Cullin Knutson
DemocraticQ1 In June 2026, USDA confirmed New World screwworm in Texas livestock for the first time in decades; as of early July, dozens of infestations have been confirmed across South Texas (USDA APHIS , 2026). USDA estimates a full-scale outbreak comparable to past infestations could cost the regional economy billions of dollars (USDA APHIS). What policies, if any, would you support to respond to the current outbreak and improve Texas’s agricultural biosecurity (practices and safeguards that prevent pests and diseases from spreading through livestock populations), and what evidence or considerations would inform that approach?
I would want to fast track the sterile fly facility in South Texas to begin getting the sterile fly into the reproductive cycles as early as possible. This has been shown to be one of the most, if not the top most, preventative measure to protect our livestock and other animals. I would also like to see strict enforcement of animal movement restrictions and reporting to make sure any affected livestock are not continuing to move further into the country. Mostly, I would push for the rehire of Animal and Plant Health Service employees to be reinstated to continue doing the monitoring work that we have seen is necessary to prevent this issue from being in Texas.
Q2 Texas is on track to become the nation’s leading data center market within the next three years (Bloom Energy, 2026). The state’s grid operator has more than doubled its 2030 forecast for data center power demand over the past year (ERCOT, 2025). Such growth brings economic opportunity while placing significant demands on water, land, and energy systems, raising questions about tax incentives, utility costs, and local community impacts. What policies, if any, would you support around water/energy allocation, tax incentives, or utility costs for data center development in Texas, and what evidence informs that position?
I would like to see a halt to the currently proposed data centers in their current form. I do not believe the necessary studies (environmental, feasibility, and impact) are currently being conducted, and this information needs to be transparently shown to the residents in the communities looking to implement data centers. I am not in support of the current structure, as the demand on water and property are extensive and the value to the communities has yet to be seen. With Texas, especially our panhandle, prone to drought, and an aquifer that is recharging well below the rate of depletion, I think that this area of the country is not well suited for these investments. We rely on water for agriculture and livestock, and with the beef capital of the world in my district, we need to maintain our water in our communities. I also believe the 1904 rule of capture law needs to be evaluated, as this law is well over 100 years old and does not meet the needs of the current times.
Q3 Texas faces flooding while simultaneously experiencing water scarcity driven by drought, groundwater depletion, and population growth (TWDB, 2024). Hundreds of Texas waterways are listed as impaired for bacteria, mercury, and other pollutants, threatening water quality for communities across the state (TCEQ, 2024). Agriculture is the largest consumer of the state’s groundwater, yet it is also well positioned to be a valuable partner in conservation efforts. What policies, if any, would you support to improve Texas’s water infrastructure, and what considerations would guide your approach to the state’s agricultural economy?
I am of the firm belief that we need to implement bold action to solidify Texas water. I would be supportive of desalinization efforts, and investments into technology to better equip every part of Texas with clean water. I also believe that there should be locally controlled MUDs and Water development boards in place to study and implement new strategies to guide usage and replenishment with state investments to implement these policies.
Q4 The Texas power grid continues to face strain from extreme heat and increasing demand, including from data centers. What policies, if any, would you support to improve grid reliability for Texas consumers and businesses?
Well, for one, I would not allow any new data centers to connect to this grid, as the strain is already present and the addition of these folks would not aid in the struggle. However, in the region of Texas that I live, we are on the Southwest Power Pool (SPP). This grid is more heavily regulated and less decentralized, which has provided the benefit that during winter storm Uri, our panhandle communities were largely powered and more stable than those communities tied to ERCOT. I would like to see a more reliable system like the one our panhandle communities rely on.
Q5 Texas universities and hospitals receive approximately $1.9 billion annually in NIH funding across 118 research sites, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and driving medical and scientific innovation (FASEB, 2025). NIH grants reimburse institutions for both direct research costs and indirect costs, the facilities, administration, and support infrastructure that make research possible. A 15% indirect cost cap proposed by NIH in 2025, currently blocked by federal courts, would sharply reduce this reimbursement below the rates Texas institutions have negotiated, cutting an estimated $300 million in annual support that institutions would need to absorb or backfill (Kamerlin & Elias, 2025). What policies, if any, would you support at the state or federal level to protect the long-term stability of Texas’s research infrastructure, and why?
This would be something that a Federal Candidate would have more experience in answering, as the NIH reports to congress. That said, I do not want to see a cap of this type set, in fact, I want to see more investment into research infrastructure. If this were to pass, I would want to work with my friends in the legislature to see how we could implement this funding to assist with the gap NIH is proposing to create.
Q6 Texas kindergartners’ measles vaccination rate fell to 93.24% in the 2024-2025 school year, a decline from prior years amid a national resurgence (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2025). That year, Texas recorded 762 confirmed measles cases, including the deaths of two unvaccinated school-age children, in the state’s largest outbreak since 1992 (Texas DSHS, 2025). Measles can cause serious complications: roughly 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who contract it are hospitalized, and it can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling, or death (CDC). As a policymaker, how do you approach engaging with communities that have concerns about infectious disease outbreaks and vaccine safety, and what policies, if any, would you support related to these issues, and why?
Vaccines work, and we must dispel any rumor that they do not. I would want to see more accountability from those who elect not to participate in the recommended vaccine schedule, and make sure that we are protecting the vulnerable who are unable to receive these vaccines regardless of desire. I trust science, I trust medicine, and I will work to uphold the standards that have proven to be effective.
Q7 Scientific evidence is generated through the systematic testing and evaluation of ideas. It provides knowledge the helps us understand the world and predict the likely consequences of different choices, such policy making related to public health, energy, agriculture, and environmental regulation. What role, if any, should scientific evidence and expert input play in your policymaking process, and how would you evaluate competing or uncertain scientific claims when making policy decisions? What role, if any, should that process play when scientific consensus and public opinion diverge?
There have been times where the public opinion and the science were at odds, and this will happen again. I believe that educating people, being transparent, and providing fact based evidence to people will always be the best path to dispel fake news of any kind. I believe in science, and believe that we should use all available data to make informed choices, even if the public opinion differs.