A pastor whose daughter was killed during a mass shooting in his Texas church is planning to run against a Democrat state senator.

The pastor of the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Frank Pomeroy, announced he is running for Texas Senate on Sunday and is vying for the seat currently held by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, Dallas News reported.

Pomeroy’s 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle, was among the 26 people killed in November 2017 when a gunman opened fire, injuring another 20 in the congregation. The pastor, who was out of town on the fateful day, spent a long period of time in mourning with the torn community.

After filing paperwork with the Texas Ethics Commission last week, Pomeroy made his announcement following a Sunday morning service, saying he would be running for the South Texas Senate District 21 seat as a Republican and challenging Zaffirini, who has held the seat for more than 30 years.

“I have many reasons why not to do this. But I feel like out of duty and out of obedience to what the Lord has called me to do, and then, to use the talents that I just shared with you guys, the talents that God has given me to glorify him. I feel compelled,” Pomeroy said announcing his decision.

“Win or lose or draw, at least I can say I did my part to the best of my ability to bring civility and hopefully intelligent discourse into the political arena,” he added. “If we do what God’s called us to do, he says leave the results to him.”

The pastor was angry over the politicization of the recent mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas, specifically calling out former El Paso congressman and current Democratic presidential candidate, Beto O’Rourke.

“Rather than putting their political ideologies aside for a while, they turn people into political pawns,” he told the Dallas News. “That wasn’t the time in my mind. …Those people need grace, they needed hands, they needed hugs.”

Pomeroy does not believe gun ownership is the problem behind mass shootings like the one that targeted his church, saying “we should continually blame the inanimate object,” and that “we have a heart condition, a character issue and a mental health issue out there that needs to be addressed.”

The gunman in the church massacre was a discharged Air Force airman with mental health issues and a long criminal history.

Pomeroy’s opponent, the first Hispanic woman elected to the Texas state Senate, said she was “surprised” to hear he was running.

“He never ever let on that he was running,” Zaffirini told The Dallas Morning News. “We never discussed it. … So I was somewhat surprised, but it is his right.”

The pastor is planning on running a campaign based on “civility and morality,” noting he would not personally attack Zaffirini.

“In my mind, she’s reaching an age where she’s going to be retiring at some point,” he told The News. “What scares me more than losing Judith, is who would take that position. Because I think Texas is sitting on a precipice right now.”

“If I can bring civility and godliness and help stymie the downward spiral of the great state of Texas, that’s what I am choosing to try to do,” he said at his announcement. “I feel as though morality and integrity is disappearing rapidly and I feel as though as the direction goes, if Texas falls, the country falls, in my opinion.”

The 53-year-old has an uphill battle as he is planning to run in the solidly Democrat district and with an opponent who has been reelected nine times. Though he admitted he is new to the political world, he believes his faith will guide him all the way.

“This is totally out of my wheelhouse,” he said. “But I’m totally trusting the Lord to show me how to do the things I need to do.”

• About
• Latest Posts

Frieda Powers

Senior Staff Writer
Frieda@bizpacreview.com

Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

Latest posts by Frieda Powers (see all)

• 221 DEAD people received federal housing aid in Colorado— Trump admin. demands answers - December 18, 2025
• Cruise Line official pushes back on ‘nonsense’ drink package limit - December 18, 2025
• Border Patrol Chief and progressive mayor clash during street confrontation - December 18, 2025

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.