Good morning, 

Since the federal government isn’t sealing the southern border, should Texas? That’s the subject of the One Click Survey.

You’ll find that at the end of today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Tuesday, January 25, 2022
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Republicans Rejecting Endorsement (And Money) Of Pro-Amnesty Group

• The pro-amnesty LIBRE Initiative—along with its partner organization, Americans for Prosperity— announced late last week its first round of endorsements for the Texas Legislature and promised to spend $1 million. A significant number of those endorsees, it turns out, don’t want their support. Brandon Waltens has the details.
   
• LIBRE wants citizenship for “dreamers” (adults who came illegally into the country as children), as well as a “system that recognizes contributing members among the undocumented population, affording individuals an opportunity to come out of the shadows” through an amnesty program.
   
• The first round of the organization’s Texas endorsements included Adam Blanchard running for HD-122, Pete Flores running for SD-24, Laura Hill running for HD-93, Mayes Middleton running for SD-11, Hayden Padgett in HD-70, Tan Parker in SD-12, and Kronda Thimesch in HD-65.
   
• And yet… several of those Republicans moved yesterday to reject the endorsement – including senate candidates Mayes Middleton, Tan Parker, and Pete Flores.

GOP Wannabe Held Fundraiser For Quorum-Busting DEM

• How is this for taking “bipartisanship” to a new level?
   
• As noted above, Adam Blanchard is a Republican candidate for the Bexar County seat, HD-122, being vacated by the notoriously liberal Republican Lyle Larson. Three others are in the hunt for the GOP nomination: banking executive and Air Force veteran Mark Cuthbert, former Bexar County GOP Chairman and State Republican Executive Committeeman Mark Dorazio, and former San Antonio City Councilwoman Elisa Chan. 
     
• After accepting the endorsement of an out-of-state pro-amnesty group, Blanchard’s recent political giving is getting extra scrutiny. In July of 2021, Blanchard donated $2,500 to far-left Democrat State Rep. Ray Lopez (D-San Antonio) and hosted a fundraiser for him – just days before Lopez and other Democrats fled the state to obstruct election integrity legislation.
   
• Sydnie Henry has the full story.
   
• In the past two years, Blanchard has also donated to House Speaker Dade Phelan, Gov. Greg Abbott, moderate Republican State Reps. Steve Allison (R-San Antonio), John Lujan (R-San Antonio), and Jeff Leach (R-Allen). Blanchard also donated to outgoing State Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) in 2012, who has been widely considered the most liberal Republican in the State Senate.
   
• His fellow nomination seeker, Elisa Chan, also has had an interesting giving history that includes a $500 donation to Hillary Clinton in 2006. However, Chan’s donations have become increasingly conservative over the intervening years with funds going to U.S. Reps. Chip Roy, Troy Nehls, and Tony Gonzales.

Tarrant County: Abbott Under 50% In Straw Poll

• The Tarrant County “Candidate Fair” hosted by the Texas Conservatives Unite PAC was held in Hurst over the weekend. The event has become a biennial opportunity for candidates to meet and greet potential Republican primary voters in the state’s largest Republican county.
      
• Topping the poll for governor was incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott, with 45 percent, short of a majority. Allen West led the challengers with 25 percent, with Don Huffines close behind at 21 percent.
        
• Meanwhile, incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton eked out the lead with 30 percent, with U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert in second place with 29 percent.
      
• Get more details from Brandon Waltens’ report.
      
• Reminder: A candidate in Texas must get over 50% of the vote in the primary election to secure their party’s nomination, otherwise there is a runoff. Historically, an incumbent in a runoff losses… because more than 50% of voters have decided to hire someone new.

Abbott Staffer: Trump Is A ‘Joke’

• One of Gov. Greg Abbott’s senior campaign staffers, political director Mitch Carney, has been regularly attacking former President Donald Trump on social media, leaving observers wondering why the governor is tolerating such behavior, which often includes attacks on Mr. Trump’s supporters.
   
• Carney is the son of another top Abbott operative, New Hampshire-based political consultant Dave Carney, who himself regularly takes shots at the former president. The governor has declined to answer questions about the issue.

Homeless Camping Returns To Austin

• Despite a years-long public safety disaster in Texas’ capital city—plus a citizen petition campaign and a newly enacted state law—citizens are now seeing lawless homeless camping return to their neighborhoods. Adam Cahn has the details.
   

• During the 2021 state legislative session, Texas officials loudly trumpeted the passage of House Bill 1925, which banned public tent encampments statewide. The new law was largely responding to the two-year crisis in Austin, where Democrat city officials legalized open camping in nearly all public spaces across the city.
   

• Unfortunately, a recent cursory examination of the state’s capital city reveals the state law isn’t being enforced on the streets, even in areas where the state has jurisdiction.

ONE CLICK SURVEY

The March 1, 2022, GOP Primary ballot will feature a series of policy positions placed there by the State Republican Executive Committee. One of those questions focuses on border security. Each is phrased as a statement and the ballot allows you to vote “yes” or “no,” indicating your agreement or disagreement with the position.

“In light of the federal government’s refusal to defend the southern border, Texas should immediately deploy the National Guard, Texas Military Forces, and necessary state law enforcement to seal the border, enforce immigration laws, and deport illegal aliens.”

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