On January 13, 2015, Tinderholt succeeded Diane Patrick, a four-term representative whom he unseated in the Republican primary election on March 4, 2014.
[2] Tinderholt was endorsed in his primary challenge by the right-wing group Empower Texans, which targeted Patrick for comparatively moderate positions.
In an interview with the Texas Observer, Tinderholt explained why he introduced the bill:"I don't think that there should be any exceptions to murder, no matter what.
Cook said that the office of Attorney General Ken Paxton has called the measure "unconstitutional" and therefore no hearing will be set.
[12] In 2017, Tinderholt supported a "bathroom bill" proposed by two fellow Republican state lawmakers, Representative Ron Simmons and Senator Lois Kolkhorst; the legislation would have nullified anti-discrimination ordinances adopted by Texas cities and counties protecting transgender Texans' access to public restrooms that matched their gender identity.
[13] Tinderholt supports a ban on Democrats being given committee chairmanships as long as the Republicans hold the majority of seats in the Texas House.
[14] An analysis of votes from the 2023 regular session of the Texas Legislature, conducted by Rice University's James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, ranked Patterson as the sixth-most conservative member of the state House, based on votes cast.