The position oversees the state’s General Land Office (GLO), which manages public lands and natural resources in Texas and facilitates disaster preparedness and recovery programs.
“I will be running for Land Commissioner with a strong conservative record defending the right to life, our Second Amendment, our invaluable oil and gas industry, and the low tax economy that has made Texas great,” said Buckingham in a press release.
“Conservatives know just how important the Texas General Land Office is. The GLO is responsible for important functions that serve our Texas veterans, school children, and preserving our unique Texas History. It’s my goal as your next Texas Land Commissioner to safeguard the heroes who served in our military, protect our exceptional natural resources, and protect our unique Texas heritage, especially the Alamo.”
Buckingham, an ophthalmologist in Austin, was first elected to the Texas Senate in 2016 after the retirement of Sen. Troy Fraser (R-Austin).
Prior to her tenure in the legislature, Buckingham was a member of the Lake Travis Independent School District, appointed to be the vice chair of the State Board of Educator Certification, and was a public member of the Sunset Advisory Commission — a role she has continued as a senator.
George P. Bush is the current land commissioner, but will be pursuing a different statewide elected role in 2022 — the Texas Attorney General.
Bush launched his primary challenge to the incumbent, Ken Paxton, on Wednesday.
In his role as land commissioner, two notable issues to fall under his purview have been the renovations of the Alamo and managing federal disaster recovery funds for Hurricane Harvey in the Harris County region.
With redistricting expected to take place later this year, all state Senate seats will be on the ballot in 2022.
Buckingham’s run for the GLO means that her current seat — Senate District 24, which includes the southwestern portion of Travis County and several rural counties in the Hill Country and Central Texas — will be open.
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Daniel Friend
Daniel Friend is the Marketing and Media Manager for The Texan. After graduating with a double-major in Political Science and Humanities, he wrote for The Texan as a reporter through June 2022. In his spare time, you're likely to find him working on The Testimony of Calvin Lewis, an Abolition of Man-inspired novel and theatrical podcast.
