State Rep. Jay Dean’s GOP primary challenger files defamation lawsuit related to his campaign claims

Published 5:00 am Saturday, February 21, 2026

State Rep. Jay Dean’s Republican primary opponent has filed a defamation lawsuit against him, claiming he falsely accused her of wanting to eliminate the state’s teacher retirement system.

Melissa Beckett filed the suit this week against Dean, R-Longview, in Gregg County’s Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Court. Beckett is seeking an unspecified amount of damages, though JP courts can handle cases involving $20,000 or less.

The lawsuit came one day after early voting began for the March 3 primary for the House District 7 race and other county, state and federal offices. 

The lawsuit accuses Dean of stating on social media that Beckett wants to eliminate the Texas Teacher Retirement System (TRS), a claim Beckett said has damaged her reputation and influenced voters. The lawsuit states Dean’s actions amount to defamation with actual malice. 

“He is using teachers to win an election,” Beckett told the Longview News-Journal on Thursday. “He is stirring up anxiety and fear in an entire voting block. And that, more than anything, really angers me because they don’t deserve that.”

Dean said Thursday that he has not seen the lawsuit yet but is not concerned about it. 

“Everything I’ve said is the truth,” he said. “They do the same thing, the Democrats, to our President Trump. When they can’t beat him on policy, they can’t beat him at the ballot box, they make up lawsuit after lawsuit against him. That’s all this particular situation is.”

On Feb. 16, Dean made a post on his official Facebook page that includes a screenshot of a December post from Texas Education 911, a parental rights advocacy organization that Beckett founded.

Beckett has not been a part of the organization or its social media posts since 2023, she told the News-Journal, though the organization has endorsed her for election. 

The Texas Education 911 post from December read: “If Public Education were genuinely DOGEd, we could cut so much waste and return the money to the people. Maybe it’s time to retire the TRS and switch to 401Ks.” That post has since been deleted. 

In his Monday Facebook post, Dean included a photo of that post and wrote above it: “Calling for the elimination of TRS isn’t bold – it’s reckless and irresponsible. It threatens the financial security of educators who have dedicated their lives to our kids and our communities. And let’s be clear: (Beckett) knew it was wrong – that’s why she deleted the post. When someone shows you who they are, believe them.”

Although Dean did not name Beckett in his post, he made comments below the post that made clear that he was referring to “his opponent,” according to the lawsuit. 

Beckett commented on the post and said, in part: “I have no desire to touch [teacher] retirement. … Shame on you JAY DEAN!”

Beckett told the News-Journal that she does not support abolishing the retirement system. 

Texas Education 911 commented on Dean’s post and stated Beckett is no longer affiliated with the organization and had nothing to do with the original post or its deletion. 

Beckett’s lawsuit states: “Accusing a candidate of seeking to eliminate TRS would reasonably cause teachers, retirees, and their families to view that candidate as threatening their financial security and retirement benefits.”

According to the lawsuit, Dean commented on his post that he was unaware Beckett was no longer affiliated with Texas Education 911. But after learning that, he continued to say Beckett had suggested eliminating TRS, the lawsuit states. 

On Feb. 17, Dean made another Facebook post that includes photos of posts made by Texas Education 911. The Texas Education 911 posts level criticisms of perceived problems in public education. Dean did not say Beckett remains a member of the organization but wrote: “These screenshots are real posts from the organization my opponent founded and still promotes in every piece of her campaign material. Now that voters in HD7 are seeing what that organization actually says about public schools, teachers, administrators, school board members and parents, she’s trying to distance herself.”

In a comment below the post, Dean referred to the organization as “Melissa Beckett’s organization.” 

The lawsuit states Dean’s statements caused reputational harm to Beckett and influenced voters.

“As a direct result, Plaintiff suffered damage to her reputation, standing in this community, and electoral prospects,” the lawsuit states. 

Beckett told the News-Journal on Thursday: “I am winning the election. There’s no doubt in my mind. And so I know (Dean is) desperate. … He has crossed a line, and he does not get to be the bully anymore.”

Dean said Beckett has been endorsed by Texas Education 911.

“You’re telling me that she is the founder, obviously the leader of, Texas Education 911, and she had absolutely no knowledge of what they were posting about DOGE-ing public education and funding and suggesting the removal of TRS to a 401K plan? 

“I think common sense people know exactly what she’s trying to do here, their campaign of spewing misinformation.”

The lawsuit also accuses Dean of blocking constituents on his official Facebook page after they attempted to correct him, conduct that raises “constitutional concerns and underscores the deliberate nature of his conduct.” The lawsuit cites a 2024 Supreme Court ruling, Lindke v. Freed, which states that a government official who restricts someone’s access to his or her public social media accounts is, in some cases, engaging in state action. 

Dean said he has blocked people who harassed his supporters and used vulgarity, and public officials are allowed to do so.

Early voting continues through Feb. 27. Election Day is March 3.