Good morning, 

Yesterday, we asked readers about the candidates seeking the GOP nomination for the presidency. The results came in a landslide. Check out the results below.

This is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, Nov.21, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

But First...

• At Texas Scorecard, our mission is to inform citizens so that they can be fully engaged as the leaders of our state. We don't put our content behind paywalls, seek corporate advertising, or accept government grants. Instead, we rely on the generosity of our readers.
      
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Former ICE Director Promises ‘Biggest Deportation Operation’ Under Trump

• In a second Trump administration, cleaning up the southwest border would be a priority, according to the former director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Sydnie Henry has more on the story.
         
• In a social media post, Tom Homan said he would "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen" should Donald Trump re-take the White House in 2024. Trump had previously said he would re-hire Homan to head ICE in a second administration.
        
• “If there’s no consequence, we can’t fix the border. We’re going to have a consequence in the Trump administration,” Homan added.

Paxton Impeachment Leader Won’t Seek Re-Election

• State Rep. Andrew Murr (R–Junction), who led the impeachment charge against Attorney General Ken Paxton, has announced he will not seek re-election. Brandon Waltens has the report.
        
• First elected to the Texas House in 2014, Murr was named the chairman of the House General Investigating Committee by Speaker Dade Phelan earlier this year. From that post, Murr led a secret investigation against Paxton that culminated in a rushed impeachment process. Paxton was exonerated by the Senate this fall.
     
• Besides the impeachment push, Murr’s record led to his censure at home by the Republican executive committees in Medina and Bandera counties.
      
• By leaving office, Murr avoids a potentially embarassing re-election fight. He had already gained a primary challenge from Wes Virdell, who was endorsed by Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Parents Want an Inspector General for Public Education

• As the debate over “school choice” continues in the Texas Legislature, parents are asking Gov. Greg Abbott to expand his agenda for the ongoing fourth special legislative session to include more oversight and accountability in public education. Erin Anderson has the details.
      
• Aileen Blachowski is part of Texas Education 911, a grassroots movement promoting parent-identified policy solutions.
       
• “With more than 50 percent of the state budget spent on public education, Texas needs an Inspector General for Education to report fraud, waste and abuse—especially abuses of parental rights and school employees who physically or sexually harm a child,” said Blachowski.
       
• The organization has documented 32 stories of students across the state harmed by public school administrators failing to follow the law when children have been abused by district employees.

Israeli Student Says She was Targeted By Public School Teacher

• An investigation is underway in the Dickinson Independent School District after an Israeli student reported being targeted for harassment by her English teacher. Emily Medeiros has the story.
   

• The student said she walked into her English class last week to find a message, “No Justice, no Peace. Justice for Palestine,” written on the whiteboard. The message was not part of a lesson. Instead, the girl claims, it appears to have been an opportunity for the teacher to insert her political opinion about the Israel-Hamas war into the classroom.

        
• The girl's parents filed a complaint with the district.

Texas State University to Host 2024 Presidential Debate

• The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Monday that Texas State University in San Marcos will host a debate ahead of the general election. 
      
• Texas State will be the first university in the state to host a presidential debate. It is also the only university in Texas to have a former president as an alumnus. Lyndon B. Johnson graduated in 1930, when the school went under the name Southwest Texas State Teachers College.
       

• The debate, which will take place on September 16, 2024, will be the first in a series of four debates scheduled by the commission next year.

🎶 Grab Some Texas Music 🎶

• As you assemble a playlist for your Thanksgiving travel, check out "The Handwriting Was Mine" by Owen Stroud.
      
• This is Texas music, through and through. A sample of the song titles: "I'm Not Afraid of I-35," "Leander," and "Lone Star Nerd." 
   
• Owen interned for us many years ago, and has gone on to a career in music education.

Quote-Unquote

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."

– Winston Churchill​

Y'All Answered

With filing underway for Texas' primary election, we asked readers who they were currently supporting in the GOP presidential contest.

The readers' response...

Here is a sampling of readers' comments...

• “Trump is the only candidate with the proven will and ability to fight the overwhelming corruption in our government.” – Margaret Vonder Hoya
         
• “Disappointing, but not surprising to see Abbott endorse Trump, who is only in the race to satisfy his hubris. Abbott can’t get major legislation like school choice passed, but can tell us who to vote for?” – Todd Vician
       
• “I chose Trump.  I have long gotten past the academia and media's hatred for him and their deliberate attempt to distort the truth and sabotage his efforts.” – Patrick Bell
        
• “Anyone Abbott endorses, I will not endorse. Ever since Abbott started being against teachers, he lost my vote.” – April Falter
      
• “Many voters want to vote for the winner like they win if their guy wins. Politicians like Gov. Abbott want to support the winner because they might return the favor down the road. I support Nikki Haley because she has the best positions on the issues.” – David Holden 
       
• “I have always liked Trump, and with the more ridiculous suits that he has to endure from these liberal brainless DA’s, the more I support him!” – Priscilla Love
       
• “Although Donald Trump may have the flash and appeal, his baggage and current legal problems are definitely going to impede his position. DeSantis has the right message, the track record, and the character to become President.” – Arthur Potter
       
• “As a former Trump supporter, I am now supportive of Nikki Haley in the primary, and I so wish other Trump supporters would reconsider their position.  The border, oil production, and the economy are not our only serious problems.  He is not the measured diplomat we desperately need in world affairs.  He’s quite disliked and not respected at all.  If he gets foreign affairs strategy wrong, all of the other issues he may fix pale in comparison to the import of what America can suffer.” – Karen Lawson
       
• “Most likely Trump, but his nomination will bring out the worst of Democratic venom and shenanigans.” – Anthony Cieszkiewicz
       
• “Donald J. Trump is the ONLY tested and battle-hardened Presidential Candidate in the entire field. He isn't beholden to lobbyist money, he isn't restrained by political correctness, and he isn't part of the GOP Establishment.” – Gail Hanna
       
• “Republicans have an opportunity to win with sound policies if the candidate can appeal to a broad demographic. Haley is young enough to appeal to a broader demographic than DeSantis, but it is a toss-up between the two. Trump is too old, Ramaswami is not strong enough in foreign affairs, and Christie and Hutchison don't have broad appeal. Unfortunately, Trump is getting too much money and public sympathy to make it a fair race.” – Thomas Camardo
       
• “Our country desperately needs Trump as he is not beholden to any special interest groups... and he will clean house, which is desperately needed!” – Debbie Hills
       
• “Thankful we finally have a good and proven conservative to vote for rather than the typical hold-your-nose options. DeSantis is willing to fight for conservative issues, in a conservative way, and he knows how to fight and win. Won me over based on real results. He plans well and is a good leader.” –Clint Alderman
       
• “Donald Trump is America's last hope at recovery. It's going to take Donald Trump in the Oval Office AND a majority in the House and Senate to make changes to legislation, not just Executive Orders, if we're going to save this country.” – Chrissy Vorderbruggen
       
• “This only answer is Trump. The programs he had in place worked. America was safe, wealthy, strong and respected.” – Steve Crevier
       
• “I voted Trump. He's the only one I actually trust to clean up this mess and shut down the circus. Anyone else in the lineup is nothing more than a ‘substitute teacher,’ and I want the guy I know is not a RINO.” – Rick Goncher
        
• "Why are people and politicians supporting Trump? Is our memory so short we don’t remember the role he had in the pandemic and the Covid vaccine?  I wasn’t surprised that Abbott endorsed Trump. Abbott enjoyed the power he obtained by limiting our freedoms during the pandemic. I want a conservative who stands up for our freedoms. I want a Republican who doesn’t inflame people like Trump does. That’s why my vote is for DeSantis." – Ruth Spencer
        
• “Trump is the strongest of the bunch to take on the ‘system.’ He would have a more enthusiastic vote from me if he were to admit that he handled COVID poorly and admit his mistakes.” – Dave Dorsey 
          
• “I'm supporting Trump because I want him to go back to DC and go all HULK SMASH on the bureaucracy that treasonously undermined his presidency the first time... But I won't shed one tear if Ron DeSantis gets the nomination, either.” - Chris Breaux
     
• “Anybody that the Dems, the media, and the bureaucracy is afraid of this much has my support!” – Kermit Heaton
          
• “Do you want a ‘talker’ or a ‘doer’? Trump will get things done. The rest will talk about getting things done while accomplishing nothing.” – Bill Parks
        
• “Donald Trump is so far ahead of everyone else in the Republican Party it is almost useless for the other candidates to participate. The other candidates need to get behind Trump and show solidarity for the Republican Party.” – Gary Alford
          
• “While I ‘think’ Desantis ‘might’ be a good POTUS, with Trump the proof is in the pudding!” – Mike Wicks
          
• “President Trump is a proven leader. If they hadn't stolen the election, imagine where the country would be today.” – Joseph Zimmer

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