A Texas GOP brawl is dragging to a runoff. How the power struggle may push Republicans further right
10 months ago

A Texas GOP brawl is dragging to a runoff. How the power struggle may push Republicans further right

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — A Republican power struggle in Texas that could push the state even further right come November isn’t cooling down. Still, the state party censured Phelan over the impeachment and a “lack of fidelity to Republican principles and priorities.” Even if Phelan wins the runoff, his hopes for third term as speaker would appear heavily damaged. A CHANCE FOR CHALLENGERS ON THE RIGHT Shelley Luther, the salon owner who make national headlines and spent two days in jail for defying Abbott’s COVID-19 shutdown orders in 2020 and called him a “tyrant governor,” defeated an incumbent for a the Republican nomination for a North Texas House seat. Brandon Herrera, a gun rights activist who produces YouTube videos and calls himself “The AK Guy” forced a runoff against incumbent U.S. Rep Tony Gonzalez in a sprawling south Texas district that covers a long portion of the U.S.-Mexico border from El Paso to San Antonio.

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History of this topic

'Take this as a warning': Texas attorney general issues ominous threat to GOP lawmakers
1 week, 1 day ago

'Take this as a warning': Texas attorney general issues ominous threat to GOP lawmakers

Raw Story  

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has a message for Republican state legislators: Don’t mess with the Texas speaker’s race – or else. The far-right attorney general – a staunch ally of President-elect Donald Trump – announced on New Year’s Eve that he would embark on a statewide tour of districts where incumbent Republican state representatives are reportedly working with Democratic …

Texas Democrats underperformed yet again. Now what?
2 months ago

Texas Democrats underperformed yet again. Now what?

Raw Story  

"Texas Democrats underperformed yet again. Ali Zaidi, a Democratic political operative who ran Mike Collier’s campaign for lieutenant governor in 2022 said many in the party are rooted in a “pre-2012” belief that an increasingly diverse Texas would lead automatically to Democratic gains. But “we need to find out where voters are and meet them where they are.” Chad Wilbanks, …

Texas’s Republicans eat their own
7 months ago

Texas’s Republicans eat their own

Hindustan Times  

AT THE TIME it seemed they had outdone themselves. In the past two legislative sessions Texas Republicans outlawed abortion, allowed gun-owners to carry their weapons without permits, gave state judges the power to deport immigrants, banned diversity offices in public universities and nixed all sorts of progressive city laws. In a note to funders last summer, the Republican state party …

Texas House runoffs a wave of GOP incumbent defeats, Abbott has votes for school vouchers
7 months, 1 week ago

Texas House runoffs a wave of GOP incumbent defeats, Abbott has votes for school vouchers

Raw Story  

"Texas House runoffs bring wave of GOP incumbent defeats, give Abbott votes for school vouchers" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. A wave of Republican incumbents were swept out of the Texas House in Tuesday's primary runoffs, …

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan Wins GOP Primary Runoff, Fending Off Anger Over Impeachment
7 months, 1 week ago

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan Wins GOP Primary Runoff, Fending Off Anger Over Impeachment

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING AUSTIN, Texas — U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas was out to save his job Tuesday in a GOP primary runoff that has put rifts within the party on display. A Gonzales loss, his supporters warn, would give Democrats an opening to flip a traditionally moderate district in November, while a change in Texas House leadership could …

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan wins GOP primary runoff, fending off anger over impeachment
7 months, 1 week ago

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan wins GOP primary runoff, fending off anger over impeachment

Hindustan Times  

AUSTIN, Texas — Republican Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan has won his primary runoff to survive a wave of party turbulence in America’s biggest red state and anger from the right over last year’s impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan wins GOP primary runoff, fending off anger over impeachment A shakeup in the Texas …

House Speaker Dade Phelan took a risk on Paxton’s impeachment. It may end his career.
10 months ago

House Speaker Dade Phelan took a risk on Paxton’s impeachment. It may end his career.

Raw Story  

"House Speaker Dade Phelan took a risk on Ken Paxton’s impeachment. “Show the speaker voting aye.” Rep. Dade Phelan cast a rare vote last May, his voice cutting through the din of the packed House as members scrambled to register their votes on the question of impeaching Attorney General Ken Paxton over accusations of bribery and malfeasance. “Together, we will …

Republican Texas House Speaker Headed To Runoff As AG Ken Paxton Takes Revenge
10 months ago

Republican Texas House Speaker Headed To Runoff As AG Ken Paxton Takes Revenge

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING AUSTIN, Texas — Republican Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan headed to a primary runoff against challenger David Covey, bruising one of the state’s most powerful figures and emboldening state Attorney General Ken Paxton in his revenge campaign to oust GOP incumbent lawmakers who sought his impeachment. The state party censured Phelan last month for his vote to …

David Covey forces runoff with Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, who led AG Ken Paxton’s impeachment
10 months ago

David Covey forces runoff with Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, who led AG Ken Paxton’s impeachment

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Republican Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan headed to a primary runoff against challenger David Covey, bruising one of the state’s most powerful figures and emboldening state Attorney General Ken Paxton in his revenge campaign to oust GOP incumbent lawmakers who sought his impeachment. The state party censured Phelan last month for his vote to impeach Paxton, accusing …

Fighting the GOP Civil War, Texas Style
10 months ago

Fighting the GOP Civil War, Texas Style

Politico  

At first blush, the Republican-on-Republican violence can feel a bit like the Lone Star version of a Quentin Tarantino picture, with bullets spraying around and the viewer needing a dramatis personae to keep track of it all. “He sues Biden, we like that, he’s our guy.” Doing nothing to hide his frustration, the speaker said Republicans were tempting the same …

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton beat impeachment. Now he wants Super Tuesday revenge on his foes
10 months, 1 week ago

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton beat impeachment. Now he wants Super Tuesday revenge on his foes

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton beat impeachment. They include rank-and-file legislators, state judges and one of the most powerful figures in Texas: Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan, who oversaw the historic vote last year to impeach Paxton on corruption charges. Phelan recently punched back with a video reminding voters of Paxton’s extramarital affair, saying Paxton broke an …

Far-right activist blasts Texas GOP speaker for being 'pro-Muslim' in political mailer
1 year ago

Far-right activist blasts Texas GOP speaker for being 'pro-Muslim' in political mailer

Raw Story  

A longtime Texas conservative activist mailed what appeared to be a blatantly anti-Muslim holiday card to voters in state House Speaker Dade Phelan’s legislative district, the latest political volley in an ongoing feud between the Texas Republican Party’s far-right faction and its more moderate wing. “But in Texas we should celebrate and protect religious practices.” The cards were paid for …

Texas judge says no quick ruling expected over GOP efforts to toss 2022 election losses near Houston
1 year, 4 months ago

Texas judge says no quick ruling expected over GOP efforts to toss 2022 election losses near Houston

Associated Press  

HOUSTON — A Texas judge presiding over Republicans’ widespread challenges to losses in the 2022 elections around Houston said Thursday not to expect a quick ruling following a trial in which no GOP voters came forward to testify that they were unable to vote because of ballot shortages or delayed poll openings last November. At the heart of the challenge …

Republicans 'eating themselves alive' over impeachment of Ken Paxton: 'Never seen grassroots this mad!'
1 year, 6 months ago

Republicans 'eating themselves alive' over impeachment of Ken Paxton: 'Never seen grassroots this mad!'

Raw Story  

Republicans who voted to impeach Texas attorney general Ken Paxton can expect primary challenges in an intra-party battle that mirrors the national GOP's dynamic around Donald Trump. “We have never seen the grass roots this mad!” posted Julie McCarty, CEO of the hard right True Texas Project, shortly after the vote. "They are being eviscerated by you … as they …

Simmering tensions erupt between top Texas state Republicans
1 year, 7 months ago

Simmering tensions erupt between top Texas state Republicans

CNN  

CNN — Just days after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused the state House speaker of presiding over the chamber while drunk and called on him to resign, a GOP-led state House ethics panel heard explosive testimony from investigators detailing what they described as years of misconduct by the attorney general, later recommending his impeachment unanimously. Paxton on Tuesday posted …

Republican victories show Texas is still far from turning blue
2 years, 2 months ago

Republican victories show Texas is still far from turning blue

Raw Story  

Texas Republicans maintained their nearly three-decade grip on state government on Tuesday, comfortably fending off a vigorous run to unseat Gov. They just didn’t vote, period.” But the South Texas results robbed Republicans of the hoped-for narrative that Hispanic voters were abandoning Democrats in droves. Even if Republicans aren’t seeing their map expanding into new territory like South Texas, they …

Texas Attorney General Paxton defeats Bush in GOP runoff
2 years, 7 months ago

Texas Attorney General Paxton defeats Bush in GOP runoff

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won his Republican runoff election against Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush on Tuesday despite facing a slew of legal problems, including an FBI investigation and a trial on securities fraud charges. The wide gap underscored Paxton’s continued political durability and showed how much ground the 46-year-old scion of the Bush political …

Texas results hint GOP Hispanic gains may endure post-Trump
2 years, 9 months ago

Texas results hint GOP Hispanic gains may endure post-Trump

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Just 46 residents of Starr County, Texas, cast ballots in the state’s Republican primary two years ago. By contrast, she said, Trump has helped Republicans win over Hispanics on issues including job creation, education and traditional religious beliefs: “We connected with them intellectually, economically and spiritually.” Abel Prado, executive director of the Democratic advocacy group Cambio Texas in …

Texas results hint GOP Hispanic gains may endure post-Trump
2 years, 9 months ago

Texas results hint GOP Hispanic gains may endure post-Trump

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. By contrast, she said, Trump has helped Republicans win over Hispanics on issues including …

Texas’ GOP runoffs hinge on a name that’s not on the ballot
2 years, 10 months ago

Texas’ GOP runoffs hinge on a name that’s not on the ballot

Raw Story  

Donald Trump could decide who gets the GOP nomination for attorney general of Texas and, in the process, could be a factor in runoffs farther down that party’s ballot in May. If that race draws a crowd — it will be at the top of the GOP’s runoff ticket — the voters Paxton and Bush lure to the polls will …

Abbott to face O’Rourke as Texas primaries set political field
2 years, 10 months ago

Abbott to face O’Rourke as Texas primaries set political field

Al Jazeera  

Republican Governor Greg Abbott will face Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke in November after both easily won their party’s nominations for Texas governor on Tuesday. O’Rourke, who has slammed United States President Joe Biden’s administration for not doing enough to secure the US-Mexico border, is fighting an uphill battle to become the first Democrat elected governor of Texas since 1994. “In …

Texas Democrats return, end 38-day holdout over voting bill
3 years, 4 months ago

Texas Democrats return, end 38-day holdout over voting bill

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — A standoff in Texas over new voting restrictions that gridlocked the state Capitol for 38 consecutive days ended Thursday when some Democrats who fled to Washington, D.C., dropped their holdout, paving the way for Republicans to resume pushing an elections overhaul. Only three new Democrats showed up Thursday, and the vast majority of the more than 50 …

Biden slams Republican state voting bills as ‘un-American’
3 years, 5 months ago

Biden slams Republican state voting bills as ‘un-American’

Al Jazeera  

Texas legislators go to Washington and call on US President Joe Biden and Congress to counter state voting restrictions. It suppresses and subjugates.” Invoking the US civil rights movement of the 1960s and the historic battle for Black liberation that began after slavery, Biden delivered a fiery speech in Philadelphia condemning the drive by Republicans in several US states including …

Special session in Texas raises expectations of voting fight
3 years, 6 months ago

Special session in Texas raises expectations of voting fight

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday ordered lawmakers back to work in July, raising expectations of another attempt to pass new voting restrictions after Democrats blocked the GOP’s first try with a dramatic late-night walkout in May. But Abbott has previously made clear that he would bring lawmakers back to pass new election laws after Democrats …

Texas takes on Biden but Republicans keep distance from AG
3 years, 11 months ago

Texas takes on Biden but Republicans keep distance from AG

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — As President Joe Biden’s agenda is dealt an early blow in Texas, the embattled Republican attorney general promising more fights ahead with the new administration is getting little public support from members of his party, even as they cheer the results. That’s the real litmus test,” said Republican state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, who pointed toward the deportation …

Biden wins Texas primary in resounding Super Tuesday finish
4 years, 10 months ago

Biden wins Texas primary in resounding Super Tuesday finish

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Joe Biden ended a triumphant Super Tuesday with a narrow victory over Bernie Sanders in Texas, the giant red state where Democrats are seeking a rare return to power in 2020. “And as a working mom, I’m concerned about the future if we keep it in the hands of people like Sen. John Cornyn.” And on the …

Trump, in Texas, bashes Democrats as ‘crazy,’ unpatriotic
5 years, 2 months ago

Trump, in Texas, bashes Democrats as ‘crazy,’ unpatriotic

Associated Press  

DALLAS — President Donald Trump tried to turn impeachment rancor into a political rallying cry Thursday, using a Texas rally to bash Democrats as “crazy” and unpatriotic as they push forward with their investigations. Setting a dire tone, Trump told his supporters, “At stake in this fight is the survival of American democracy itself.” “Don’t kid yourselves,” he said of …

Texas GOP speaker tape: Lawmaker ‘vile,’ Trump ‘killing us’
5 years, 2 months ago

Texas GOP speaker tape: Lawmaker ‘vile,’ Trump ‘killing us’

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas’ GOP House speaker sought help ousting members of his own party in 2020, called a female lawmaker “vile” and said President Donald Trump is “killing us” in pivotal races in a secretly recorded meeting with a conservative activist released Tuesday. “With all due respect to Trump, who I love, he’s killing us in urban, suburban districts,” …

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