SAN ANGELO, Texas — As the early voting period neared its conclusion Friday, Rep. Drew Darby stood outside Westlake Ace Hardware in San Angelo - where he had been since before sunrise.
Darby greeted prospective voters and longtime supporters throughout the week outside the polling location, using his SUV's back door for shade as temperatures rose above 90 degrees Tuesday. Ahead of Election Day, private school vouchers remain at the center of the state representative race.
"This whole issue is about do we take public dollars and divert them to private or parochial purposes without the same accountability, without the same testing, without the same transparency (and) without the same open enrollment policy that public schools have," Darby said.
Earlier in the week, former President Donald Trump became the latest prominent Republican to endorse his opponent - business owner Stormy Bradley. In a post to Truth Social, Trump called Darby a Republican-in-name-only.
Darby responded to the criticisms from Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott - who has been at odds with Darby over the latter's lack of support for private school vouchers - by saying he hasn't changed through his time in office.
"My record is consistent," Darby said. "And I have been a strong, fiscally responsible Republican for all of my life."
Outside the polling location, several people stopped, parked and shook hands with Darby. Some told him they had already voted for him. Darby said Friday was the most important day of the early voting period.
Darby also said he believes he and his colleagues can stop any future attempts to pass a voucher bill.
Election Day is Tuesday, Mar. 5.