The governor sought to tie the minority party, and its U.S. Senate nominee, James Talarico, to “Bernie Sanders socialism” in a fresh look at his message for the fall midterms.
1 killed, 10 other victims injured; Alleged shooter dead in Midland mass shooting, mayor says23 people arrested in week-long undercover prostitution sting, Bexar County sheriff saysLULAC calls for end to in-custody deaths at Bexar County Adult Detention CenterGovernment watchdog says detention center wasted up to $11.5 million before detainees arrivedon Friday vowed to eviscerate Democrats in November’s midterm elections during a speech at the Texas GOP convention that previewed his next legislative priorities and his message for the fall campaign: tying the opposition to “Bernie Sanders socialism.
” Speaking to thousands of delegates at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, Abbott suggested the party will close its primaries to only Republicans, a priority of GOP activists that would require primary voters to register with the party. The governor also renewed his call to ban local governments from sending lobbyists to Austin — known among critics as taxpayer-funded lobbying — and encouraged the Legislature to adopt his plans forAbbott’s remarks offered a fresh look at how he plans to confront Democrats in a midterm where President Donald Trump’s policies, and the state of the economy, is creating political headwinds for Republicans.
The governor cast the minority party, and its nominee for U.S. Senate, Rep.of Austin, as radical socialists who are trying to rebrand from their lenient approach to the U.S.-Mexico border during the Biden administration. The spike in illegal border crossings in part helped Trump and the Texas GOP make The governor, who has nearly $100 million in his campaign coffers, did not once mention his own November opponent: Rep.of Austin.
He did, however, knock the top of the Democratic ticket for being from the capital city, which he called the “People’s Republic of Austin. ” “Unity is going to drive victory this November, and no one does a better job than you all” at turning out voters, Abbott said to uproars of cheers“Together, we will demolish the Democrats. Together, we are going to win in November. Together, we are going to keep Texas, Texas.
” Abbott’s suggestion that the state will require voters to register with a party occurred two weeks after Secretary of State Jane Nelson — the state’s chief elections officer —Nelson, an Abbott appointee, to close the state’s primaries, motivated by concerns that Democrats are infiltrating GOP contests to boost more moderate candidates. Abbott has not yet named a replacement secretary of state, but party activists are hoping Nelson’s successor will drop the agency’s legal opposition and allow the primaries to be closed via the courts.
Elsewhere in his speech, the governor, who is seeking an unprecedented fourth term, underscored a variety of urgent tasks he has identified for the Texas GOP, from its elected lawmakers to the party activists who are set to instruct them with a new slate of legislative priorities Saturday. Abbott also called for the Legislature to codify his executive order that froze new H-1B visa applications from state agencies and public universities.
That new law should extend the freeze to “all state and local governments,” the governor said, adding, “Texas jobs should only go to Texans. ” Beyond clamping down on local government lobbying, Abbott also made a pitch for reining in city and county spending, touting his proposed property tax package that seeks to require two-thirds voter approval of property tax increases.
He also accused Democrats of supporting Sharia law and prompted thunderous applause when he called for completely outlawing it and giving the attorney general’s office more authority to tackle the issue.
“The contrast between what Republicans have passed and how Democrats have voted is shocking,” Abbott said. “It should be a five-alarm warning to anybody thinking about voting for Democrats.
” Some of his proposals received immediate praise from some of the GOP’s grassroots leaders, like Luke Macias, a longtime conservative political consultant whoA year after the flood took her husband, she's still trying to heal$115K courtside seats for Game 5 in San AntonioFans electrified by the Spurs' halftime lead"Go Spurs Go" — in the middle of New York CityA new tool lets you see how many school misconduct reports are in TexasHe Was Hit and Left in the Road — and the Driver is Still Out ThereDid MSG Fired Him Up? — Wemby Opens Up on Good Morning America
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