Good morning –

Among readers of the Texas Minute, the crowded GOP field for Attorney General is currently a two-man race. Which two? Find out at the conclusion of today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Wednesday, November 17, 2021
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Asians And Whites Won’t Be Treated?

• A Texas state agency is actively discriminating against white and Asian Texans, reports Sydnie Henry, by refusing them monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19 because of the applicants’ ethnicity.
        
• The Texas Department of Health and Human Services, which is overseen by Gov. Greg Abbott and his direct appointees, is limiting the treatments – based on a video leaked to the public.
     
• Harrison Smith tweeted a video of his interaction with an HHS worker determining whether he met the eligibility criteria. When Smith asked if he could receive the treatment if he was black or Hispanic, the HHS worker replied, “That’s right.” Smith added, “So, I’m being denied medical service because of my race?” 
     
• The HHS worker responded, “That’s the criteria that was set forth.” She went on to add, “You’re healthy and [have] no medical conditions, so research shows you should be able to fight off COVID.”
     
• Radio host Dave Reilly called the State Infusion Hotline and asked if monoclonal antibody treatments were being denied to those of Caucasian and Asian descent if they had no underlying health issues. He was told that was correct.
     
• Gov. Abbott’s office did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s request for comment.
     
• Gubernatorial challenger Don Huffines is calling it “outrageous that Greg Abbott’s state agencies are actively discriminating against White and Asian Texans—denying them monoclonal antibodies, which is potentially a lifesaving treatment. This is a horrendous example of Critical Race Theory in action and a gross violation of Texas values.”

• This issue is covered in the new episode of the Luke Macias Show.

Paxton Seeks To Block Biden Contractor Mandate

• Fresh off his victory blocking the Biden mandate on large employers, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is now seeking to stop the administration’s push to force government contractors to get a COVID jab. Sydnie Henry has the details.
   
• The mandate could cost Texans up to $7.3 billion in work if it is allowed to take effect, according to Paxton’s office.
   
• President Joe Biden announced the vaccine mandate for federal contractors in September. Since then, protests at Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and Union Pacific have all made news as employees fight against the expansive abuse of authority.
   
• “Whatever President Biden hopes to achieve politically cannot be paid for by Texans’ livelihoods or the nullification of their Constitutional rights.” – Ken Paxton

Texas GOP Condemns RNC’s ‘Pride Coalition’

• The creation of a “Pride Coalition” in the Republican National Committee has drawn condemnation from the Republican Party of Texas.  Check out the report by Griffin White.
   
• The Log Cabin Republicans, a gay-focused organization, recently hosted their annual “Spirit of Lincoln Gala” in Palm Beach, Florida. It was attended by numerous high-profile Republicans, including former President Donald Trump. During the event, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced the RNC’s first ever LGBT “Pride Coalition.”
   
• Texas Republican Party Chair Matt Rinaldi rebuked the RNC’s pandering: “We do not believe building GOP versions of left wing movements furthers our cause and do not support this move by the Republican National Committee.”
   
• The RNC’s coalition could also be in conflict with elements of the Republican Party of Texas’ grassroots-crafted platform.

Austin Mayor To Citizens: Shut Up

• After two contentious citywide issues and public votes, Austin Mayor Steve Adler wants to increase the requirements on citizens trying to respond to city hall’s decisions. Jacob Asmussen has the story.

Campaign Roundups

DEM Beckley Announces For Yet Another Office

• Democrat State Rep. Michelle Beckley (Carrollton) announced yet another new campaign. Jeramy Kitchen reports now she’s running for lieutenant governor.
      
• Beckley fled Texas this summer with other Democrats to avoid election security votes in the legislature. She then announced a run for Congress, which she dropped shortly after. Now, she is running for lite-guv. She joins two other announced Democrat candidates for the position leading up to the 2022 primary election.    

Murr Draws Primary Challenger

• Former U.S. congressional candidate Wesley Virdell officially announced he would be challenging State Rep. Andrew Murr (Junction) for the Republican nomination to Texas House District 53.
      
• “I am entering this race because we need stronger leadership in Austin. My opponent voted to allow democrats to chair powerful committees and voter fraud penalties were reduced from felony to misdemeanor for a bill he sponsored. It is time to replace those who won’t stand up with those who will.” – Wesley Virdell

Welcome To The GOP, Mr. Guillen

• Now that State Rep. Ryan Guillen is a Republican, he’ll have to answer first to Republican primary voters, defend his record, and tout conservative principles. David Vasquez reports from the Rio Grande Valley on the GOP primary race for House District 31.

Pratt: Democrats’ Fantasy

• In a new commentary, Robert Pratt finds that the Democrats’ response to Ryan Guillen’s party switch is an example of “how far the Texas Democratic Party has moved.”
   
• “Guillen is a Democrat who refused to illegally flee the Capitol to D.C. this year, voted for constitutional carry of handguns, voted for the Texas [fetal] Heartbeat Act, and was the only House Democrat to vote to protect girls’ sports from boys who claim to be girls, crashing their competitions,” writes Pratt. 

Y’All Answered

Yesterday we asked about the five people running for (or publicly exploring) a campaign for Texas Attorney General, including the incumbent. Texas Minute readers seem interested in only two. Remember, in Texas’ primary elections a candidate must get 50 percent of the vote or face a runoff. 

Here’s the breakdown, in order:
➖ Ken Paxton: 50.4%
➖ Louie Gohmert: 40.9%
➖ Eva Guzman: 4.3%
➖ Matt Krause: 3.1%
➖ George P. Bush: 1.3%

Here’s a sampling of responses from the inbox…

• “Paxton has done a good job. Let’s keep him!” – Mary Matthews
      
• “This is a tough one.  I have been very pleased to have Louie Gohmert represent me in Washington DC, and hate to see him step down from that role.  I believe Ken Paxton has done a good job, as well; so, it is really a tough choice.  I will have pay close attention to where each of them stand on various issues, and where they differ on those issues.  The others are just ‘also-rans’.” – Ray Mathis
      
• “Because Ken Paxton has been effective, he is getting a lot of flack.  His problems, then become a distraction...but he needs to be rewarded with a vote of confidence.” – Arthur Potter
     
• “Paxton has done an okay job as AG, but could be better. I hope Gohmert stays in Congress, but if he runs for AG I'll vote for him.” – Kevin Wade
      
• “I will be casting an unwavering vote for Ken Paxton in the Attorney General race. And, particular to one of Paxton's primary opponents, George P. Bush: "Pack your 'carpetbag' and go elsewhere, please.” – Robert Lee
      
• “Bush is a squish and Gohmert is the Democrat networks' favorite interviewee to make conservatives look like morons. I have reservations about Paxton because Ted Cruz and Chip Roy seem to dislike him, but he has done some good things on immigration and election integrity. I know nothing yet about Guzman or Krause. If the vote was today I guess I would go with Paxton.” – Jerry Harben
      
• “No one in the conservative arena has done more for Texas and our country than Ken Paxton these last few years. Paxton needs to stay right where he is to serve another term! And, maybe Jeb can find George P. a job elsewhere outside of politics.” – Michelle Ward
      
• “I clicked on Louie Gohmert – he’d be the perfect colleague to govern Texas alongside Don Huffines.” – Mark Henley
      
• “I voted for Ken Paxton but I sure like Louie Gohmert. I honestly don't know if all the negative stories about Paxton were disinformation because Paxton's actions have been for we the people. Louie has a common sense approach to everything. It seems like Paxton has the legal knowledge we need and the guts to apply it.” – Marti Graves
       
• “I have far more confidence in Ken Paxton than I do in Greg Abbott. Gohmert can try to make hay about the charges brought by some disgruntled employees in the AGs office, but I am quite happy with the actions Mr. Paxton has taken on behalf of Texans and conservatives across the country.” – Dave Peters
      
• “I think these are all good candidates (except maybe one, because I want the Bush dynasty to end). However, I think Ken Paxton has done an excellent job as AG and I will be voting for him. Let the others continue doing great work where they are (e.g., Gohmert).” – Dan Gibbs

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