Good morning –

Don’t want Democrats to steal the election? It is our responsibility, John, to make sure all our right-thinking family and neighbors get to the polls! (Early voting continues through Friday, Oct. 30.)

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Tuesday, October 20, 2020
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• Have you RSVP’d yet for the 2020 Conservative Leaders Gala? Get tickets today! The Gala will be Saturday, Dec. 5, in Irving; the reception is at 6pm with the program and dinner starting at 7pm.
   
• The Conservative Leaders Gala honors the men and women from across the state who have stood up and stepped out by demonstrating real leadership in their neighborhoods and communities.

• A bipartisan trio of Dallas County commissioners thwarted a scheme by Democrat County Judge Clay Jenkins that would have directed nearly $1 million in coronavirus grant money to a private organization for questionable election-related marketing. Erin Anderson has the complete story.
   
• “What the judge was trying to push through with Communities Foundation would have been in direct violation of Texas election law,” said Commissioner J.J. Koch. As the lone Republican on the court, Koch was joined by Democrat Commissioners John Wiley Price and Theresa Daniel in voting down Jenkins’ scheme.
   
• The money was part of a $15 million COVID-19 response grant the county elections department received from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, funneled through left-leaning nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life. 

• Republican Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller isn’t pulling any punches: “There is simply no logic to continuing to crush the liberties of the free people of Texas for the sake of fear and politics.” Jacob Asmussen has details of the letter Commissioner Miller sent to supporters.
    
• Sid Miller continued: “Did you know that isolation leads to increased alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, divorce, and suicide? Apparently our governor doesn’t.”
     
• “This isn't May. We know far more about this disease then we did then. We have better treatments and therapeutics, along with plenty of hospital capacity. This has resulted in plummeting fatality rates. We also know that schools AREN'T ‘super-spreaders,’ as many feared. In fact, coronavirus transmission rates in schools are tiny for students and adults alike. It is time to STOP THE INSANITY!” – Commissioner Sid Miller

• Noting that the do-nothing purple session of 2019 – in which statewide leaders attempted to placate Democrats – has backfired on Republicans this year, former GOP State Rep. Matt Rinaldi writes in a new commentary that grassroots activists must begin now demanding a better House Speaker for 2021.
     
• The House Speaker is selected by lawmakers on the first day of the legislative session. The current speaker, disgraced State Rep. Dennis Bonnen of Lake Jackson, did not seek reelection following his ethics scandal last year.
   
• “There is no reason to believe that any member who was at the top of Bonnen’s power hierarchy will cede power in any way to the members or change course from the abysmal 2019 session.” – Matt Rinaldi

• With early voting underway, Texas Scorecard continues its series reviewing the endorsements issued by conservative groups in the state.
   
• Jacob Asmussen looks at the endorsements issued by the Texas Home School Coalition, which defends parental rights from attacks in the courthouse, state agencies, and the legislature. THSC’s process includes partnering “with local leaders to establish vetting committees that interview every candidate before an endorsement is issued. The interview focuses on identifying a candidate’s heart for service and convictions about political and social issues.”
      
• Meanwhile, Brandon Waltens shares the True Texas Project’s voting recommendations. The organization’s general posture ahead of the general election in November is voting for all Republicans on the ballot, noting “the time to find the best Republican is in the March primary election.” For local city and school board races, TTP has compiled recommendations from supporters who live in Tarrant, Dallas, and Denton counties.
     
• The True Texas Project’s recommendations are so well known that Tarrant County Democrats are specifically targeting school board candidates recommended by the organization. Robert Montoya has those details.

Please join me in wishing a very happy birthday to my beautiful bride!

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” - Proverbs 31:26

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