The Building Texas Show has launched a new YouTube series titled 'Vote Like A Texan,' designed to help Texans better understand the candidates and issues shaping the state's future. The inaugural episode features Republican congressional candidate Michael Wheeler, who is running for Texas Congressional District 21, discussing fiscal challenges, national security, and the reshoring of American manufacturing.
In the premiere episode, hosted by Justin McKenzie, Wheeler explains his candidacy is driven by significant economic and national security concerns he believes will come to a head over the next five to ten years. With a 25-year background in the bond markets, Wheeler states his expertise is in fiscal matters. His career path shifted after becoming active in the Republican Party, where he served as Kendall County GOP Chair and was elected to the State Republican Executive Committee. He also held a presidential appointment as Senior Advisor at the U.S. Small Business Administration, working specifically on reshoring manufacturing, including critical PPE and semiconductor production.
Wheeler highlights that while District 21 is a strong conservative region spanning Bexar, Kendall, Comal, Kerr, and parts of the Hill Country, local issues often receive less federal attention. He cites the potential relocation of Army North and Army South missions from Fort Sam Houston, Hill Country concerns regarding water and energy infrastructure, and the effects of federally subsidized renewable energy projects as key local challenges. He connects these to the broader national need to defend local economies while boosting supply-chain security.
The series itself, Vote Like A Texan, is an educational media initiative from The Building Texas Show. Host Justin McKenzie emphasizes a core goal is to increase civic participation, particularly in primary elections where candidate selection is effectively decided. McKenzie notes that in many local elections, turnout can be as low as seven percent, yet the decisions made can determine a district's direction for years. Wheeler, reflecting on his time as county chair, agrees, stating that grassroots efforts in volunteer mobilization, outreach, and education significantly improved voter turnout, underscoring that every vote matters.
For business and technology leaders, Wheeler's policy focus on reshoring manufacturing and securing supply chains, particularly in semiconductors, represents a direct intersection of economic policy and national technology strategy. His emphasis on fiscal realities suggests a legislative approach that could impact federal spending, regulation, and support for domestic industry. The launch of the 'Vote Like A Texan' series also signals a growing trend of digital media platforms aiming to inform voter decisions through direct candidate access, potentially influencing the political landscape that governs business and technology policy in Texas and beyond.
