In Fairview, Evan Hunt Challenges Self on Religion, Reform and Rising Costs

By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews

FAIRVIEW — Evan Hunt, the Democratic nominee for Texas’ 3rd Congressional District, told supporters at a Fairview campaign event that Republican Rep. Keith Self’s focus on religious and cultural disputes was distracting from the concerns voters raise at their doors: schools, health care and household costs.

“The worst thing about this politics of division is it’s also a politics of distraction,” the Democratic congressional candidate said.

Hunt spoke alongside Angie Carraway, the Democratic nominee for Texas House District 89, and Lorie Burch, the 2018 Democratic congressional nominee for TX-03. He outlined his priorities, criticized Self’s record and took questions about debates, national party support and education.

Religious Freedom and the Recall

Hunt criticized Self’s Sharia Free America Caucus and defended Muslim residents as neighbors entitled to constitutional protections.

“What makes America great is not uniformity or conformity. It is freedom,” Hunt said. “The freedom to say what you want to say, to love who you want to love, to worship how you want to worship, and to be who you want to be.”

He linked those concerns to the recall effort following McKinney’s approval of a mosque site plan. Councilmember Geré Feltus, one of the officials targeted, was in the audience, and Hunt thanked her for her service.

“It is uniquely un-American to target people based on their faith,” he said.

Self has described his caucus as a defense of constitutional freedoms. Announcing its formation with Rep. Chip Roy in December 2025, he characterized Sharia as incompatible with the Constitution. The announcement included proposed restrictions on foreign nationals who adhere to Sharia.

What Hunt Would Pursue

Asked for his top three priorities, Hunt named redistricting reform, congressional term limits and health care.

“I really want to go stop the bleeding first with anti-corruption reforms,” he said.

Hunt proposed restricting redistricting to once every decade following the census. In his speech, he advocated 12-year term limits for the House and Senate and banning lawmakers from trading individual stocks.

On health care, he discussed reducing middlemen, improving price transparency and encouraging competition. He said he wanted to work with experts, including entrepreneur Mark Cuban, and raised a possible public option.

“It’s incredibly complicated, but it’s long overdue,” Hunt said.

On immigration, Hunt called for strong borders while criticizing the administration’s enforcement practices.

“Everybody wants strong borders,” he said. “But they also want to treat people with dignity and respect, in line with our immigrant heritage.”

He proposed directing more funding toward immigration courts to resolve cases faster and prioritizing people who commit serious crimes.

Hunt also raised concerns about data centers’ use of local water and power, surveillance cameras and artificial intelligence. He opposed an AI moratorium but called for safeguards and international cooperation.

“America should take leadership on the national stage,” he said.

He also opposed dismantling the Department of Education and called for federal support for school meals, students with disabilities, facilities and security.

Carraway, a public educator challenging Republican Rep. Candy Noble, spoke about policies affecting her classroom.

“I am a Christian,” she said. “I believe that faith is very personal and should be taught at home, not in my classroom.”

Debate and Campaign Support

Asked why Self would not debate him, Hunt said the incumbent believed he was entitled to the seat.

Self recently told NewsNation, “This is my seat. I’m going to win it.” He also said no “viable organization” had proposed a forum and did not clearly commit to participating.

Hunt blamed Trump’s tariff and war policies for rising costs and accused Self of following party leaders. Self, in the earlier interview, said Republicans needed more time to address inflation and defended his role in pushing legislation toward greater conservatism.

Hunt reported more than 30,000 doors knocked and more than 11,000 individual donors. Asked about Democratic National Committee support, he answered, “Not really,” while crediting the Texas Democratic Party with some assistance.

He urged supporters to contribute through donations, door-knocking and conversations.

“I want your voice more than I want your vote,” he said.

Burch: ‘This Is the Long Game’

Burch endorsed Hunt as someone who listens and cares about constituents, then addressed the discouragement supporters might feel.

Drawing on her experience growing up in Plano, she described being bullied at school and wanting to leave Texas. She later returned to establish her law practice.

“I am not gonna be chased away again,” Burch said.

She urged supporters to keep organizing whether Hunt wins or loses.

“If for some reason Evan does not win this time, what do we do?” she asked. “We keep fighting.”

“If Evan does win, what do we keep doing? We keep fighting. This is the long game.”

Hunt acknowledged the district’s Republican advantage but said the effort mattered.

“The American way is doing the right thing, even when it’s hard,” he said.

Early voting runs Oct. 19–30. Election Day is Nov. 3.