Good morning –

Yesterday, we asked readers which GOP presidential candidate they thought was favored by their neighbors. We have their answers at the conclusion of today's Texas Minute!

– Michael Quinn Sullivan
Thursday, July 6, 2023

Houston Sues Texas Over New 'Preemption' Law

• With Gov. Greg Abbott having signed into law a measure reining in onerous local regulations, Houston officials are suing the state in an effort to block it. Emily Medeiros has the details. 

      
• Proponents say the new law provides statewide consistency by keeping regulatory powers with the state government. Specifically, cities will be forbidden from adopting or enforcing regulations covered by state law unless they are specifically authorized to do so.
     
• Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said the city's lawsuit is about maintaining "local control and innovation."
       
• The author of the legislation, State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), wrote on social media that he is not surprised "leftist cities are working with activists from California to try and slow down the implementation of the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act."

Study: Texas’ Heartbeat Act Saved Nearly 10,000 Babies

• A new study from pro-abortion researchers at Johns Hopkins University finds that Texas’ Heartbeat Act has saved nearly 10,000 babies since it was enacted in 2021.
      
• The study found more births than researchers would have otherwise expected. “Although our study doesn’t detail why these extra births occurred, our findings strongly suggest that a considerable number of pregnant individuals in Texas were unable to overcome barriers to abortion access,” explained Alison Gemmill, the lead author of the study.
             
• The research suggests Texas’ law saved approximately 1,225 babies from being aborted each month.
       
• The study's authors are upset by the success of the law, with Suzanne Bell explaining that "birthing people... have had no choice but to continue an unwanted or unsafe pregnancy." 

Planned Parenthood Offers 'Puberty Parties' to Talk Sex With Minors

• Texas' Planned Parenthood chapter is promoting its free "Summer Education Series." Valerie Muñoz reports the offerings – ranging from virtual sessions and sex ed camps to "period parties" – are focused on children as young as 9 years old.
         
• The abortion provider's middle school "summer camp" is advertised as covering topics like gender and sexual identity, reproductive anatomy, and birth control.
        
• “A group parading around claiming ‘abortion is healthcare’ or ‘gender is fluid’ has no business telling me or my kids what medically accurate information is,” said Brady Gray, the president of the Texas Family Project.

Ohio Expands School Choice

• Although Texas lawmakers failed to act on Gov. Greg Abbott's school choice priority during the state’s 88th Legislative Session, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a law creating a universal voucher system for students there. Katy Marshall has that story.
     
• Ohio's new budget makes all students now eligible for the state's Educational Choice Scholarship Program. The voucher will vary from student to student, based on family income.
      
• The Texas Senate passed legislation creating a limited grant program for which all students would be eligible. Under the Senate plan, Texas students accepted into the program would get $8,000 per year – while most public schools would get an additional $10,000 annually for each student who leaves.
      
• Meanwhile, the Texas House refused to advance any school choice proposals.

State Rep. Extends Legislative Continuance in His Felony Case

• Taking advantage of a perk available to Texas legislators, State Rep. Frederick Frazier (R-McKinney) was granted another 30-day delay in his pending felony court case. Erin Anderson has the details.
      
• The case arose out of accusations that he vandalized the campaign signs of a primary opponent.
      
• Frazier is also a Dallas police officer and former McKinney City Council member. The DPD placed Frazier on administrative leave in June 2022 after he was indicted on two counts of impersonating a public servant, a third-degree felony.
        
• The Collin County lawmaker has previously said he was “looking forward” to defending himself in court against the felony charges and wanted to “get this cleared up as fast as possible.” Yet he has used the legislative "continuance" to delay court hearings since early January, when he was sworn into office.

Huls Challenges VanDeaver in House District 1

• Conservative activist Dale Huls has announced his challenge to incumbent State Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) in the 2024 GOP primary for House District 1, which includes Bowie, Cass, Lamar, Morris, and Red River counties.
        
• “We are witnessing an invasion at our southern border, rising inflation, increasing crime rates, the infiltration of socialism and critical race theory in our schools, and a radical LGBT agenda being forced upon us,” said Huls.
       

• VanDeaver was first elected to the Texas House in 2014. Before that, he spent 33 years as a school teacher and administrator. VanDeaver received $372,000 in campaign contributions during the 2022 election cycle, although he faced no Democrat opponent. His top donor was House Speaker Dade Phelan.

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Y'All Answered

The Texas Republican primary election will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Yesterday, we asked which of the 14 declared candidates would most likely win readers' neighborhoods.

Here are the results, followed by a sampling of responses from my inbox...

• “While I believe that my neighborhood would likely lean towards DeSantis, and I have not much against him as governor, I believe that Trump is more likely to win nationwide and is also better on the issues.” – Johann Sanford
       

• “So many unknowns in a forest of also-rans. Trump is the name everyone knows, DeSantis is probably the best candidate, but anyone would be better than the current administration.” – Arthur Potter
      

• “I chose Donald Trump as the winner in my neighborhood. He is NOT my choice. I am suffering mightily from Trump fatigue, but I think my neighbors would vote for him.” – Martha Rhoades
      

• “If the Republican primary were held today, the unquestioned winner would be Donald Trump. Trump has led the entire field of candidates by double digits since the start of primary season, and based on signs around my rural neighborhood, he is heavily supported in Montgomery County, Texas.” – Michael Edinburgh
      

• “I believe Donald Trump would win among Republicans in my area. I am leaning toward Vivek Ramaswamy.” – Debra Davis
      

• “The amazing Vivek Ramaswamy – my neighborhood has numerous Asian Indian-Americans, and Vivek is the real deal with no political baggage.” – Tim Rhodes
      

• “I chose DeSantis for Highland Park although it could easily be Trump. Personally, I like Ramaswamy, then DeSantis, and then Trump. All would be acceptable candidates…” – Spencer Siino
      

• “While I think Donald Trump would likely win in my neighborhood, my personal pick would be between Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis.” – Carol Winter
      

• “Donald Trump gets my vote. Only one of the bunch that has a proven track record that he can get things done.” – Danny Thompson 
      

• “I think Trump has and will maintain the edge, strongly. None of the other candidates have a compelling argument. DeSantis gives me pause. Too much evidence that he is likely another establishment hack.” – Roger Taylor
       

• “There's really one candidate who I hope Texans vote for, and that's Trump. The rest are just there to stop his nomination.” – Rachel Salajean
      

• “Nikki Haley would probably win my neighborhood. Of course, I live in central Austin.” – Adam Cahn
      

• “I am guessing that the few of us Republicans in my neighborhood would vote for Trump, given his proven record.  None of the other candidates have name recognition, except for DeSantis – so I think he would be a close second.” – Nancy Fowler
      

• “I live in a solidly Republican precinct in the Houston suburbs. Not sure who will get the most votes in March, but it won’t be Trump. People I talk to are very disappointed with him and want someone younger who is focused on the future.” – David Holden
      

• “I don't really know how my neighbors will vote, but I hope they will support Gov. Ron DeSantis. He has the best chance of defeating the Democrats and then building a competent administration like he has in Florida.” – Jerry Harben
      

• “I live out in the country where there are Trump flags flying. However, when I come into the city (San Antonio) on weekends, the enclave of Alamo Heights is rather ‘progressive,’ unfortunately.” – Steve Lozano
      

• “Since this survey is asking who I believe would win in my neighborhood, I would have to say, Donald Trump. I have already seen numerous TRUMP signs, flags, etc. being displayed throughout the neighborhood, and not one for the opponents. It is still early, but I believe this does make a statement.” – David Barton
       

• "I think many neighbors would choose Ron DeSantis. I am really hoping for a general election between governors - DeSantis vs Newsom. I think a clear choice between the philosophies of governance between the two Disney states would be good for our nation." – Hanslin Peterson

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