Good morning, 

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Thursday, January 23, 2020
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• Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, President Trump correctly referred to climate change alarmists as “perennial prophets of doom.” That is an appropriate description; the god they offer as salvation from "predictions of the apocalypse" is a big, intrusive, socialistic government that demands your liberty as a sacrifice.
     
• The field of Democrats running for president in 2020 have raised more than three times as much as the incumbent president in 2019, according to a recent report. Ross Kecseg looks at the numbers, noting that President Barack Obama’s main Republican opponents also outraised him ahead of his 2012 re-election campaign, though by a smaller margin. 
     
• It’s also worth adding that while their combined field bested President Trump’s fundraising, no single Democrat outraised him in 2019.
         
• Voting is underway in three Texas House districts for special elections to fill vacant seats. Erin Anderson reports those include:

       
  House District 28 (Fort Bend County), featuring Republican Gary Gates and Democrat Elizabeth Markowitz. They led the seven-way special election last November to replace seven-term State Rep. John Zerwas (R-Richmond).
     
  House District 100 (Dallas County), in which Democrats Lorraine Birabil and James Armstrong III advanced to the runoff to replace five-term State Rep. Eric Johnson (D-Dallas), who was elected mayor of Dallas last June.
      
  House District 148 (Harris County), where Democrat Anna Eastman and Republican Luis La Rotta topped the list of 15 candidates vying last November to replace longtime State Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-Houston).
     

• Applauding his strong, conservative record and forceful advocacy for Texans in Washington, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has endorsed U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert of Tyler for re-election to Congress. Cary Cheshire writes that Gohmert “has been a consistent and forceful advocate for taxpayers” and that he “will continue to fight on the frontlines to limit government, defend citizens’ liberties, and protect their wallets.”

• In other endorsement news, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has endorsed Chris Ekstrom in the open-seat race in Congressional District 13. In announcing the endorsement, Cary Cheshire notes Ekstrom is a known commodity in the Lone Star State, where he has fought for conservative issues and icons, including historical monuments targeted for destruction by radical progressives. CD13 stretches from northwest of Dallas, west through Wichita Falls, up to Amarillo, and all of the Panhandle’s High Plains.
     
• “Chris Ekstrom is a political outsider who is committed to fighting alongside President Donald Trump and drain the swamp, and he isn’t afraid of ruffling feathers in the process.” – Cary Cheshire of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
     
• I don’t usually do “product plugs,” but let me remind you about Texas-based Patriot Mobile. While AT&T and other “big mobile” companies fund rabid leftwing causes, Patriot Mobile is unapologetically conservative, contributing to conservative causes in Texas and around the country. They are a real alternative to the big guys. I’ve begun switching my own devices, and couldn’t be happier with their service.
       
• The dirty little secret is every mobile phone company uses the exact same towers – the coverage is almost indistinguishable. While you can probably save a few bucks switching to Patriot Mobile, the real benefit is knowing you’re doing business with a company that shares your values.
   
• Join me in wishing a very happy birthday to my friend Bill Peacock, vice president of research at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.