Kevin Sparks

American politician

Kevin Sparks

Member of the Texas Senate from the 31st district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 10, 2023
Preceded by	Kel Seliger

Personal details
Born	1963 or 1964 (age 59–60)
Political party	Republican
Residence	Midland, Texas
Education	University of Texas, Austin (BBA)

Kevin Sparks (born 1963/1964),^[1] is an American Republican businessman who is the State Senator for the 31st District, having been duly elected in 2022. The Texas Panhandle and Permian Basin seat, where incumbent Republican Kel Seliger announced his retirement, was effectively won by Sparks after the Republican primary election as he faced no Democratic opponent in the general election.^[2]

Early life and education

Sparks was raised in Midland, Texas, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a business degree.^[1] He received the Eagle Scout rank from the Boy Scouts of America in 1978.^[3]

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.^[4]

Politics

Sparks announced a primary campaign against incumbent Republican Kel Seliger, regarded as a more moderate member of the Republican caucus, in 2022.^[5]^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8]

Election history

2022

Texas's 31st State Senate District Republican primary, 2022^[9]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kevin Sparks	45,867	54.88
	Republican	Tim Reid	19,039	22.78
	Republican	Stormy Bradley	13,573	16.24
	Republican	Jesse Quackenbush	5,101	6.1
Total votes			83,580	100.0

Texas's 31st State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kevin Sparks
Total votes

References

^ ^a ^b Campbell, Bob (November 14, 2021). "Senate race hits warp speed". Odessa American. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^ Kessler, Jack (March 2, 2022). "Kevin Sparks clinches Texas State Senate District 31 seat". KAMR-TV. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^ "Eagle Scout Court of Honor held at First Baptist Church". NewsWest9. May 10, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^ Kessler, Jack (March 2, 2022). "Businessman Kevin Sparks running for Texas Senate District 31". KAMR-TV. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^ Doreen, Stewart (August 13, 2021). "Midland's Kevin Sparks to run for state senate". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^ Svitek, Patrick (October 7, 2021). "Weighing reelection bid, GOP Texas Sen. Kel Seliger confronts redrawn district, Trump endorsement of primary challenger". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^ Johnson, Brad (January 31, 2022). "Oilman Kevin Sparks Emerges as Clear Frontrunner to Succeed Sen. Seliger in West Texas Seat". The Texan. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^ Doreen, Stewart (March 4, 2022). "With Sparks victory, Midland got its regional representative". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^ "County by County Canvass Report - 2022 MARCH 1ST REPUBLICAN PRIMARY" (PDF). Texas Secretary of State. May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.