Changes

==Political life==

==Political life==

In 2014, Watts was defeated for the Republican nomination for Texas land commissioner by [[George P. Bush]] of [[Fort Worth]], son of presidential candidate [[Jeb Bush]], the former [[governor]] of [[Florida]]. George P. Bush polled 934,571 primary votes (73 percent) to Watts' 345,565 (27 percent). Watts received only 36 percent of the ballots cast in his own county of Upshur.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/mar04_169_state.htm?x=0&y=3852&id=407|title=Republican primary election returns|publisher=team1.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=March 6, 2014}}</ref> Bush then defeated the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] John Cook, a former mayor of [[El Paso]]. Watts has been critical of Land Commissioner Bush's out-of-state campaign appearances in 2015 on behalf of Jeb Bush's presidential aspirations. He said that Bush should remain in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] to tend to his elected duties as Watts would have done had he won the 2014 election, rather than campaigning across the country.<ref name=facebook/>

In 2014, Watts was defeated for the Republican nomination for Texas land commissioner by [[George P. Bush]], son of presidential candidate [[Jeb Bush]], the former [[governor]] of [[Florida]]. George P. Bush polled 934,571 primary votes (73 percent) to Watts' 345,565 (27 percent). Watts received only 36 percent of the ballots cast in his own county of Upshur.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/mar04_169_state.htm?x=0&y=3852&id=407|title=Republican primary election returns|publisher=team1.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=March 6, 2014}}</ref> Bush then defeated the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] John Cook, a former mayor of [[El Paso]]. Watts has been critical of Land Commissioner Bush's out-of-state campaign appearances in 2015 on behalf of Jeb Bush's presidential aspirations. He said that Bush should remain in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] to tend to his elected duties as Watts would have done had he won the 2014 election, rather than campaigning across the country.<ref name=facebook/>

Watts sought to succeed Republican Representative David Simpson of Longview, who ran instead unsuccessfully for the Texas State Senate seat vacated by the retiring Republican Kevin Eltife of Tyler. Simpson faced fellow representative [[Bryan Hughes]] of Mineola in the May 24 runoff election.<ref name=longnj/> Known for his constitutional stands, Watts used the slogan "Less Government, More Liberty". He is strongly [[pro-life]] and unwavering in support of the [[Second Amendment]]. He even opposes [[property tax]]es, long a mainstay of local governments in Texas. Watts takes the view that such taxes deny homeowners full possession of their land and dwelling because annual payments must be rendered to city, county, school district, [[community college]], and  various other entities as well. He calls this phenomenon "perpetual rent that you pay to the government for your property, for the rest of your life." Until these taxes can be ended, Watts said legislators must hold appraisal district accountable to voters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wattsfortexas.org/?utm_campaign=thanksgiving&utm_medium=email&utm_source=davidwattsjr|publisher=wattsfortexas.org|title=

Watts sought to succeed Republican Representative David Simpson of Longview, who ran instead unsuccessfully for the Texas State Senate seat vacated by the retiring Republican Kevin Eltife of Tyler. Simpson faced fellow representative [[Bryan Hughes]] of Mineola in the May 24 runoff election.<ref name=longnj/> Known for his constitutional stands, Watts used the slogan "Less Government, More Liberty". He is strongly [[pro-life]] and unwavering in support of the [[Second Amendment]]. He even opposes [[property tax]]es, long a mainstay of local governments in Texas. Watts takes the view that such taxes deny homeowners full possession of their land and dwelling because annual payments must be rendered to city, county, school district, [[community college]], and  various other entities as well. He calls this phenomenon "perpetual rent that you pay to the government for your property, for the rest of your life." Until these taxes can be ended, Watts said legislators must hold appraisal district accountable to voters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wattsfortexas.org/?utm_campaign=thanksgiving&utm_medium=email&utm_source=davidwattsjr|publisher=wattsfortexas.org|title=