, as the owner/publisher of Area Dispatch, as a senior management financial consultant for BHL and Associates, and as the president/chief executive officer of the Merchants Financial Corporation. Flynn previously served as the vice chairman of the House Financial Institutions Committee on the State Affairs Committee.[2][3]
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Flynn was assigned to the following committees:
- Defense & Veterans' Affairs Committee, Chair
- House Administration Committee
- Pensions, Investments and Financial Services Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Defense & Veterans' Affairs |
| • Pensions, Chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Flynn served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Investments & Financial Services |
| • Pensions, Chair |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Flynn served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Homeland Security & Public Safety |
| • Investments & Financial Services, Vice chair |
| • Transparency in State Agency Operations (Select), Co-Chair |
2011-2012
Flynn served on the following Texas House of Representatives committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Defense & Veterans' Affairs |
| • Homeland Security & Public Safety |
2009-2010
| Texas committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Border & Intergovernmental Affairs, Vice chair |
| • Pensions, Investments & Financial Services |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2020
See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 2
Bryan Slaton defeated Bill Brannon in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 2 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Bryan Slaton (R) | 81.3 | 63,074 |
 | Bill Brannon (D) | 18.7 | 14,514 | |
| Total votes: 77,588 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 2
Bryan Slaton defeated incumbent Dan Flynn in the Republican primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 2 on July 14, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bryan Slaton | 61.1 | 9,772 |
 | Dan Flynn | 38.9 | 6,229 | |
| Total votes: 16,001 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 2
Bill Brannon advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 2 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bill Brannon | 100.0 | 4,408 |
| Total votes: 4,408 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 2
Incumbent Dan Flynn and Bryan Slaton advanced to a runoff. They defeated Dwayne Collins in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 2 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dan Flynn | 44.8 | 12,246 |
| ✔ | | Bryan Slaton | 36.1 | 9,889 |
 | Dwayne Collins | 19.1 | 5,223 | |
| Total votes: 27,358 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
2018
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 2
Incumbent Dan Flynn defeated Bill Brannon in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 2 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dan Flynn (R) | 80.0 | 45,843 |
| Bill Brannon (D) | 20.0 | 11,432 | |
| Total votes: 57,275 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 2
Bill Brannon advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 2 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bill Brannon | 100.0 | 2,178 |
| Total votes: 2,178 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 2
Incumbent Dan Flynn defeated Bryan Slaton in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 2 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dan Flynn | 51.7 | 11,803 |
| Bryan Slaton | 48.3 | 11,013 | |
| Total votes: 22,816 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Overview of 2018 Republican primaries
The 2018 Texas state legislative Republican primaries featured conflict between two factions. One group was opposed to House Speaker Joe Straus (R) and his preferred policies on issues like education financing and property taxes. The anti-Straus wing included members of the Texas Freedom Caucus and organizations such as Empower Texans and Texas Right to Life. The other group was supportive of Straus and his policy priorities. The pro-Straus wing included incumbent legislators allied with Straus and organizations such as the Associated Republicans of Texas and the Texas Association of Business. To learn more about these factions and the conflict between them, visit our page on factional conflict among Texas Republicans.
The primaries occurred on March 6, 2018, with runoffs on May 22, 2018. There were 48 contested state legislative Republican primaries, outnumbering contested primaries in 2016 (43) and 2014 (44). To see our full coverage of the state legislative Republican primaries, including who key influencers were backing and what the primaries meant for the 2019 House speaker's race, visit our primary coverage page.
The charts below outline the March 6 primary races for the state Senate and the state House. They show how the factions performed on election night.
| Texas Senate Republicans | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Before March 6 primaries | After March 6 primaries | |
| Pro-Straus | 2 | 1 | |
| Anti-Straus | 1 | 3 | |
| Unknown | 3 | 3 | |
| Open seats | 1 | - | |
| Runoffs | - | - | |
| Too close to call | - | - | |
| Total | 7 | 7 | |
| Texas House Republicans | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Before March 6 primaries | After March 6 primaries | |
| Pro-Straus | 20 | 20 | |
| Anti-Straus | 4 | 9 | |
| Unknown | 2 | 5 | |
| Open seats | 15 | - | |
| Runoffs | - | 7 | |
| Too close to call | - | - | |
| Total | 41 | 41 | |
Primary we watched
This primary was one of 48 we tracked for the March 6 elections.
Did the incumbent file to run for re-election?
| Yes. |
What made this a race to watch?
| The Dallas Morning News identified this Republican primary as potentially competitive. According to the Dallas Morning News, conservative groups targeted incumbent Dan Flynn, an ally of Speaker Joe Straus who won his 2016 primary by a two-point margin.[4] Bryan Slaton filed to challenge Flynn in 2018. All candidates in this race signed the form committing to vote for the Republican caucus' choice for speaker on the House floor. Endorsements for Slaton
Endorsements for Flynn
|
Campaign finance
2016
Elections for the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 14, 2015.[7]
Incumbent Dan Flynn ran unopposed in the Texas House of Representatives District 2 general election.[8]
| Texas House of Representatives, District 2 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Dan Flynn Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 54,605 | |
| Total Votes | 54,605 | |||
| Source: Texas Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Dan Flynn defeated Bryan Slaton in the Texas House of Representatives District 2 Republican Primary.[9][10]
| Texas House of Representatives, District 2 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Dan Flynn Incumbent |
50.99% | 14,918 | |
| Republican | Bryan Slaton | 49.01% | 14,337 | |
| Total Votes | 29,255 | |||
Primäre
Flynn has received the endorsements of the following state professional groups:[11]
- Texas Farm Bureau Ag Fund
- Texas State Association of Fire Fighters
- National Rifle Association
- Texas State Rifle Association
- Texas State Teachers Association
Meanwhile, Slaton has received the endorsements of the following state conservative groups:[12][13]
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
- Texas Right to Life
- Empower Texans
- Concerned Women for America
- Texas Home School Coalition
- Grassroots America We the People (GAWTP)
Flynn and Slaton have sparred over who is more conservative on the issues. Flynn has touted his work on increasing border security to help stop illegal immigration and helping fund highway projects in District 2. Slaton has indicated that Flynn's voting record has become less conservative over time. "He’s been there quite a long time, and the longer you stay there, the more likely your voting record is to change," said Slaton.[13]
2014
Elections for all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. Those candidates who did not receive 50 percent or more of the vote in their party primary on March 4 faced an additional May 27 primary runoff. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013. Dan Flynn was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[14][15][16]
2012
Flynn ran in the 2012 election for Texas House of Representatives, District 2. Flynn defeated George Alexander in the May 29 primary election and was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[17][18]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Dan Flynn Incumbent |
59.5% | 11,070 |
| George Alexander | 40.5% | 7,532 |
| Total Votes | 18,602 | |
2010
Flynn won election unopposed to the District 2 seat in the November 2 general election.[18]
In the March 2 primary election, Flynn defeated his Republican primary opponent Richard Linkenauger by a margin of 10,841-5,754.[18]
| Texas House of Representatives, District 2 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Dan Flynn (R)
|
26,604 | 100% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Flynn won re-election to the Texas House of Representatives from Texas' 2nd District, defeating Michael French (L). Flynn received 39,258 votes in the election while French received 6,906 votes.[18] Flynn raised $238,037 for his campaign.[19]
| Texas House of Representatives, District 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Dan Flynn (R)
|
39,258 | 85.04% | ||
| Michael French (L) | 6,906 | 14.95% | ||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Dan Flynn did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2012
Flynn's campaign newsletter highlighted the following campaign themes:
- "It is my pledge and desire to continue to improve Texas and maintain our position as the leader of the nation by promoting sound social and economic policy. I will continue to be guided by the wishes and desires of the residents of House District 2 and the State holding to the conservative principles I believe will best benefit all the citizens of Texas and their families."
Noteworthy events
 |
University of Texas regent investigation
- See also: Wallace Hall impeachment trial
Flynn was one of the eight members of the Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations when it oversaw the investigation into a possible impeachment of University of Texas Regent Wallace Hall in 2013 and 2014. On August 11, 2014, the transparency committee voted 6-1 to censure Hall as opposed to impeaching him.[20][21] He was the first regent to have been censured by a committee of the Texas State Legislature.[22]
After he was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry (R) in 2011, Hall began looking into what he believed to be clout abuses within the University of Texas system. Hall investigated the university's forgivable-loans program, admissions policies, and preferential treatment to politically-connected individuals.[23] Hall, as an individual citizen and a regent, filed public information requests with the University system. In June 2013, the transparency committee began investigating whether Hall revealed protected information about students and exceeded his role as a regent in requesting large amounts of information.
Some supporters of the investigations into Hall, including state Rep. Lyle Larson (R), a member of the transparency committee, argued that Hall's actions were politically motivated. Others, such as University of Texas, Austin Public Information Office attorney Carol Longoria, said that his records requests were unreasonable and may have violated students' privacy.[24][25][26]
Critics of the proceedings, including Gov. Rick Perry and Hall, argued that legislators' efforts to remove Hall from office were politically motivated and that Hall acted in the best interest of the state in his efforts to investigate potential abuses. Several legislators were named in investigations into possible political favoritism in the University of Texas admissions process.[27][28]
In February 2015, an independent report by Kroll Associates, commissioned by the Regents Board, stated that there was a "pattern of special treatment for well-connected applicants to UT." While the report did not show evidence of any quid pro quo, it said that "extra acceptances were extended every year to accommodate special cases" and that the "President’s Office ordered applicants admitted over the objection of the Admissions Office."[29]
In March 2015, the Travis County Grand Jury concluded a six-month investigation into Hall, deciding not to pursue criminal charges against him but recommending that the state remove him from office. The jury stated that Hall's open records request deadlines were unreasonable and that he released confidential student information to the attorney general's office and his lawyer.[30] The state did not remove Hall from office; his term expired in February 2017.
Read more about the investigations into Hall's information requests and Hall's investigations into alleged clout abuses here.
Debt negotiations
Flynn was one of the members of a bipartisan group organized by the National Conference of Legislatures called the Task Force on Federal Deficit Reduction (TFFDR). Consisting of 23 state lawmakers from 17 states,[31] the group went to Capitol Hill on September 21, 2011, to urge the Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to cut the nation's debt but not impose severe budget cuts on the states.
TFFDR urged the Committee to consider new revenue as a possibility, instead of just focusing on budget cuts as House Speaker John Boehner has proposed. The group specifically proposed passage of the "Main Street Fairness Act," which would allow states to tax online retailers.[32]
Debates
2012
- On May 8, the District 2 Republican candidates participated in a debate sponsored by the Hunt County African American Leadership Conference and the Texas A&M University-Commerce Colony of Phi Iota Alpha. Audio of the debate can be found here.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Texas scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].
2020
In 2020, the Texas State Legislature was not in session.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Texas State Legislature was in its 86th legislative session from January 8 through May 27.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Texas State Legislature was in its 85th legislative session from January 10 through May 29. A special session was held from July 18 to August 15.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Texas State Legislature was in its 84th legislative session from January 13 through June 1.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Texas State Legislature was in its 83rd legislative session from January 8 through May 27. Thirty minutes after the regular session ended, Governor Rick Perry called legislators back for a special session starting that evening.[33] Two additional called sessions were held from July 1 through July 30 and July 30 through August 5.[34]
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the Texas State Legislature was in its 82nd legislative session from January 11 through May 30. A special session was called for May 31 through June 29.[34]
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Flynn was married to his wife, Susan.[35]
See also
2020 Elections
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Campaign website
- Personal Facebook page
- Personal Twitter page
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004 ,2002, 1998
- Texas State Directory - Dan Flynn
- Texas Tribune profile & bio
- Vote-TX.org profile
- State Surge profile
Footnotes
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Dan Flynn, who served 18 years in the Texas House, has died at 79," October 28, 2022
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Representative," accessed May 24, 2014
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 24, 2014
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedNFIB - ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 14, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2016 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History results," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Dan Flynn, "Endorsements," January 14, 2016
- ↑ Bryan Slaton, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Texas Tribune, "Rep. Dan Flynn Faces Challenger From the Right," February 18, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current ELECTION HISTORY," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ The Libertarian Party of Texas, "2014 Texas Representative Candidate List," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ Green Party of Texas, "Greens Release Candidate List," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History," accessed February 17, 2014
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Office of the (Texas) Secretary of State, "Race Summary Report," accessed July 12, 2012
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Candidate funds," accessed May 24, 2014
- ↑ Dallas Morning News, "Panel censures but doesn’t impeach UT Regent Wallace Hall," August 11, 2014
- ↑ Austin American-Statesman, "Panel censures UT Regent Wallace L. Hall Jr.," August 11, 2014
- ↑ Austin Business Journal, "A first: UT regent censured," August 11, 2014
- ↑ American Spectator, "Transparency for Thee," October 25, 2013
- ↑ Dallas Morning News, "UT regent sought 800,000 documents, official says in impeachment hearing," October 22, 2013
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "Pitts denounces UT regent’s document requests," October 22, 2013
- ↑ Alcalde, "Legislator urges Regent to resign," November 8, 2013
- ↑ Statesman, "Grand jury won’t indict UT Regent Wallace Hall but condemns his actions," updated September 25, 2018
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Transparency Committee Votes to Censure UT Regent Hall," August 11, 2014
- ↑ Wall Street Journal, "Texas Admissions Rumble," February 12, 2015
- ↑ Statesman, "Grand jury won’t indict UT Regent Wallace Hall but condemns his actions," updated September 25, 2018
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Task Force on Federal Deficit Reduction," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Stateline, "State legislators want revenue on table in debt talks," September 22, 2011
- ↑ kten.com, "Texas Lawmakers To Tackle Redistricting In Special Session," May 29, 2013
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Legislative reference Library of Texas, "Texas Legislative Sessions and Years," accessed June 13, 2014
- ↑ Dan Flynn Campaign, "About Dan," accessed February 22, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dan Flynn (R) |
Texas House District 2 2003-2021 |
Succeeded by Bryan Slaton (R) |
| |||||||||||||||||||
