Good morning, 

As the 2024 primary heats up, sound off in the One Click Survey about which of the presidential candidates currently has your support.

Here is the Texas Minute for Monday, Nov. 20, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Greg Abbott Endorses Donald Trump for President

• At an event in South Texas on Sunday afternoon, Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Brandon Waltens reports the endorsement came more than a year after Trump announced his plans to seek a second term.
       
• “Now more than ever, America needs a President who will secure the border and prioritize national security,” said Abbott during remarks at the South Texas International Airport in Edinburg.
        
• “I am going to make your job much easier,” said Trump. "You’re not going to have to worry about the border anymore.”
        
• Most of Trump’s brief comments revolved around the crisis at the southern border, which has hit record levels since Joe Biden took office in 2021.
        
• Trump had already been endorsed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham.
       
• Abbott’s endorsement bucks many of his largest donors, who have split their support between Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley.
      
• As of Sunday evening, Donald Trump was the only Republican listed as having filed for a place on the Texas GOP primary ballot. By law, filing closes at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11.

Texas Can Enforce Law Requiring Age Verification for Online Porn

• Texas can enforce a new law requiring age verification to access online pornography after the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted an injunction against the measure. Erin Anderson has the details.

       
• The new state law requires commercial porn websites to use “reasonable” methods to verify that users are at least 18 years of age before they access X-rated content online. Violators face hefty fines.
       
• Earlier this fall, a federal district judge sided with porn industry plaintiffs in the lawsuit, claiming that the law to protect minors from accessing adult content likely violates the First Amendment.
       
• The latest court action means the law can go into effect.
       
• “Texas has a right to protect its children from the detrimental effects of pornographic content,” said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. “As new technology makes harmful content more accessible than ever, we must make every effort to defend those who are most vulnerable.”

Texas House Kills School Choice Proposal

• A school choice proposal was killed by the Texas House on Friday. Gov. Greg Abbott called the current special session specifically to pass a school choice program, which has been a priority of the Republican Party of Texas for two decades.
      
• In a vote of 84-63, House members removed the "education savings account" program from the chamber's spending package. There were 21 Republicans who joined with the Democrats to kill the proposal; none of the Democrats supported the program.
        
• The measure was loaded with big spending for the government schools, including across-the-board pay raises for all teachers, counselors, and librarians.
     
• Once the "education savings account" provision was removed, the legislative process was halted, and the measure was sent back to the House Select Committee on Educational Opportunity. It is possible that the House could take up the Senate's proposal before the special session ends in early December.
       
• The Republican House members who joined the Democrats in killing the school choice proposal included: Steve Allison, Ernest Bailes, Keith Bell, Dewayne Burns, Travis Clardy, Drew Darby, Jay Dean, Charlie Geren, Justin Holland, Kyle Kacal, Ken King, John Kuempel, Stan Lambert, Andrew Murr, Four Price, John Raney, Glenn Rogers, Hugh Shine, Reggie Smith, Ed Thompson, and Gary VanDeaver

Hundreds More Illegal Aliens Filmed Crossing Into Eagle Pass

• A video posted to social media by citizen-journalist Auden B. Cabello showed hundreds of illegal aliens paddling through the Rio Grande into Eagle Pass. Emily Medeiros has the story.
       
• Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham commented on the video, saying Texans deserve safety, not an open border crisis

Tioga School Board to Consider Future of Accused Groomer

• Parents in Tioga Independent School District north of Dallas have accused an English teacher of grooming their daughter. Sydnie Henry reports the school board will consider the teacher's fate at a meeting tonight.
      
• The teacher allegedly began an inappropriate relationship with their daughter that included speaking with her outside of school hours late into the night and sending romantic messages via the social media app Snapchat.
      
• Parents allege the Tioga ISD superintendent, Josh Ballinger, is protecting the teacher from consequences.

Attorney General Ken Paxton Announces More House Endorsements

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is adding to the slate of candidates he is supporting in the 2024 Republican primary, with an emphasis on challengers.

Phelan Ally Gains Primary Challenger

• San Antonio attorney Marc LaHood has announced he is entering the race to challenge current Texas House District 121 incumbent Steve Allison in the GOP primary.
       
• LaHood says he is entering the race because Allison “is no longer serving the best interests of the families and children of our community.”
        

• Allison has received $161,400 in campaign donations from Texans for Lawsuit Reform and $159,900 from Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan’s campaign.

Today In History

On Nov. 20, 1943, two Marines from Texas earned the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions during an island battle in the Pacific. Both Staff Sgt. William James Bordelon of San Antonio and 1st Lt. William Dean Hawkins of El Paso died from injuries sustained during the fighting.

Quote-Unquote

"The contest, for ages, has been to rescue Liberty from the grasp of executive power."

– Daniel Webster​

ONE CLICK SURVEY

There are 106 days until the March 5, 2024, Republican primary election. Who are you currently supporting for president? 

(Candidates listed alphabetically.)

Once you’ve clicked your answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!