U.S. Rep. Kay Granger of Fort Worth draws a GOP challenger. Is it her biggest test?

Dec. 3--FORT WORTH -- U.S. Rep. Kay Granger might be facing the toughest Republican primary battle she's had since taking office in 1997.

Chris Putnam, a well-funded former Colleyville city councilman, is ready to go head-to-head with Granger, a 76-year-old former Fort Worth mayor, teacher and insurance agent.

This battle for the 12th congressional district is drawing national attention, as many expect it to pit establishment Republicans against their more conservative grassroots counterparts.

And while incumbents generally have an edge in their re-election battles, those races are in no way considered a done deal.

Look at Virginia, where Dave Brat bested Eric Cantor in the 2014 GOP primary, and New York, where Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez beat Joe Crowley in the 2018 Democratic primary.

"Incumbents of both parties are often more vulnerable to challenges by the ideological extremes of their own parties than they are from members of the other party," said Jim Riddlesperger, a political science professor at TCU. "Cantor and Crowley were, like Granger, long-time incumbents in leadership positions in Washington."

This is Granger's first primary challenge since 2012, when she bested Bill Lawrence with more than 80% of the vote.

Granger is known for working behind the scenes to help her district, from spearheading the Panther Island enterprise -- a $1.17 billion project that would reshape the Trinity River north of downtown Fort Worth -- to being a staunch defender of the military and F-35 fighter jets, built in Fort Worth by Lockheed Martin.

An independent review of Panther Island last summer found confusion surrounding the project and suggested changes to the management structure. In October, the Trinity River Vision Authority changed the role of J.D. Granger, the former executive director of the TRVA and the son of Granger.

"The Panther Island issue could become a flash point for a successful challenge," Riddlesperger said.

Granger recently drew national attention when President Trump thanked her for her support during his Oct. 17 rally in Dallas and when she, along with about a dozen other lawmakers, joined him at a World Series game.

Putnam, a TCU graduate who describes himself as having "conservative principles," served one term on the Colleyville City Council and as the city's mayor pro-tem.

His campaign events are drawing enthusiasm and support from grassroots Republicans, who are among the most consistent voters. And he's already raised nearly $500,000 for his congressional bid.

Granger "will have name recognition and the importance of that can't be underestimated," said Rebecca Deen, chair and associate professor at UT Arlington's political science department.

But "if Mr. Putnam is able to get those Republican voters who are frustrated with the Panther Island development and who see Rep. Granger as not sufficiently conservative out to the polls in droves, that might overcome her incumbent advantage."

At stake is a two-year term that pays $174,000 a year. The district includes the western part of Tarrant County, all of Parker County and the eastern part of Wise County.

The challenger

Putnam, who formally filed to challenge Granger on Monday, posted on social media that he has met with many voters who are "hungry for an authentic, unapologetic conservative fighter" to represent the 12th congressional district.

He said he will be a better ally to the president than Granger, who criticized Trump in 2016 and called his comments about groping women "disgusting."

"I'm the only pro-life, pro-wall, anti-corruption conservative Republican in this race," he said in a statement to the Star-Telegram. "We need someone that will stand up to Nancy Pelosi and defend Trump. The choice is clear."

Putnam -- who said he's ready to work to protect the border, lower spending and the debt and more -- has drawn national attention with his bid.

He "running to the right of Granger and is positioning himself as more of an outsider," said Kyle Kondik, managing editor for Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. "In that sense, this challenge fits the mold of many other insurgent primary candidacies against sitting Republican lawmakers. If needed, Granger may be able to get an endorsement from the president, which can be valuable in a GOP primary."

Putnam raised $455,785, which includes a personal $250,000 loan to his campaign, between July 1 and Sept. 30, Federal Election Commissions reports show.

Donors include a number of grassroots Republicans, such as state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, and Julie McCarty, who heads the tea party group that has renamed itself the True Texas Project.

Records show he has $448,110 in cash on hand.

"Putnam is relatively close to Granger in terms of cash on hand, which is good for a challenger," Kondik said. "She has been challenged before but Putnam very well may have more potential than her past opponents. That does not necessarily mean she is in serious trouble, though."

The incumbent

Granger, filed for her re-election bid on Nov. 9, is the ranking member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

She is seeking a 13th term and is the only Republican woman representing Texas in Congress.

Granger didn't respond to a request for comment from the Star-Telegram for this story.

She has drawn criticism through the years from those protesting issues ranging from her lack of town halls to the president's policy of separating parents and children along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Last year, she won re-election with 64% of the vote, one of her lower winning percentages since taking office. In 1996, she first won election to the district by besting Hugh Parmer -- a former state senator and mayor from Fort Worth -- and Heather Proffer by claiming 58% of the vote.

Her war chest is low because, since being named the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, she's given money to help other GOP candidates across the country.

Her most recent campaign finance filing shows she received $1 million from donors that include Fort Worth school trustee Tobi Jackson, the Dallas Safari Club political action committee, the Bass Brothers Enterprises Inc. PAC, the Lockheed Martin Corporation Employees PAC and more.

The filing also shows she transferred $435,000 to authorized committees and has $562,887 in cash on hand -- just a little more than Putnam has raised . The filing reflects donations between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30.

"The real question for Rep. Granger will be whether she can amp up her fundraising to offset the money she's contributed to the RNC and other Republicans around the country," Deen of UTA said.

"That was money well invested in terms of securing the top spot on the Appropriations committee, but if Mr. Putnam is able to put the money he has raised to good use in his campaign, she will need funds to combat those efforts."

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