Travis Gibson to run write-in campaign for Precinct 2 county commissioner’s seat

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Despite telling party leaders that he would support the Democratic nominee for Precinct 2 McLennan County commissioner, Travis Gibson has filed to run a write-in campaign for the seat his father held for almost three decades.

Twenty Democratic Precinct 2 chairs in June selected Waco ISD board member Jeremy Davis as the party's nominee to fill the seat left vacant after the January death of Patricia Miller.

The chairs selected the 29-year-old Davis to be on the ballot over Gibson, a nine-year member of the Bellmead City Council and former mayor, and Tracy Guillory, Miller's administrative assistant.

The Republican chairs nominated D.L. Wilson, a retired Department of Public Safety trooper who twice ran against Miller for Precinct 2 county commissioner.

Davis and local Democratic Party Chairman Mark Hayes said they were surprised and disappointed to learn that Gibson was seeking the seat as a write-in candidate, a move that could split party loyalty and potentially improve Wilson's chances to wrest the seat that has been held by Democrats for at least 125 years.

Wilson lost his first contest against Miller 6,016 to 4,573. However, in 2022, Miller won re-election by 239 votes.

Wilson declined comment when asked if Gibson's write-in campaign enhances his chances for victory on Nov. 5.

"I just need to focus on my own race," Wilson said. "It will be difficult if the voters don't come to the polls. I look forward to a spirited race with both candidates and just hope everyone votes their convictions. Working for all of Precent 2 - city, urban and county residents - has always been my message."

Gibson, 53, a special education teacher at University High School, denied characterizations from both Hays and Davis that he "pledged" to support the Democratic nominee, no matter who it was.

"I didn't pledge," Gibson said. "At the time, I said I would support the nominee. But I changed my mind, and I have every right to change my mind."

Gibson filed to run against Miller in 2018. However, he said he withdrew from the race then in deference to Miller's candidacy. Miller was a longtime administrative assistant for Gibson's father, Lester Gibson, the first Black elected to the McLennan County Commissioners Court. Gibson, who held the Precinct 2 seat for 28 years, died in June 2022 at the age of 73.

Hays said Gibson has a right to change his mind, adding that write-in candidates in general are not successful and he doesn't think Gibson's decision will help sway the election in Wilson's favor.

"Before the nominee was selected, the three candidates repeatedly pledged to support the nominee at the public forums we held before and then at the nominating meeting," Hays said. "Each candidate pledged to support the nominee, and when Travis decided to run as a write-in, he is going back on his promise, and of course, that doesn't make us happy."

Gibson said he thought about the possibility of his write-in campaign diluting the Democratic voting pool. But he said he has community support to run and said he thinks it's important to give voters choices.

"We are a representative democracy," Gibson said. "So the people want to have a say so and they want to have a say so in electing who they want to elect. I know it's the road less traveled, but everything I have gotten, I had to earn."

Davis, founder of Mentor Waco, said he is stressing party loyalty in his campaign and asking voters to support him as the party nominee.

"I thought his decision was interesting," Davis said. "I know as we went through the process, we made a commitment to our constituents in the Democratic Party that no matter who was victorious, that we would throw our support 100 percent behind the nominee. I think it was shocking that it was not followed through with.

"But as the nominee, I intend to do everything I can to make sure that our precinct has the best representation that they can get, and I believe that is myself as the Democratic nominee. I am not thrilled that he decided to file as a write-in candidate. But my focus has not been on his decision, but making sure we are victorious in November, we being the Democratic party," he said.

Precinct 2 covers parts of East Waco, Bellmead, Mart, Axtell, Riesel and Hallsburg.

The winner of the November election will fill Miller's unexpired seat and must run again in the March 2026 primary to retain the post.