Williamson County Sheriff Chody Sues, Alleging Voter Fraud In Nov. Election Loss

[#TexasPolitics365] 

Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody is suing Sheriff-elect Mike Gleason, his opponent in November’s election, claiming Gleason’s victory was influenced by fraudulent votes and irregularities, reports KXAN TV.

The lawsuit, filed Dec. 15, claims election officers counted illegal votes, failed to count legal votes and made mistakes and/or engaged in illegal conduct.

Gleason received 56% of the Nov. 3 vote.

Chody, a Republican, greatly outspent his challenger in the November election.

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Gov. Abbott Tells Austin's Mayor His New Year's Curfew Is Illegal

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Gov. Greg Abbott has a message for Austin mayor Steve Adler: your New Year's Eve curfew is not allowed.

Adler ordered all businesses in Austin to close over the New Year's holiday tomorrow night, from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. January 3rd. The order closes bars and restaurants during one of their busiest holidays of the year.

A news release published on the city's official website explained:

"Venues serving food and drink may still operate between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. using drive-thru, curbside pick-up, take-out, or delivery service. This change applies to any venue serving food or drink from an onsite kitchen, food truck, or catering service. Between 6 a.m. and 10:30 p.m., venues are permitted to continue dine-in operations."

County Health officials in Travis County also went along with the curfew order.

In the official City resolution, issued Tuesday, Adler cited the governor's previous order (GA-32) allowing reopenings if counties exceeded certain hospital admission standards.

His resolution ordering the closures, issued Tuesday, notes, "Travis County has experienced 48,951 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 542 deaths as a result ofthe disease." 

But Gov. Abbott was not having any of it. He took to Twitter almost immediately, tweeting late Tuesday night:

"This shutdown order by Austin isn't allowed. Period. My executive order stops cities like Austin from arbitrarily shutting down businesses. The city has a responsibility to enforce existing orders, not make new ones."

KVUE TV reported that the Texas Attorney General's Office also weighed in on Twitter, noting that the city's orders, "violate @GovAbbott’s Exec Order GA-32. They must rescind or modify their local orders immediately."

At risk are potentially hundreds of jobs in tens of thousands of dollars in earnings over the New Year's holiday, which brings to a close a year in which hundreds of thousands of lost their jobs in the restaurant and bar industries throughout the state.

Is unclear whether habit or the Attorney general's office would seek an injunction Wednesday to override the order, or whether businesses in Austin and Travis County would simply ignore it, risking fines.

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Houston Could Host Axiom, Company Will Build Commercial Space Station

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Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced a planned partnership between Houston and Axiom, a company that plans to build the first commercial space station, reports Community Impact newspapers (Houston/Bay Area.)

Under the agreement, which will go before Houston City Council in a few weeks, Axiom would build a 386,000-square-foot facility on a 14-acre plot of land in the Phase 1 area of the Houston Spaceport at the Ellington Airport.

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Former GOP State Senate Candidate Bound, Gagged, Beaten In Hotel Attack

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Three people have been charged in connection to a brutal beating of a former Republican State Senate candidate on Christmas Eve.

Vanessa Tijerina told KVEO she was lured to a Texas Inn, on Frontage road, by a woman in a “black bra.”

The woman said she needed to tell the former candidate “something very important regarding her safety.” 

Three people then proceeded to beat her, according to Tijerina.

Police said Amanda Salinas, Ariel Vera and Raymond Santana were arrested. Police are still looking for a fourth, who was on the phone giving orders to the others.

Tijerina ran for the Texas State Senate in 2020 to represent District 27. She garnered 35% of the vote in the general election against incumbent Eddie Lucio, who has served in the Senate since 1991.

She also was a 2016 Green Party candidate for the U.S. House to represent the 15th Congressional District of Texas.

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Legislation Filed To Expand Medical Marijuana

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Three House bills, two House joint resolutions, and two Senate Bills have been filed for the January, 2021 legislative session which would expand the Compassionate Use Program for medical marijuana use, reports CBS Austin.

Texas began the program in 2015 under Senate Bill 339, but allowed only people with intractable epilepsy to be eligible for medical cannabis. In 2019, state lawmakers passed House Bill 3703, which expanded the covered conditions to include all forms of epilepsy and seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, terminal cancer, and autism.

Under the Compassionate Use Program, the THC content of prescribed medical cannabis cannot exceed 0.5 percent.

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Galveston Mayor Pro Tem Brown Wins Runoff To Become Mayor

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Mayor Pro Tem Craig Brown defeated former Mayor Roger “Bo” Quiroga, 3,726 to 3,182 votes in last week's heated Galveston runoff election, reports the Galveston Daily News.

Brown went from councilman, to mayor pro tem, to acting mayor, to now Mayor. Incumbents held onto their positions in Districts 3 and 5.

It was a heated race in which accusations flew between the candidates, and the county Republican Party had taken the rate position of publicly taking sides in a non-partisan race, supporting Quiroga in his ill-fated comeback attempt.

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Cornyn Skewered On Twitter After Posting Strange Brisket Photo

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Sometimes you just can't win on Twitter. That's what U.S. Senator John Cornyn discovered when he posted what he claimed was brisket on Twitter on Christmas Eve.

"Christmas Family tradition," the congressman wrote. But Twitter users were having none of it. It had received over 7,800 comments and more than 5,400 retweets as of late Christmas morning, (UPDATE: 7,950 retweets and 12,500 comments as of 4 pm Dec. 26th) many eviscerating him for calling the meat, which he baked in a glass dish, "brisket" at all.

"Are you sure you’re from Texas?," wrote @robisraelart.

"This is absolutely horrifying, wtf is wrong with you My children use this website are you kidding me right now?" said @RespectableLaw

@Bird_Nerd92, like many others, critiqued his baking skills.

"It looks like they bought it somewhere & dumped it in that baking dish that is way too clean. Besides you don’t bake brisket, anyway. No idea what the congealed red paste is on top."

@BenWessel showed off his brisket he prepared Christmas Eve.

'I literally just salted and peppered this brisket in preparation for roasting tomorrow and it already looks more appetizing than whatever this godforsaken disaster is."

"I’ve never seen someone willingly post a photo of brisket this bad" said. @heyyyscott

"I'm a native Texan, both of my parents are native Texans, and I've never seen anything that looks like that," says @JediCounelor

@Aiden_smx thought Cornyn was "Eating meat past its expiration date with ketchup on top to own the libs."

@Schottey asked, "Isn't this a felony in Texas?"

Many took the opportunity to jab him for the paltry Covid-19 relief checks Congress included in the relief bill.

@DanielleCandela was one of them.

"How many of your constituents are cold, hungry and homeless? How many of your constituents have no family to celebrate a family tradition with this year because you failed them with your response to the pandemic? How many of your constituents have empty chairs and hearts?"

"That oven costs more than you approved as covid relief for ten people. And that's not a well-prepared brisket. But do you I suppose 🤷‍♂️" wrote @dh_bball.

@vornietom summed it up by tweeting that Cornyn was "Getting burned harder than you burned that meat."

For his part, Cornyn himself weighed in on the controversy late Christmas Day with this tweet:

"Brisket is serious business in Texas.  Actually, it is Sandy Cornyn’s family recipe. Best I have ever had."

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Christmas Greetings!

[#TexasPolitics365] 

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM #TEXASPOLITICS365!

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Edinburg Republican To Contest November Congressional Election Loss

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Monica De La Cruz believes she won the Nov. 2020 election for the 15th Congressional District.

She has filed an official complaint alleging voting discrepancies in the race, which was officially declared for her opponent, Democrat Vicente Gonzalez, a McAllen attorney, reports everythinglubbock.com

De La Cruz, an Edinburg Republican, lost to Gonzalez, the incumbent, by approximately 6,500 votes, 47.6% to 50.5%.

“I am calling into question this vote difference and the validity of the Gonzalez win,” said De La Cruz.

The 15th Congressional District includes Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg, Karnes, and Live Oak counties and parts of Guadalupe, Hidalgo and Wilson counties.

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Gov. Abbott Says: "No More Shutdowns" As Vaccine Distribution Begins

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Gov. Greg Abbott said with the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine last week, "it is time to put shutdowns behind us." 

According to KFAA TV, Dallas, Abbott said Thursday that more than 200,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed across Texas by the end of the week. 

At the same time, the Republican governor was firm that no businesses will be forced to close. 

"No more shutdowns," the governor said. "We will not have any more shutdowns in Texas." 

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Governor, Lt. Governor, House Speaker Agree To Reopen Capitol Jan. 4

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The Texas Capitol building will open back up to the public on January 4.  The move was announced by the office of Gov. Greg Abbott, L. Gov. Dan Patrick, and outgoing House Speaker Dennis Bonnen Monday afternoon in a news release.

Legislators had argued that it was a violation of the state constitution and the principle of open government up keep it closed during a legislative session.

Rep. Terry Wilson said at an event recently he would fight closing the Capitol building to visitors.

"The Texas House should not be closed," he said.

Rep. Mayes Middleton, who argued for the reopening, wrote on Facebook that he was pleased with the decision.

"The Capitol belongs to all 29 million Texans, glad it will finally be open to its true owners, everyone deserves the right to make their voice heard in person!"

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State Takeover Of Austin Police Dept. Closer To Reality

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Monday night, Gov. Greg Abbott signaled that legislation could be on the way soon to transfer the powers of the Austin Police Department away from the city council and under the control of the Texas Department of Safety.

Abbott tweeted:

"Just in time for Christmas: The Legislative Council has sent draft language for a proposed law that would transfer control of the Austin Police Department to the Texas Department of Public Safety. One way or another we will pass a law to keep Austin safe."

The tweet from Gov. Abbott was not a surprise, reports KXAN,-TV.  

Back in September, Abbott expressed his displeasure with Austin City Council’s decision to cut $20 million from APD’s budget, in addition to transitioning $130 million out over a year. 

Abbott has vowed to pass law to defund cities that defund police departments.

APD reports a rise in several violent crimes in the city this year. The department says the murder rate increased by 55% over 2019.

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Proposed Bill Would Consider Worship As An "Essential Service"

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A north Texas Republican has filed legislation that would designate places of worship and religious activity as “essential” under Texas law, reports CBS 21 (Dallas-Fort Worth.)

If passed, the bill, by Plano Representative Matt Shaheen, would prevent houses of worship from being forcibly shut down because of a disaster declaration or any other reason.

Shaheen said he presented the legislation, “… after numerous examples across the nation of religious gatherings being expressly prohibited while secular businesses have been permitted to continue to operate.”

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Rep. Drew Springer Defeats Salon Owner Luther For State Senate Seat

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State Rep. Drew Springer has defeated Dallas salon owner Shelly Luther for an open state senate seat in a district 30 runoff.

The Muenster, Texas Republican won Saturday's election 56% to Luther's 43%. Springer received 32,599 votes, while Luther garnered 25,146.

“As your next senator, I will continue advancing the conservative priorities of our district like reducing property taxes, securing the border, and standing up for our law enforcement and first responders who keep our communities safe,” Springer said in a Facebook post.

With a consistent lead throughout the night, Springer declared victory at 8:30 p.m.

The special election was held to replace State Sen. Pat Fallon. Fallon was elected to Congress in Texas' 4th Congressional District, a seat vacated by John Ratcliffe when Pres. Trump appointed him Director of National Intelligence, according to NBCDFW-TV. Springer and Luther were the top vote-getters in a September special election contested by six candidates.

Early in the night, Governor Greg Abbott tweeted out his congratulations to Springer.

"Congratulations to @DrewSpringer on the overwhelming victory tonight for Texas Senate District 30. We look forward to working with you to secure our border, support police, protect unborn, cut taxes, safeguard 2nd Amendment rights, fund schools & open up businesses in Texas."

Springer had Governor Abbott's endorsement and support, while Luther, who hails from the Dallas suburb of Pilot Point, ran an outsider's campaign without Abbott's support.

Luther made national headlines after she defied Gov. Abbott’s COVID-19 restrictions and built her campaign around opposing them. A political newcomer, Luther called Abbott a tyrant and pledged to rein in his power. In response, Abbott funneled thousands of dollars to Springer's campaign.

Senate District 30, which is heavily Republican, stretches across 14 counties in north Texas.

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Legislator Tries Again To Ban Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying

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Texas State Representative Mayes Middleton (R - Wallisville) introduced legislation to end taxpayer-funded lobbying during the last session of the Texas Legislature and is filing a new bill to do so this week. 

Though that reform effort passed the state Senate during the last session, it fell short in the state House. 

Things have changed since then, however, and this reform is now poised for enactment in 2021, reports Forbes Magazine, which says it could be the catalyst for other states to adopt similar legislation.

About the bill, Middleton wrote on Facebook:

"Our tax money is being spent on Austin lobbyists to advocate against the taxpayer and basic good governance.  Most Taxpayers have no idea that their local school boards, city councils, and county commissioners courts are using taxpayer money to hire Austin lobbyists, who then lobby against property tax reform and for higher taxes."

Middleton said the bill (link opens .pdf) that he is has filed this legislative session is "a lot more simple" than the previous text. 

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Proposed Bill Would Loosen Tight Covid Hospital Visitation Rules

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State Representative Brooks Landgraf has filed a bill to require state agencies to obtain approval from the legislature to renew emergency rules during a state of disaster, including hospital visitation restrictions, according to KOSA TV.

“I heard far too many tragic and sad stories from Texans who were prevented from being with their loved ones in a hospital during their final moments,” the Odessa Republican said of his House Bill 665.

In March, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission implemented a rule that required hospitals to prohibit visitors that were not providing critical assistance for a patient.

Currently, state agencies may adopt emergency rules without notice or hearing if the agency finds that there is imminent peril to public health or safety. The rules can last for 120 days and be renewed for another 60 days.

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Upstart Mackenzie Kelly Defeats Incumbent Flannigan In #Austin Council Runoff

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Mackenzie Kelly has defeated incumbent Austin City Councilor Jimmy Flannigan in a runoff election Tuesday.

Kelly, a Republican who ran on a pro-law enforcement platform, won by 4 points, taking 52% of the vote to Flannigan's 48%.

Flanagan, who will be leaving the council after only one term, had argued in favor of defunding the Austin Police Department, going so far as to call for the literal dismantling of the police department's headquarters downtown. Kelly received the Austin Police Association's endorsement, While Flanagan received the endorsement of city irefighters. Both organizations send Kelly congratulatory words on Twitter Wednesday morning.

Kelly released a statement to the media Tuesday night following her victory:

"From standing courageously behind our law enforcement community to demanding safer conditions for our homeless population to fighting for transparency at City Hall, the voice of Northwest Austin has been heard. Considering the stark differences between my campaign's priorities and the platform of the incumbent, their united voice is resoundingly clear this evening! I am honored to be the next representative for District 6 on the Austin City Council and will work immediately to begin healing the divisions in our community."

On her Twitter feed, Kelly said Mayor Steve Adler had called her Wednesday morning to congratulate her on her victory. The previous evening, Adler heaped effusive praise on Flanagan for his service to the community as a councilor.
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Democrat Blog Uncovers Election Day Divorce Filing Of Republican Rep.

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On November 3rd as the political world was busy with election day, Trevor Hull, the spouse of newly elected Texas House Representative, Lacey Hull filed for a divorce. The legal action was uncovered by Democrat blog "Living Blue In Texas."

Considering how tight the polls were for the HD138 race, the blog speculates that Trevor Hull wanted to wait and not damage Lacey Hull’s chances at winning.

The blog also alleges irregularities with the filing of the divorce. Legal divorce papers filed in Harris County show her name as "Hall." The blog alleges that it was intentionally misspelled so as to not attract media attention.

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#Austin City Council To Draft "Social Contract" For City

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Culture Map Austin reports that the Austin City Council issued a directive to the city manager to compose a "social contract" for Austin. 

During its Thursday, December 10 meeting, The council asked City Manager Spencer Cronk to work with the city’s Joint Inclusion Committee to write the document, which is slated to be presented to the council by June 1, 2021. 

"A global pandemic and racial unrest have led this nation and communities across the country to an inflection point; and ... despite the polarization playing out on the national stage, the Austin community strives to rise above," reads the resolution.

The non-binding resolution will be the first of its kind in the nation, say it's backers.

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Long-Delayed Houston Election Made National Headlines Over Candidates With Felony Convictions

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Houston Public Media reports that some 200,000 Houston residents in District B had to wait more than a year to elect a City Council member as the race was delayed because of an legal question: Can a candidate with a felony conviction run for office in Texas?

"The top two vote-getters in the November 2019 general election, Tarsha Jackson and Cynthia Bailey, faced a runoff, after a nine-month legal battle about Bailey's eligibility. After Bailey and Jackson made the runoff in a crowded field, the third-place candidate sued both Houston and Harris County, arguing that Bailey's felony conviction disqualified her under state law. ...The Houston election has put second chances on the ballot for the whole state. Council Member Jerry Davis, who's term limited, has stayed on during the election legal battle, while over the past year."

Bailey won in court, with State judges ruling three times in her favor, but on December 12, Jackson bested her at the polls, garnering 68.5% of the vote in the runoff election, to beat Bailey.

Texas election law states that, “A finally convicted felon is not eligible to be a candidate for public elected office in this state unless they have been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities.” Bills have been filed in the legislature to allow felons to run for office.

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#Texas GOP Chairman West Unleashes "Secession" Firestorm After Anti-Trump Supreme Court Ruling

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Texas Republican Party Chairman Allen West has Unleashed on the Supreme Court after it rejected the Texas sponsored lawsuit Friday that hoped to overturn the election in Pennsylvania and other states. 

"Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections," the Court wrote in an unsigned ruling Friday evening.

West's comments, which in part called for a separate Union of States, unleashed a Firestorm both online and off.

His statement, posted as a press release on the official Texas GOP website, said that by tossing of the lawsuit, which had the support of over a hundred congressmen, the US Supreme Court had, "decreed that a state can take unconstitutional actions and violate its own election law. Resulting in damaging effects on other states that abide by the law, while the guilty state suffers no consequences."

He said that the decision, "establishes a precedent that says states can violate the US constitution and not be held accountable," and had "far-reaching ramifications for the future of our constitutional republic."

The final statement in his response, however, is what has drawn most criticism. He's suggested that, "Perhaps law-abiding states should bond together and form a Union of states that will abide by the constitution."

Illinois Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a frequent Trump critic, condemned West's statement on Twitter. 

"I believe @TexasGOP should immediately retract this, apologize, and fire Allen West and anyone else associated with this.  My guy Abraham Lincoln and the Union soldiers already told you no," he wrote.

Democrats of course gleefully joined in on the condemnation, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) tweeting: 

"The Texas Republican Party is officially in favor of leaving the Union. They have lost their minds. Biden will be President, but these people are deadly serious about secession and sedition. And this is the only question that media should ask any elected Republican tomorrow."

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Lawmaker Wants Texas To Exit The Union

[#TexasPolitics365] 

Republican State Rep. Kyle Biedermann of Fredricksburg plans to file a bill that will allow Texans to vote in a referendum on whether Texas should leave the United States. He made his case in a Facebook post on Wednesday: 

"The federal government is out of control and does not represent the values of Texans. That is why I am committing to file legislation this session that will allow a referendum to give Texans a vote for the State of Texas to reassert its status as an independent nation. This legislation perfectly aligns with Article 1 Section 2 of the Texas Constitution which reads: “All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit. The faith of the people of Texas stands pledged to the preservation of a republican form of government, and, subject to this limitation only, they have at all times the inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think expedient. #Texit"

Biedermann had yet to file the bill, which would join hundreds of others in the January session of the legislature.

Texas became an independent nation in 1836 after a war for independence with Mexico and remained a sovereign nation until it was admitted to the Union in 1845. Texas left the United States on Feb. 1, 1861, and joined the short-lived Confederate States of America. After the Civil War and Reconstruction of the 1860s, Texas rejoined the Union in 1870.

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Bill Would Require Homeowners To Retreat And "Cooperate" With Burglars

[#TexasPolitics365] 

A bill seeking to modify the so-called “castle doctrine” in Texas is getting people on social media riled up and even has lawmakers concerned ahead of the January legislative session, reports Click2Houston and other news sources. 

The “castle doctrine” is outlined in the state’s penal code. It gives people the right to use deadly force to protect their “land or tangible, movable property.”

State Rep. Terry Meza, D-Irving, filed House Bill 196 in early November. It would modify part of the code to require homeowners to be “unable to safely retreat” before deadly force can be used. It would also remove robbery and aggravated robbery as crimes that could be legally stopped with deadly force by property owners.

On Twitter, Meza wrote, "I'm not saying that stealing is okay," Meza explained. "All I'm saying is that it doesn't warrant a death penalty. Thieves only carry weapons for self-protection and to provide the householder an incentive to cooperate."

Gov. Greg Abbott spoke against the bill on Twitter on Dec. 9, saying, "Let me be clear. The Castle Doctrine will not be reduced. We won’t force Texas homeowners to retreat. Especially with the crazy “defund police” ideas, homeowners need to protect themselves now more than ever. We will protect 2nd Amendment rights."

Rachael Malone, founder of Texas Firearms Freedom, wrote on Facebook that she supports tweaks in the law (specifically supporting a bill by Weatherford Republican Phil King) but not Meza's bill.

"Texas' use of force laws are already FAR better than most states. But there's still room for improvement. This year, there have been numerous occasions of riots, looting, and burglary. People have been in fear for their lives. Some have used firearms in self defense -- and some have been prosecuted for what seemed like a clear cut self defense case. Here in Texas, we want to make sure that we NEVER criminalize your use of deadly force to protect yourself or your loved ones."

Facing a firestorm of criticism, Meza claims the critics are wrong about her bill, one of 33 her office filed, the most of any other legislator.

“It does not repeal the Castle Doctrine, and it does not restrict homeowners from using firearms in self-defense as applicable to current Texas stand your ground laws,” Meza wrote in a Nov. 19 tweet. “What my bill would do if passed, would require a homeowner to exhaust the potential of safely retreating into their habitation before using deadly force in defense of themselves or their property.”

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Sen. John Cornyn Publicly Doubts Texas State Supreme Court Suit For Trump

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Texas Sen. John Cornyn has criticized a Supreme Court lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to have the Supreme Court invalidate election results in four key battleground states - Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Cornyn said he is unconvinced by the case's legal theory.

"Number one, why would a state, even such a great state as Texas, have a say-so on how other states administer their elections?" Cornyn asked CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju. "We have a diffused and dispersed system, and even though we might not like it, they may think it's unfair, those (election policies) are decided at the state and local level and not at the national level."

So far, the Republican attorneys general of 17 red states have signed amicus briefs in support of Paxton's lawsuit including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia, Vice News reports.

His colleague, Sen. Ted Cruz, has volunteered to argue the a similar case in front of the Supreme Court.

Paxton's lawsuit basically says that local officials changed voting policies, including the expansion of mail-in ballots due to COVID-19, without the permission of state legislatures, thus violating Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution. As such, he wants the four states' ballots thrown out and each state's Republican-led legislature to decide who to cast their own electoral votes for rather than casting them for the winner of the popular vote.

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H-E-B Will Distribute Covid-19 Vaccine, Risking Backlash

[#TexasPolitics365]

For many Texans, the road to a COVID-19 vaccine may pass through H-E-B, reports KSAT-TV San Antonio. But the move may be fraught with political danger from the popular Texas institution's conservative customers who oppose a vaccine.

The San Antonio-based grocery chain is one of many that are participating in a federal allocation program for COVID-19 vaccines established in a partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

H-E-B officials have not said when they are expecting to receive shipments of the vaccine, but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday that the state will receive its first shipment of 1.4 million COVID-19 vaccines later this month.

365thingsaustin, an Instagram page, discovered just how explosive the issue of vaccine distribution at H-E-B was when they posted the news Saturday afternoon. The post had nearly 11,000 likes by midnight but over 360 comments, most negative, against the store and the impending vaccine.

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Covid Test May Be Required For Those Testifying Before Legislature, Says Lt. Gov. Patrick

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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says people may need to take a coronavirus test 24 hours before testifying during the legislative session, reports the Texas Tribune.

Patrick and Republican state Rep. Dade Phelan, the likely next House speaker, “hope to be able to make an announcement regarding the Session shortly," a senior adviser to Patrick said Saturday.

Patrick said people may have to register online three days before a committee hearing to testify and take a rapid test for the virus 24 hours beforehand.
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Texas Cities Are Engaged In December Runoff Elections

[#TexasPolitics365] 

Yes, it's still election season in Texas! Runoff elections are happening throughout the state's cities and towns in early December. 

Here are a few:

AUSTIN:

The runoff election in Austin will determine the winners for Austin City Council districts 6 and 10, as well as two Austin ISD Board of Trustees positions. (Source: KVUE TV)

Early voting started Dec. 3 and runs through Dec. 11. Runoff election day is Dec. 15.

In Austin City Council District 6, incumbent James "Jimmy" Flannigan is being challenged by Mackenzie Kelly.  

Austin City Council District 10 incumbent Alison Alter faces Jennifer Virden.

EL PASO:

The mayoral run-off in El Paso between incumbent Dee Margo and former mayor Oscar Leeser is at the top of the ballot in El Paso’s runoff election after neither candidate received more than half of the votes in November’s election. (Source: KTSM TV.)

Additional run-offs include seats on city council for District 2 between incumbent Alexsandra Annello and opponent Miriam “Judy” Gutierrez, and District 4 between incumbent Sam Morgan and Joe Molinar. 

December’s run-off elections come after record-breaking voter turnout in El Paso and the country as a whole.

HARRIS COUNTY/HOUSTON:

There are five races being determined in Harris County. Voting is from from now until December 8. The joint runoff election is on Saturday December 12.

Tarsha Jackson will face Cynthia Bailey in the hotly contested District B City Council race.

GALVESTON:

Voters on December 15 have a choice between former Mayor Roger “Bo” Quiroga.and current Mayor Pro Tem Craig Brown, in what had become a heated race in which accusations have flown between the candidates and the county Republican Party had taken sides, in favor of Quiroga. (Sources: Galveston Votes and The Daily News.)

The Galveston City Council, District 2 race will be decided between William Schuster and Pam Bass. In City Council, District 3, Frank Thomas Maceo faces David Collins, and the City Council, District 5 race is between Beau Rawlins and John Paul Listowski.

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Rep. Dade Phelan Gets House GOP Caucus Endorsement For Speaker

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Dade Phelan (R - Beaumont) has been endorsed by the House Republican Caucus to be the next Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. He has been endorsed by more than 100 of the chamber's 150 members, making him a virtual shoe-in for the position when the House convenes next month.

In announcing the endorsement of the Caucus in a press release posted on Twitter, chairman Jim Murphy heaped praise on the presumptive Speaker.

"Texas Republicans hold Representative Phelan in the highest esteem and we are confident he will be a successful House Speaker.... We are confident he will serve the house as a fair-minded and trustworthy steward of House operations and traditions."

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#Austin City Council Extends Mask Mandates, Fines, Through December, 2021

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Austin’s mayor and city council Thursday reportedly approved extending its controversial mask mandate for an entire year.

The mandate fines anyone over the age of 10 caught without wearing a mask in public up to $2,000 per violation.

Mayor Steve Adler and the city council, all Democrats, passed the extension without discussion. It was item #43 on their lengthy agenda. The fines now extend through the year 2021, ending on December 31st next year.

It was noted in media reports that it came just a day after Mayor Adler was caught making a video in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in which he scolded residents for not wearing masks and not staying home.

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State Sen. Dawn Buckingham Calls On Austin Mayor Adler To Resign

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State Senator Dawn Buckingham (R - Austin) today called on Austin Mayor Steve Adler to resign. Adler was caught making a video from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in which he urged citizens of Austin to "stay home." The video has received international attention.

In a Facebook post, printed below in full, Buckingham, who was re-elected last month, excoriates the Democrat mayor, saying, "If you're going to preach to your constituents that their families aren't worth seeing while jetting off with your own inner circle to Mexico, your priority is clearly no longer the people of Austin."

"It's time for Mayor Adler to resign. 

"Mayor Adler has spent months pushing daily videos and tweets out to Austin residents telling them to stay home. As small businesses in his own city collapse, and homeless encampments appear on ever more street corners, Mayor Adler hosted an in person wedding and then hopped on a private jet for a Cabo vacation. Worse than this sort of "holier than thou" attitude, Mayor Adler had the gall to record a message telling Austin citizens to stay home around the Thanksgiving holiday from his vacation timeshare in Mexico.

The Mayor should resign. If you're going to preach to your constituents that their families aren't worth seeing while jetting off with your own inner circle to Mexico, your priority is clearly no longer the people of Austin. I urge him to quit the job he clearly no longer respects so he can spend all the time he wants on vacation. Rumor has it Matthew McConaughey could step up to provide the kind of unifying leadership the City of Austin so clearly lacks."

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Austin Mayor Urged Citizens To Stay Home, In Video Shot In Mexico

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Austin Mayor Steve Adler warned residents, "Our numbers are increasing. ... We need to stay home if you can. ... This is not the time to relax," in a video posted Nov. 9 to Facebook. He was vacationing at a timeshare in Cabo San Lucas, on Mexico's Pacific coast, at the time, numerous media outlets reported, 

The Austin American-Statesman reported Thursday that "Cabo" and "Adler" were trending on Twitter after Adler's trip was revealed.

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Abbott, Cruz To Attend January RNC Meeting With Possible 2024 Contenders

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Politico reports that Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel is inviting roughly a dozen potential 2024 presidential candidates to the RNC's January meeting in Amelia Island, Florida - and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is going, too, along with Sen. Ted Cruz.

It's the most explicit move the Trump-appointed chair has made to show that the committee will be impartial going forward and not simply an extension of Trump’s political machine, even as he openly mulls a comeback bid.

The list of would-be candidates invited to speak includes South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley. Vice President Mike Pence, another potential contender, is planning to attend. Trump is also invited, though spokespersons declined to say whether he’d be going.

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San Antonio Releases 1,000 Pages Of Hateful Messages Received By Mayor And Council

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Six months after San Antonio TV station KSAT requested the information, city officials released evidence of more than 400 hate-filled messages received by the mayor and council members in the days after they unanimously passed a resolution in May denouncing hate speech, reported KSAT 12. 

City officials released more than 1,000 pages of records. Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a written statement that passing the resolution was the right decision, despite the influx of angry messages that it generated.

The resolution, which was put forward by Nirenberg on May 7, states that hate crimes, discrimination, and aggression against Asians and Jews were on the rise as the groups were blamed for the Coronavirus' outbreak and spread.

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