Got a text message from a friend who’s Republican with the news that Mark Newgent, a former Irvine city council and school board candidate, is running for Congress in CD-3 in Texas. I sent part of the weekend texting varous Orange County GOP leaders to gauge their reaction and the theme was “Texas can have him.”
Newgent is running as an “America First” primary candidate against the district’s incumbent Congressman Keith Self. Not sure you can out-MAGA a MAGA Congressman, but Newgent is going to try.
Some details about the Third District: Texas’s 3rd congressional district is a United States House of Representatives district in suburban and some rural areas north and northeast of Dallas. It encompasses much of Collin County, namely McKinney and Allen, as well as parts of Plano, Frisco, and Prosper. Additionally, the district includes all but the southern portion of Hunt County. The district is also home to a public four-year university, Texas A&M University-Commerce, as well as most of the Collin College campuses. Texas CD-3 is one of the most Republican districts in both Texas and the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The GOP has held the seat since a 1968 special election. Demographically speaking, CD3 is 59.1 percent non-Hispanic White, 15.06 percent Hispanic or Latino (of any race), 13 percent Asian, and 8.9 percent Black or African American.
Self fits right in: He’s a former Army veteran and Collin County judge elected to Congress in 2022. Following the May 2023 Allen Premium Outlets shooting in his district (8 killed), Self faced widespread backlash for comments on CNN dismissing calls for gun control beyond “thoughts and prayers.” He described critics as “people that don’t believe in an almighty God” who controls lives, implying prayer suffices. Self also made news by misgendering Transgender Colleague Rep. Srah McBride in March 2025. As chair of a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee, Self repeatedly referred to Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE, the first openly transgender member of Congress) as “Mr. McBride.” After confrontation from Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA), who invoked “Have you no decency?”, Self adjourned the hearing abruptly.
Self has repeatedly criticized the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) as enriching insurers while burdening Americans with high costs. He opposed extending COVID-era subsidies, arguing they involve fraud and waste. Critics, including local editorials in his district (e.g., TX3DNews), accuse him of lacking a viable replacement plan, warning of higher premiums and coverage losses for Texans if subsidies expire. Some constituents view this as prioritizing ideology over affordable care.Other Controversies
- Quoting Goebbels — In older campaigns (2010) and recent hearings, Self quoted Joseph Goebbels on propaganda lies, drawing Nazi comparisons and bipartisan concern.
- Town Hall Cancellations — Multiple postponements or heated events, often blamed on threats from the “left,” led to accusations of cowardice and unwillingness to face criticism (e.g., Reddit discussions in r/TexasPolitics).
- Hardline Conservative Positions — Involvement in delaying speaker votes, anti-Sharia initiatives, and low environmental scores (e.g., from League of Conservation Voters) draw progressive criticism for extremism.
So Newgent is running against a sitting Congressman who’s record is as bad or worse than Newgent’s own.
Good riddance.