Good morning, 

Early voting is happening in primary runoff elections across Texas.

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Brandon Waltens 

Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Modify your email preferences.

• Gov. Greg Abbott has long enjoyed high approval ratings among Texas Republicans since taking office in 2015, but that could soon change, as the governor continues to draw criticism over his economic shutdowns and moves into open war against grassroots conservatives.
   
• Abbott’s response to the Chinese coronavirus has only served to anger conservative Texans, as businesses have been shut down and livelihoods threatened by a series of executive orders over the past few months. The outrage hit a fever pitch when Abbott announced, under his executive order, cities and counties could require businesses to require customers to wear masks or face heavy fines.
   
• And just this weekend, the war hit a new peak when Abbott announced his endorsement of a liberal establishment candidate to replace outgoing State Rep. Mike Lang (R–Granbury).
   
• The comments on the Facebook post are a sight to behold, as conservatives sounded off against the endorsement:
   

  • “Another person that clearly voters should not vote for. Anyone associated/endorsed with you should not be voted for!” 
     

  • “Endorsing on the grounds of a candidate being pro-business days after shutting down and crippling businesses for the second time in less than 3 months. Does irony not exist on your planet?”
     

  • “How about providing a complete list of your endorsements so we know who NOT to vote for."

• Businesses are fighting back against the orders, however. The Texan reports that the Texas Bar and Nightclub Alliance has announced a legal challenge over Governor Abbott's authority to close their members' establishments.
   
• “In light of Greg Abbott’s irresponsible and shameful actions this morning that shutter the businesses that provide a livelihood for your families and employees, we support our members in the constitutional right to protest by keeping your businesses open.” –Texas Bar and Nightclub Alliance

• Just days after Denton County declined to issue a face mask mandate because the coronavirus data didn’t warrant such a measure, the City of Denton imposed its own mask order on local businesses. Erin Anderson reports that city officials also set up a snitch line for Denton residents to report businesses to authorities.
   
• In the City of Odessa, it was a different story, however, as the city council strongly voted down a mask mandate. Matt Stringer has the details. 
   
• The City of Round Rock is bucking the state entirely, however. Jacob Asmussen (link) writes that, in an emergency meeting Monday, the Round Rock City Council unanimously voted to mandate masks in public, forcing every citizen over the age of 10 to wear a face covering “in public places when adequate social distancing is not possible” or face $1,000 fines. 

• Despite public protests of wanting to hold police to a high standard, Democrats in Dallas are fighting to hide how many police officers have bad records.
   
• Robert Montoya writes about how Dallas County officials, including Democrat District Attorney John Creuzot, are being less than transparent when it comes to releasing information on Brady or Giglio lists—lists of police officers who “have had sustained incidents of untruthfulness, criminal convictions, candor issues, or some other type of issue placing their credibility into question."

• Amid rumors Democrat officials might cancel next month’s Republican Party of Texas convention in Houston due to the Chinese coronavirus, Erin Anderson reports that Collin County Commissioner Darrell Hale is offering his GOP stronghold as an alternative.
   
• “If it gets shut down in Houston, we have business to be taken care of and we can do that in conservative Collin County. I would welcome the Convention personally to Precinct 3." –Darrell Hale
   
• The Republican Party of Texas' convention is currently scheduled for July 13-18.

As a reminder, Michael Quinn Sullivan is focused on a special project, but feel free to hit me up with any questions, tips, comments, or concerns!

Your Federal & State Lawmakers