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Candidate

Thurman Bill Bartie

Democrat

Former Mayor of Port Arthur

Thurman Bill Bartie is a lifelong Port Arthur resident who served as the city's mayor from 2019 to 202513. He has worked as a funeral director, teacher and pastor, and was elected justice of the peace in Jefferson County in 19941. He won the Democratic nomination for the 14th District in a May 26, 2026 runoff1.

Where they stand

  • Healthcare: Keep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is broken Said · high confidence
    • His campaign website says he supports strengthening and restoring the Affordable Care Act. (2026) source
    • Told Ballotpedia he supports healthcare access for every American through complete funding of the Affordable Care Act. (2026) source
  • Trade and tariffs: No single answer fits; see the evidence below. Said · medium confidence
    • His campaign website says affordability requires policy that rolls back tariffs, which he says have raised prices. (2026) source
  • Immigration: No single answer fits; see the evidence below. Said · medium confidence
    • His campaign website says the immigration system has failed, criticizes spending on mass deportation, and calls for humane immigration reform. (2026) source

No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Abortion, Guns, Foreign policy, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.

Record

  • Elected Justice of the Peace, Precinct 8, Jefferson County, in 19941.
  • On April 16, 2004, a review tribunal appointed by the Texas Supreme Court upheld the State Commission on Judicial Conduct's findings that he used obscene language in court, failed to follow the law, attempted to interfere with a lawful arrest, and used physical punishment on juveniles in truancy cases, and ordered him removed as justice of the peace and barred from holding judicial office in Texas4.
  • Elected mayor of Port Arthur in 2019 and served two terms, leaving office in 2025 because of term limits13.
  • Won the Democratic primary runoff for the 14th District on May 26, 2026, with 51.0% of the vote over Richard Davis1.

Last reviewed 2026-09-27. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.

Sources

  1. Thurman Bill BartieBallotpedia (Candidate Connection survey and campaign website excerpt)
  2. Thurman "Bill" Bartie, People over PoliticsBartie campaign
  3. Former mayor Bartie may seek congressional seatPort Arthur News
  4. In re Thurman Bill Bartie (2004)Texas Review Tribunal, via FindLaw