CitiGroup Barred From Bond Transaction Due To "Woke" Policy

[#TexasPolitics365]

Citigroup Inc. has been dropped from the group of banks poised to handle the biggest-ever municipal-bond transaction from Texas after the state’s attorney general’s office determined the firm discriminates against the firearms industry, barring it from underwriting most government borrowings in the state, due to its dedication to Woke ESG policies.

The Texas Natural Gas Securitization Finance Corp. board met Thursday and took action to “reconstitute” the syndicate on the $3.4 billion deal, according to Lee Deviney, executive director of the Texas Public Finance Authority, the state agency overseeing the borrowing. Citigroup had been listed in the original iteration of the underwriting firms approved by the board in May and is no longer included in the final group.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Abbott Seeks Investigation Of NGOs Over Immigration

[#TexasPolitics365]

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Wednesday asked his top law enforcement official to investigate nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the state over their role in assisting immigrants to cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

"Embattled" AG Paxton Skates To Victory

[#TexasPolitics365]

Embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has faced securities fraud charges since 2015 and is under FBI investigation for abuse of office, has won reelection for a third term, according to Decision Desk HQ, defeating Democratic civil rights lawyer Rochelle Garza.

It was one of the more competitive races of the 2022 election, and Democrats and Republicans, alike seemed to believe it would be a very difficult race for Paxton to win. 

His primary opponent,George P.  Bush, warned during the primary that if Paxton won the primary, he could not win in the general election. But in the end, Paxton rode the Texas version of the Red Wave to victory, alongside all other statewide office holders.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

AG Challenger Garza Hopes To Ride Abortion Issue Into Office

[#TexasPolitics365]

Well before jumping into the Texas attorney general's race, Democrat Rochelle Garza beat back a Trump administration attempt to stop a detained immigrant teenager from getting an abortion.

Incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton backed the administration in that 2017 case, warning in a brief that "Texas must not become a sanctuary state for abortions." But Garza, an immigration lawyer, won in the appeals court and the teenager got the abortion.

Democrats like Garza hope to ride the abortion issue into office in November on a wave of feminist anger over the overturn of  Roe v. Wade.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Paxton Allegedly Fled Home To Avoid Subpoena In Abortion Case

[#TexasPolitics365]

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) fled his home on Monday to avoid being served with a subpoena in a lawsuit related to abortion rights funding, according to an affidavit filed in federal court.

Paxton tweeted that he left with his wife, Republican state Sen. Angela Paxton, in order "to avoid a stranger lingering outside my home and showing concern about the safety and well-being of my family."

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Paxton Launches Attack Ad Against Democrat Opponent Garza #TexasPolitics365

[#TexasPolitics365]

Attorney General Ken Paxton, widely seen as the most vulnerable Republican holding statewide office, has come out with his first attack ad against his Democratic opponent Rochelle Garza, calling her “the most radical politician ever nominated by a major party in Texas.”

Paxton has mostly ignored Garza until now, but the ad marks his first major acknowledgment of the Democrat who’s trailing him by just a few percentage points in public polling. The most recent poll last week by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston showed Paxton hardly ahead of Garza with 45 percent to her 42 percent.

The ad says, in part, "Rochelle Garza's radical agenda would be a catastrophe for public safety, making every neighborhood more dangerous. This November, protect Texas. Defeat. Radical Democrat Rochelle Garza."

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Among Likely Voters, Democrats Narrow Gap In Statewide Races, Shows Poll

[#TexasPolitics365]

With the November general election in Texas just two months away, a new poll shows voters’ preference in candidates among three statewide races: governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.

The University of Houston/Texas Southern University poll shows Republican incumbents are leading in all three races, but their Democratic challengers are not far behind, especially in the attorney general’s race. The poll results come from 1,312 “likely voters” who were surveyed between Aug.11 and Aug. 29, 1,012 of whom are “almost certain” to vote in November.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Paxton In Tight Re-Election Race, According To Poll

[#TexasPolitics365]

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has a razor-thin lead over his Democratic challenger Rochelle Garza for the top law enforcement job in Texas.

Undecided voters and dark clouds are hanging over Paxton amid federal investigations of wrongdoing -- likely damaging his polling numbers.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Paxton Easily Defeats Bush, Will Face ACLU Attorney Garza In November

[#TexasPolitics365]

Attorney General Ken Paxton handily won the Republican runoff election against land commissioner George P. Bush last night.

Paxton one with 68% of the vote, to Bush's 32%. Paxton was able to Garner over 70% of the vote in almost all of the states 254 counties, with Bush only winning four, including some of the state's least populous areas.

In a written concession statement posted late Tuesday night, Bush said he hoped that Gov. Greg Abbott would protect the border, implying that Paxton would not. Bush did not mention Paxton by name in his statement.

The campaign was an ugly one, with Bush at one point posing with a cardboard cutout of Paxton, portrayed as wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, alluding to his legal woes, which his Democrat opponent will surely bring up in the general election.

Bush was hurt by his stance on the Alamo, part of which he advocated moving during renovations. The fact that he hails from the Bush political dynasty also hurt him with many Republicans, who were cognizant of the fact that Bush likely would eventually seek higher office, perhaps even the presidency.  Dynasties are not terribly popular with Republicans.

Any such political aspirations are likely on hold now, but defeat seems to never be final for family members. His grandfather, George HW Bush, lost at US Senate raised before winning a spot in Congress, catapulting him to other positions that led eventually to the presidency.

Word in Republican circles is that Bush will write a book while pondering his next steps.

Paxton's Democrat opponent will be ACLU attorney Rochelle Garza, who defeated former Galveston mayor Joe Jaworski 63% to 37%.

(Full story HERE
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Sen. Cornyn Calls Paxton's Legal Woes An "Embarrassment"

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Texas Senator John Cornyn blasted one of his party's top leaders, calling the mounting pile of accusations and legal woes against Attorney General Ken Paxton an "embarrassment" just days before a primary runoff election.

Paxton, who is within reach of winning the GOP nomination to seek a third term Tuesday, has been under state felony indictment since 2015 on securities fraud charges and is separately being investigated by the FBI after his top deputies accused him of corruption.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Paxton Ad Condemns Bush's "Woke" Plan To "Reimagine The Alamo"

[#TexasPolitics365]

The campaign of Attorney General Ken Paxton has released a new ad taking aim at  his opponent, George P. Bush, accusing the Texas Land Commissioner of pursuing a "woke reimagining" of the Alamo, and attempts to tie Bush to the "Radical Left."

The 30-second advertisement posted to YouTube on Monday characterized Bush, the eldest child of former Florida governor Jeb Bush and nephew of former U.S. president George W. Bush, as a "liberal land commissioner" bent on reshaping the historic Texas landmark.

"The radical left wants to destroy our heritage," a deep voice intones during the ad.

For his part, on the campaign trail Bush has stated that the reimagining plan was not his, but was a proposal by the San Antonio City Council. However, he has taken ownership of an original idea to move the nearby cenotaph honoring those who died at the Alamo. But he says that plan was abandoned due to fierce opposition.

(Full story HERE)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Bush Joins Calls To Declare Immigration Crisis An "Invasion" Of Southern Border

[#TexasPolitics365]

Land Commissioner George P. Bush this week became one of the few major candidates in Texas to call for the state to take the step of declaring illegal border crossings an “invasion” under the Constitution in order to expel migrants immediately, bypassing the federal government’s authority over immigration.

Bush, who will face off against Attorney General Ken Paxton in the May 24 Republican primary runoff, said Thursday that “Texas has been left with no choice” but to take drastic action because President Joe Biden — and Paxton — won’t.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Bush Portrays AG Paxton in Orange Prisoner Jumpsuit In Facebook Video

[#TexasPolitics365]

Land Commissioner George P. Bush, in his campaign to become attorney general, again attacked his runoff opponent, incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton, in a Facebook video Friday afternoon.

Standing in front of the Williamson County courthouse next to a half-size cardboard cutout portraying Paxton wearing an orange jumpsuit, Bush brought up the ongoing investigation into Paxton, Bush said he faces three felony counts that could result in 90 years in prison in Harris county, where the charges were leveled.  

"It's been seven years that he's been avoiding trial. If he was as innocent as he proclaims, then he would sit down right now in front of a jury of his peers... But he is guilty and he knows the best way to stay out of jail is to get reelected and to do whatever it takes and say whatever it requires in order to get reelected."

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

In Ugly AG Runoff, Bush And Paxton Launch Dueling Attack Sites

[#TexasPolitics365]

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.

--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

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.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

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.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Endorses AG Paxton In Runoff

[#TexasPolitics365]

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
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

AG Paxton Faces Runoff With Bush

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is headed toward a primary runoff against Land Commissioner George P. Bush.

Paxton, the two-term incumbent, boasted the largest campaign war chest and the support of former President Donald Trump. But in a field of four candidates, he was unable to secure more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff election, setting the embattled attorney general on the defensive in the biggest fight of his political life.

Bush narrowly managed entry into the runoff by edging passed Judge Eva Guzman Tuesday night. Bush and Guzman traded barbs near the end of the campaign about each other's commitment to building a wall on the southern border.

Bush has been heard during campaign events calling Paxton an "indicted felon," although he has not been convicted of any crime. Paxton's 2015 indictment on corruption charges has been a focus of Bush's campaign. Paxton says the indictment had been politically motivated, and has successfully delayed any prosecution attempts.

Opponents of Bush have raised the issue of his handling of the Alamo and plans to move the near-sacred cenotaph monument at the Alamo site, and to  "reimagine" the visitor's center there to enhance the Mexican side of the formative Texas 1836 battle.

Democrats also are facing a runoff in the attorney general's race, with Civil Rights Attorney Rochelle Garza gaining 43% of the core, and former Galveston mayor Joe Jaworski and civil rights attorney Lee Merritt both coming in around 19%. 

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

AG Candidates Bush And Guzman Trade Barbs Over Border Wall

[#TexasPolitics365]

With the contentious 2022 Republican primary for Texas attorney general just days away, opponents George P. Bush and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman are attacking each other’s commitment to border security. 

Bush, who has served as commissioner of the Texas General Land Office since 2015, aired a campaign ad this week claiming that Guzman, a Republican, "opposes George P. Bush’s plan to finish Trump’s wall, calling it a ploy." 

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Texas Joins Four States Alleging Google illegally Tracks Citizens

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton joined four other bipartisan attorneys general in suing Google for allegedly tracking users’ location data without their consent.

Texas filed its own lawsuit, filed Monday, alleging Google misled Texas users by continually tracking their location, even after users attempted to disable that feature.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.