Texas | November 16, 2021
Longtime Texas Democrat defects to GOP
Texas | November 16, 2021
A longtime Democratic lawmaker from South Texas switched parties Monday, giving Republicans another boost in their aggressive attempts to make inroads with voters along the U.S.-Mexico border.
State Rep. Ryan Guillen has been one of the most conservative Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives since 2002. His switch to the GOP comes after his rural border district was redrawn to heavily favor Republicans under new maps signed in October by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Guillen said his values no longer aligned with Democrats, who criticized him for switching rather than staying in the party and fighting for his seat… (Excerpts from The Washington Times)
Texas | November 10, 2021
Supreme Court justices question sincerity of Texas death row inmate’s Christian beliefs
Texas | November 10, 2021
U.S. Supreme Court justices and lawyers have questioned the sincerity of the Christian faith of a Texas death row inmate who recently had his execution delayed because state officials will not allow his pastor to lay hands and make vocal prayers as he receives a lethal injection for murdering a man in 2004.
John Henry Ramirez, 37, had his execution for the murder of 46-year-old convenience store worker Pablo Castro in Corpus Christi delayed by the Supreme Court on Sept. 8 until after a hearing of the merits of his case which was held on Tuesday.
During the hearing, Justice Clarence Thomas and several of his colleagues raised questions about the sincerity of Ramirez’s faith and whether he is simply using litigation to delay his execution. (Excerpts from the Christian Post)
Texas | November 9, 2021
Ted Cruz: Texas secession in play if Democrats ‘fundamentally destroy’ U.S.
Texas | November 9, 2021
Sen. Ted Cruz said he understands people who want Texas to secede from the U.S. and that Democratic rule could make matters “hopeless” enough for it.
The Texas Republican said that he doesn’t favor secession now, but cautioned that he could imagine circumstances changing if Democrats in Washington get their way.
“If the Democrats end the filibuster, if they fundamentally destroy the country, if they pack the Supreme Court, if they make D.C. a state, if they federalize elections, if they massively expand voter fraud, there may come a point where it’s hopeless,” Mr. Cruz said… (Excerpts from the Washington Times)
Texas | November 6, 2021
Cruz calls 2021 elections ‘enormously consequential,’ does not rule out 2024 run
Texas | November 6, 2021
Regaining Republican control of the House and Senate in the 2022 midterm elections is at the top of Sen. Ted Cruz‘s political agenda. And toward that end, the Texas conservative views Tuesday’s elections as “enormously consequential.”
“I think the elections in Virginia, the elections in New Jersey, they’re foreshadowing what’s coming next year in 2022,” Cruz said in an interview with Fox News on Friday night, ahead of his speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual leadership meeting in Las Vegas… (Excerpts from Fox News)
Arizona, Texas | October 29, 2021
Biden opposition to Border Patrol mission harming national security, former chief says
Arizona, Texas | October 29, 2021
The most recent national leader of the U.S. Border Patrol said the Biden administration has not treated the federal law enforcement organization properly and that its opposition to agents’ mission poses dangers to the weekend.
Rodney Scott, who involuntarily left his post as chief in August, recently spoke with the Washington Examiner about his fear that the Border Patrol’s mandate from Congress has been undermined or frustrated under the Biden administration and the effects it is having on agents and the nation…. (Excerpts from the Washington Examiner)
Texas | October 26, 2021
Texas Gov Greg Abbott Signs New Congressional Map Strengthening Republican Congressional Seats
Texas | October 26, 2021
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas signed the state’s new congressional map into law Monday, solidifying Republicans’ strength across the state, The Texas Tribune Reported. Texas Democrats said that the map unfairly underrepresented minority communities responsible for the state’s growth.
Abbott signed off on the map one week after the Republican state legislature advanced it, according to the Tribune. The congressional map shores up multiple GOP incumbents who beat Democratic challengers by single-digit margins in 2020, and it creates an opportunity for other Republicans to flip a swing district in the Rio Grande Valley…. (Excerpts from LifeNews.com)