Dr. Michael “Travis” Stevens, the Republican candidate for the State Board of Education (SBOE) District 1, has recently withdrawn from the Texas First Pledge, which he signed twice. His decision to step away from the pledge, particularly after signing it on two separate occasions, raises serious concerns about his honesty and his ability to stand by commitments made to the people of Texas. These concerns are even more amplified given the crucial role the SBOE plays in shaping the educational future of Texas and preserving the state’s unique history and values.
On January 19, 2024, and again on February 5, 2024, Dr. Stevens signed the Texas First Pledge. This pledge, created for candidates who wish to publicly commit to prioritizing the interests of Texas, is a straightforward document consisting of four key points. These points ask candidates to put Texas and Texans first, uphold Texans’ constitutional right to alter or reform their government and support a referendum on Texas reasserting its status as an independent nation. The language of the pledge is clear, direct, and simple—making Dr. Stevens’ subsequent disavowal particularly troubling.
For transparency, here is the full text of the pledge that Dr. Stevens signed:
- I pledge to place the interests of Texas and Texans before any other nation, state, political entity, organization, or individual.
- I further pledge to uphold the right of Texans under Article 1 Section 2 of the Texas Constitution “to alter, reform or abolish their government.”
- If it is within the powers of my office, I will vote for legislation and resolutions to call for a vote on Texas reasserting its status as an independent nation in every term that I am elected until such a referendum is held.
- If a majority of the people of Texas vote in support of Texas reasserting its status as an independent nation, I pledge to work toward a fair and expedient separation of Texas from the federal government, placing the interests of Texans first.
Despite his previous willingness to commit to these values, Dr. Stevens sent the following email to the Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM) on October 9, 2024:
Email from Dr. Michael “Travis” Stevens:
Back in January I inadvertently signed the Texas First Pledge without fully reading through what I was pledging, or researching what it entailed.
After further review of the Texas First Pledge, I do not feel that I can align myself with the pledge and no longer want to be associated with it. Please remove my profile from your site and subsequently withdraw your endorsement of my campaign. I will also publicly disavow my support of the Texas First Pledge.
Best Regards,
Dr. Michael “Travis” Stevens
SBOE, District 1 Candidate
Dr. Stevens’ claim that he signed the pledge “inadvertently” without fully understanding it is particularly concerning given his candidacy for the State Board of Education, a body responsible for overseeing the education of millions of Texas students. The SBOE determines what is taught in classrooms across the state, including the content of social studies and history curricula. The role of the SBOE is not just to manage education but to protect and promote the heritage and culture of Texas for future generations. For a candidate vying for such a critical position to admit to not reading or comprehending a four-point pledge raises doubts about his capacity to serve effectively.
Dr. Stevens signed the pledge not once, but twice, first in January and again in February. His dual signatures demonstrate that his initial support for the pledge was not a mistake. It seems clear that Dr. Stevens initially embraced the pledge during the Republican primary, likely to garner support from pro-independence voters. However, just weeks before the general election, he is now distancing himself from the commitment, which raises questions about his reliability and willingness to defend Texas’ interests when under pressure.
The timing of his disavowal is worth noting. Texans overwhelmingly support the principles embodied in the Texas First Pledge, particularly the emphasis on state sovereignty and independence. The political environment has not shifted. What has changed is Dr. Stevens’ willingness to stand by his earlier commitments. Just weeks before the general election, his retreat suggests a lack of courage to defend the values he previously claimed to support.
This act of retreat calls to mind the story of Louis “Moses” Rose, the man known for being the sole defender to leave the Alamo before the fateful battle. While many remember the heroic defenders who stood their ground, Moses Rose became a symbol of those who, when faced with the defining moments of history, chose to walk away. Like Rose, Dr. Stevens has walked away from the line he himself agreed to cross when he signed the Texas First Pledge. His decision to back down leaves voters wondering if he will stand firm when critical decisions arise in the future.
The Texas First Pledge is directly aligned with the core mission of the Texas Nationalist Movement: to ensure that Texas and Texans come first, both in policy and in practice. As the SBOE plays a vital role in shaping how future generations understand Texas’ unique history and values, its importance to TNM’s mission cannot be overstated. The SBOE is responsible for deciding what version of Texas history gets taught to our children. It has been a battleground in recent years, with proposals to downplay or alter key aspects of Texas’ heritage, including attempts to remove the word “heroism” when referring to the defenders of the Alamo and to eliminate Texas history as a distinct subject in early education.
In 2018, TNM played a crucial role in defeating a proposal by the SBOE to remove William B. Travis’s famous letter and the word “heroism” from the Texas history curriculum. This was part of a broader effort to “reimagine” the history of the Alamo and marginalize the importance of the Texas Revolution. The TNM mobilized its supporters, clogging phone lines and email inboxes with messages of opposition. Their efforts helped ensure that the proposal was unanimously voted down. This was a victory for preserving the authentic story of Texas independence in our classrooms, and it showed just how critical the SBOE is to protecting our state’s legacy.
More recently, in 2022, the SBOE considered another proposal to eliminate the 4th Grade unit on Texas history, instead integrating it into a broader K-6 curriculum that would marginalize Texas’ unique heritage. Once again, TNM took a stand against this proposal, clarifying that the story of Texas should not be watered down. Preserving Texas history in schools is essential to ensuring that future generations understand the state’s unique place in the world and its ongoing struggle for sovereignty.
Dr. Stevens is running for SBOE District 1, which includes a large and diverse area of Texas. The counties within this district include Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Brewster, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kimble, Kinney, La Salle, Maverick, Medina, Menard, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Reeves, Schleicher, Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Zapata, and Zavala. His role, if elected, would directly influence what students in these counties learn about Texas, its history, and its future. Given his recent actions, there is a legitimate concern about whether he will uphold the values needed to protect Texas history from being diluted.
It is also worth considering that Dr. Stevens is running as a Republican. The Republican Party of Texas has long been a supporter of Texas sovereignty, and this past summer, the party adopted two important platform planks that reaffirm the state’s commitment to defending its sovereignty and preserving the right to self-determination.
Emphasizing State Sovereignty – Plank 20: State Sovereignty
The Republican Party of Texas reinforced Texas’ commitment to its sovereign rights in Plank 20 of its platform. This plank states:
“Pursuant to Article 1, Section 1, of the Texas Constitution, the federal government has impaired our right of local self-government. Therefore, federally mandated legislation that infringes upon the 10th Amendment rights of Texas shall be ignored, opposed, refused, and nullified. Texas retains the right to secede from the United States, and the Texas Legislature should be called upon to pass a referendum consistent thereto and pass the Texas Sovereignty Act as filed in the 88th Legislative Regular Session as HB 384.”
This plank clearly affirms that Texas will defend its rights as a sovereign entity and resist federal overreach that infringes upon the state’s constitutional rights.
Path to Independence – Plank 203: Texas Independence
Another plank, Plank 203, addresses the issue of Texas independence. It outlines a path for Texans to vote on the future of their state:
“The Texas Legislature should pass a bill in its next session requiring a referendum in the next General Election for the people of Texas to determine whether or not the State of Texas should reassert its status as an independent nation. This referendum should be a legislative priority.”
This plank underscores the Republican Party’s commitment to giving Texans the opportunity to decide whether or not Texas should remain part of the United States or pursue a path to independence. Dr. Stevens’ disavowal of the Texas First Pledge directly contradicts the principles laid out in these platform planks. His decision to step back from his earlier commitment raises questions about whether he aligns with the values of the party he represents.
The Texas Nationalist Movement provides the Texas First Pledge to any candidate willing to commit to putting Texas and Texans first. We do not endorse candidates, but we make their commitment to the pledge public and any transgressions against it public. Dr. Stevens voluntarily signed the pledge twice, but now, weeks before the general election, he has chosen to walk away from the principles he previously agreed to. This raises additional concerns about his integrity and reliability.
At the Texas Nationalist Movement, we believe those seeking to represent the people of Texas should stand by their commitments, especially when they align with protecting Texas’ future. The voters of District 1 deserve a representative on the SBOE who will uphold Texas history, defend the state’s sovereignty, and ensure that Texas remains first in both education and governance. Dr. Stevens’ decision to back away from the Texas First Pledge is a message to Texans that he cannot be trusted to do so.
As Texans head to the polls, they should remember the importance of the SBOE in preserving the state’s history and the values we pass on to future generations. Texans deserve leaders who are willing to stand up for the truth, defend the state’s interests, and honor their word. Dr. Stevens has shown that when faced with pressure, he will retreat rather than fight for the principles he once claimed to support.to stand up for the truth, defend the state’s interests, and honor their word. Dr. Stevens has shown that when faced with pressure, he will retreat rather than fight for the principles he once claimed to support.
You can find the Facebook page for the Stevens campaign at this link: https://www.facebook.com/stevensfortxsboe1/
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