O'Rourke Pitches Higher Teacher Pay, Ending STAR Test

[#TexasPolitics365]

Democratic candidate for governor Beto O'Rourke has called for increasing teacher salaries by at least $7,500 a year and replacing the STAR test with “something that’s more diagnostic in nature."

He made the proposals Sunday at a town hall meeting at the El Paso Community Foundation as part of his ongoing “People of Texas” state tour.

(Full story HERE.)
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Texas Supreme Court Hears Redistricting Bias Case

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Texas Supreme Court justices have heard arguments a challenge to Congressional maps drawn up after the 2020 U.S. Census.

The Mexican American Legislative Caucus mounted the legal challenge claiming state lawmakers diluted the vote of communities of color despite those communities accounting for the state's population growth, which in turn resulted in Texas gaining two congressional districts.

(Full story HERE.)
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Former Democrat US Senate Candidate Running For Mayor Of Houston

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Amanda Edwards, the 2020 Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate and former member of the Houston City Council, is running for mayor of the city, a contest that is already garnering statewide attention despite being over a year away.

The field already includes two names well-known in Texas politics: veteran state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, and Chris Hollins, the former Harris County clerk who oversaw election changes in 2020 that became a lightning rod for Republicans concerned about election integrity.

(Full story HERE.)
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O'Rourke Responds To Oilman's Defamation Suit; Denies Charges

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Beto O'Rourke has officially responded to a defamation lawsuit brought against him by a billionaire oil executive, denying all the allegations.

As the Dallas Morning News reported, O'Rourke did not seek the dismissal of the case against him in his court filing. He told the newspaper that he looked forward to having the case unfold in front of Texas residents and voters.

(Full story HERE.)
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GOP House Candidates Disagree On Death Penalty For Woman Who Abort

[#TexasPolitics365]

A Republican candidate for the state legislature appears to support punishing women who have had an abortion with the death penalty.

North Richland Hills Republican David Lowe, candidate for house seat 91, says his campaign in the May 24 runoff election has nothing to do with killing women. “I’m not even a fan of the death penalty,” he told a Republican women’s club luncheon last week in downtown Fort Worth.

But then, Lowe dropped this line:

"Do we all agree that abortion is murder?” he asked the crowd. “Absolutely. There should be consequences for it.”

At the same event, his opponent, State Rep. Stephanie Klick, an advocate for the right to life,  stated explicitly that she opposed capital punishment for women who obtain an abortion.

“Abolishing abortion is important, but we can do that without giving women the death penalty,” Klick told the luncheon.  "I don’t think it’s necessary to sentence women to death that had an abortion.”

While the Texas and National Republican Party platforms both oppose abortion and support "the sanctity of innocent human life," Right-to-Life advocates usually spell out clearly that they would never seek to sponsor legislation that would punish women who obtain abortions.

Meanwhile, the Texas Democratic Party platform states that it stands for "confidential, unrestricted access to affordable healthcare, including ...abortion."

There is no Democrat in this race.

(Full story HERE.)
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In Ugly AG Runoff, Bush And Paxton Launch Dueling Attack Sites

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In a sign of the Republican runoff race for attorney general is getting ugly and personal, Attorney General Ken Paxton's campaign has launched an attack website against his runoff opponent, Land Commissioner George P. Bush, georgepbushfacts.com, prompting Bush to launch one of his own.

The site calls Bush a "Republican in name only" (RINO): "Land Commissioner George P. Bush: The RINO Establishment Darling Who Has Sold Out Texas"

Striking at a very sensitive topic for conservative voters, the site starts by saying:

"The Alamo and its brave defenders are a deeply cherished part of Texas history, but Land Commissioner George P. Bush controversially demanded that the Cenotaph, the monument that honors our Texas heroes, be moved from the Alamo."

Bush has said that while he initially supported moving the monument, he quickly backed off the idea when it was apparent it had no public support.

The website continues by attacking Bush's response to Hurricane Harvey with allegedly slow disaster aid, it attacks him for his support of the DREAM act, which would give children of illegal aliens citizenship, and says that he is "bought and paid for" by Democrats and RINOS.

Bush responded with an attack site of his own, kenthecrook.com.

Bush's site calls out, "Crooked Ken Paxton," saying, "Ken Paxton is nothing more than a corrupt career politician who does not have the moral fortitude to serve in any elected position in Texas."

In language that could easily be used by a Democrat against Paxton if he wins the runoff, the site states: "THIS MAN DOESN'T RESPECT THE LAW. AND HE DOESN'T RESPECT YOU. IT'S TIME TO FIRE KEN PAXTON."

Bush has continually asserted on the campaign trail that Paxton is too damaged to win against a Democrat in the fall election.

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Austin ISD Violating State Law With Pride Week, Says AG

[#TexasPolitics365]

Attorney General Ken Paxton sent the Austin Independent School District a letter saying they are in "violation" of state law because of the district's "Pride Week," which is currently ongoing.

Paxton's letter states that students must obtain "written consent" from their parent before the school delivers "human sexuality instruction," according to state law.

(Full story HERE.)

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In Dem Lt. Gov. Race, Beckley Calls On Collier To Drop Out

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Houston accountant Mike Collier will face state Rep. Michelle Beckley in the May runoffs in the Democratic runoff for Lt. Governor. The winner will face incumbent Republican Dan Patrick in November.

Collier, who was the Democratic nominee in 2018, received 42% of the vote, while Beckley received 30%. Another candidate, Texas Democratic Party Vice Chair Carla Brailey, came in third.

Soon after those votes were tallied, Beckley called for Collier to drop out, saying he "doesn't inspire the base".

“I have no plans to drop out,” Collier said during an interview on Capital Tonight. “I came in first, not only statewide but in the vast majority of counties. I’m building a very diverse coalition around the state and I feel like I have a very good chance of success.”

(Full story HERE.)
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Alamo Cenotaph Won't Be Moved After Lawsuit Settlement

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Parties in a lawsuit involving the relocation of the historic cenotaph at the Alamo in San Antonio have reached a quiet settlement.

Litigation was initiated more than two years ago by the Alamo Defenders Descendants Association and leading member Lee Spencer White, who brought claims against the city of San Antonio, Alamo Trust Inc., the Texas General Land Office (GLO), Land Commissioner George P. Bush, and the Texas Historical Commission regarding actions relating to the Alamo Plan.

San Antonio, the GLO, and Alamo Trust agree not to re-inter any human remains discovered on the grounds of the Alamo complex before Sept. 1, 2023

San Antonio, the GLO, and Alamo Trust agreed in the settlement not to apply for any future permits from the Texas Historical Commission to relocate the Cenotaph, under which it is believed the remains of the Alamo's defenders were buried. DNA testing is underway to determine whether this is the case.

(Full story HERE.)
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Comptroller Seeks To ID Companies Boycotting Oil Investmentts

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Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar sent a letter to 19 financial companies that he alleges could be ‘boycotting the fossil fuel industry.’

Hegar is asking the companies, including JP Morgan and Wells Fargo, to clarify their fossil fuel investment policies and procedures, and has requested a list of any mutual funds or exchange-traded funds in their portfolios that may prohibit or limit investment in fossil fuels.

It’s part of Hegar’s efforts to implement Senate Bill 13, which was passed during the 87th Regular Legislative Session, and seeks to strip such companies of State funding.

(Full story HERE.)
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Both Democrat AG Candidates Support Pot Legalization

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As the May 24 runoff approaches, both Democrats in the runoff for Texas Attorney General have doubled down on their promises to legalize cannabis in the state.

Rochelle Garza and Joe Jaworski made it clear in the runup to the primary that they're in favor of legalization.

(Full story HERE.)
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AG Paxton Has "Hateful" Post Flagged By Twitter

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Twitter has decided it would be in the public’s best interest to keep a tweet from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on its website after he called U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine a man.

Levine, who was named one of USA Today’s Women of the Year, is transgender and a four-star admiral in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

Paxton responded to having his tweet flagged and hidden with another which was also hidden by the tech Giant.

"Yesterday I stated in an irrefutable fact... For stating this matter of factly, Twitter blocked it as "hateful." ... Big Tech is not only anti-conservative and anti-Republican, apparently it is now anti-truth and anti-science."

Twitter also flagged and restricted the ability to share the tweet containing the attorney general's response. The link provided above is from a duplicate post he made on the new social site, Gettr.

AG candidate George P. Bush also condemned the company's policy on Twitter.

(Full story HERE.)
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Citigroup Employee Benefit: Trips out Of Texas For Abortions

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Citigroup, the nation's fourth-largest bank, is angering Texas Republicans over its latest workplace benefit: Offering to cover the travel expenses of employees who live in states with restrictive reproductive health care laws, including the state's recently enacted law banning most abortions after six weeks, like the Heartbeat Act in Texas.

Republican Party of Texas chairman Matt Rinaldi called the policy "appalling" and said the party is urging Republicans to snub Citi's services. 

"Republicans should avoid entrusting their finances with Citibank and other companies that are hostile to them and their values," Rinaldi said.

Supporters of the Heartbeat Act say it has already saved hundreds of babies lives.

(Full story HERE.)
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O’Rourke Pivots To The Right to Close Poll Gap

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Democratic candidate for governor Beto O’Rourke is looking for ways to close a persistent gap in the polls with Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, backing off his far-left stance on border security, gun ownership and other hot-button issues.

The O’Rourke pivot is a glaring bid to turn out the party’s more moderate base and win over independent voters in the conservative state.

(Full story HERE.)
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O'Rourke Calls Abbott "Authoritarian" With "Fixation On Trans Kids"

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke characterized incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott as an 'authoritarian thug' with his 'own oligarch[s] here in the state of Texas' within the gas industry, at Saturday's SXSW music and media event in Austin.

During an hour-long interview, O'Rourke also accused the longtime Texas governor of overlooking sex-trafficked children in his state in favor of his 'crazed fixation' on transgender children. 

It was one of many attacks the failed former presidential candidate unleashed on Abbott. He also accused him of incompetence during last year's ice storm.

(Full story HERE.)
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Congressional Candidate Arrested for Sign Theft

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A Republican candidate for Texas' 30th Congressional District was arrested last week for allegedly taking the campaign signs of other candidates, according to police.

James "J Frank" Harris faces a theft charge following his arrest by Grand Prairie police.

(Full story HERE.)
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Some Progressives Won Primaries, But "Red Wave" In November Still Likely, Say Pundits

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After Tuesday’s primary election, Texas progressives see a goal within reach: At least three new members of Congress, all of whom are politically aligned with the likes of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The outcome isn’t certain, with voters sending several progressive candidates to runoffs and denying national groups the sweeping victory they’d hoped for. But they say Tuesday’s results were a promising start to the country’s 2022 primary elections, with one candidate, former Austin City Councilmember Greg Casar, crushing competition and heading to an all-but-certain win in a blue district this November.

(Full story HERE.)
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GOP Doubled Turnout In Rio Grande Valley In Primary Vs. 2018

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Republicans already liked their chances in South Texas in November, but the Tuesday primary gave them even more reason to be optimistic.

Fueled by more candidates and outreach, GOP turnout more than doubled in the Rio Grande Valley compared with the last midterm primary, and the party’s most favored candidates advanced across several down-ballot races there.

(Full story HERE.)
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GOP Candidate Takes AOC To Task For Involvement in TX Dem Runoff

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Congressional candidate Cassy Garcia called out Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Thursday for her support of a progressive Democrat opponent, vowing Republicans will "fire" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in the 2022 midterm elections.

"I have a message for AOC: Do not AOC, our south Texas, and our Texas. We are not a progressive socialist community."

AOC is actively supporting Progressive opponent Jessica Cisneros in a runoff election against nine-term congressman Henry Cuellar, who has criticized Pres. Biden s border policies.

(Full story HERE.)
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George P. Bush Looks To Make Alliances To Beat AG Paxton

[#TexasPolitics365]

After a bruising primary, George P. Bush is looking to mend some fences and make up ground on the incumbent attorney general.  

And he has less than 90 days to do it all.

“The basic math is this, that if we get a preponderance of Louis [Gohmert] supporters and Eva [Guzman] supporters and bring our people back out to the polls, we win this thing,” Bush said on Inside Texas Politics. “Close to 60% of Republicans chose to go on a different path when they saw the incumbent on that ballot.”

(Full story HERE.)
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Harris County Elections Administrator Resigns Following Primary Mishaps

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More than a week after a series of issues and mounting complaints about the 2022 primary elections, Harris County Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria verbally submitted her resignation Tuesday to commissioners.

Longoria addressed commissioners by phone during their regular meeting and said she intends to step down on July 1.

Longoria became the county's first  elections administrator in November, 2020.

(Full story HERE.)
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Oil Tycoon Sues Beto O'Rourke For Defamation

[#TexasPolitics365]

Kelcy Warren, the Dallas pipeline tycoon and top donor to Gov. Greg Abbott, is suing Abbott’s Democratic challenger, Beto O’Rourke, over his criticism of the windfall profits that Warren’s company made after the 2021 winter storm.

Warren filed the lawsuit last month in state district court in San Saba County, accusing O’Rourke of a “relentless and malicious attack” on him. The lawsuit alleges defamation, slander and libel, and it seeks over $1 million in damages.

(Full story HERE.)
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Endorses AG Paxton In Runoff

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Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush was probably hoping that statewide elected officials were going to stay out of the runoff race for Texas Attorney General. And if they didn't stay out, he was for sure hoping to get their support.

But that won't be happening with Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick. Patrick, who did not endorse a candidate prior to Monday, announced his endorsement of Ken Paxton who is seeking reelection as Texas Attorney General. 

The announcement came via a press release on Monday morning and was short and to the point. According to a press release from Patrick, "Texans can't find a more ardent defender of the people's rights than Ken Paxton."

(Full story HERE
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Luttrell Beats Collins, others, in Congressional Primary

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Texas Republican Morgan Luttrell won a contested House primary over an opponent backed by the GOP's far-right flank.

Luttrell, a former Navy SEAL endorsed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), bested several other candidates in the primary, including conservative activist Christian Collins, who was backed by Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.). Collins had also previously worked for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

(Full story HERE.)
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Texas House Candidate Shouted Down By Leftist Demonstrators On Uni Campus

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A candidate for the Texas House of Representatives, who is campaigning against gender-affirming treatments for children, was shouted down by protesters while speaking at an event Wednesday organized by a conservative campus group.

Social media videos show demonstrators banging on desks and chanting "f-ing fascist" as Republican candidate Jeff Younger mockingly applaud them at the front of the classroom.

Younger, a Dallas-area father ran for the Texas House of Representatives to outlaw sex reassignment surgeries for children after losing a years-long battle for custody of his 9-year-old twins, one of whom is a transgender girl.

Younger will head to a runoff with opponent Ben Bumgarner in the District 63 House race, after the two came out on top in a four-way Republican primary contest Tuesday.

(Full story HERE.)
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