Good morning!

The Texas GOP convention is underway in Houston, and Texas Scorecard is there providing coverage and talking to the grassroots.

Here is the Texas Minute for Thursday, June 16, 2022.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Texas Supreme Court Deals Setback To DEMs

• A ruling by the Texas Supreme Court on what it means to “solicit” mail-ballot applications rejects an interpretation sought by Democrats, reports Erin Anderson. The Democrats were attempting to block new election integrity laws.
        
• At issue is a section of the Election Integrity Protection Act that creates a civil penalty for officials who violate the law’s anti-solicitation provisions regarding mail-in ballots. Harris County’s disgraced elections chief administrator, Isabel Longoria, wants the law to apply only to solicitation of ineligible voters. 
      
• “We must reject this interpretation, however, because it is inconsistent with the statute’s plain text,” the justices ruled.
      
• In explaining the law, the Court said merely telling voters they have the opportunity to apply for mail-in ballots is not solicitation under the new law.

Republican Flips Democrat Congressional Stronghold 

• Rio Grande Valley voters are sending a Republican to represent them in Washington, D.C., for the first time in 150 years. David Vasquez has the details.
     
• Republican Mayra Flores beat Democrat Dan Sanchez outright in Tuesday night’s special election in Congressional District 34. The special election was called to replace Filemon Vela (D), who abruptly resigned late last year.
      
• Flores was born in Mexico and campaigned hard on a number of conservative priorities, as well as her faith and belief in American exceptionalism. The wife of a Border Patrol agent, she advocated for fortifying the legal immigration process and securing the southern border. 
     
• “For over 100 years, the Democrat Party has taken for granted the loyalty and support South Texas has given them for decades. They do nothing to earn our vote or our support,” said Flores.
     
• Tuesday’s race was run under the old congressional maps, where President Biden won the district in 2020 by only four points. However, November’s general election will follow the new district maps. Under those lines, Biden would have won TX-34 by at least 15 points.
      
• In other words, Rep.-Elect Mayra Flores has her work cut out for her.

GOP Priorities Come Into Focus

• HOUSTON – The temporary Legislative Priorities Committee of the Republican Party of Texas has spent the past two days hearing testimony from Texans on possible legislative priorities for the 88th Legislative Session in January. Sydnie Henry has the details.
       
• Thus far, the committee has whittled down the priorities to 15 (see the list). They are subject to change later this week, when the permanent committee meets. GOP delegates will have the final say on Saturday, when they will set the top eight to be the party’s 2023 priorities.  

PROGRAMMING: Live, From The GOP Convention

• Throughout the day today and tomorrow, catch live interviews with policymakers and opinion-shapers from Texas Scorecard’s Big Stage at the Texas GOP Convention.
      
• For example, check out the quick conversation I had with my colleague, Brandon Waltens, and the interview I did with Jeramy Kitchen of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility.
      
• While the recorded videos will be pushed to YouTube, you can catch them live on our Facebook page. Simply “like” and “follow” our Facebook page to get notifications when those interviews are getting underway.

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Your Federal & State Lawmakers

The districts displayed here should reflect those recently redrawn by the Legislature. Though the new lines do not take representational effect until 2023, they will appear on the 2022 ballot. Please note that your incumbent legislator and/or district numbers may have changed.