20 Days Left in the Third Special Legislative Session

Lawmakers Busy Making All The Pieces Fit

The map-drawing process is underway at the Texas Legislature during this third special session. The initial drafts of both maps have so far attempted to strengthen Republican majorities by protecting incumbents and creating more GOP-friendly districts.

The maps will likely see further changes before the Legislature sends them to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk for the signature.

While the Senate has now released draft maps for the Senate, the State Board of Education, and Congress, the lower chamber has not yet revealed its proposal for its 150 members’ districts. The Legislature has 30 days during a special session to complete its business, though Abbott can always order lawmakers back for another overtime round.

Special Election Results

Two special elections were held yesterday…we can never get enough.

Texas House District 10: Brian Harrison (pictured above) defeated fellow Republican John Wray, who used to hold the seat, 55%-45%. Harrison is the former chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Donald Trump. He will replace Waxahachie Republican Jake Ellzey, who was elected to Congress in July.

Texas House District 118: Republican John Lujan and Democrat Frank Ramirez (pictured above, left to right) will advance to a runoff election to replace former state Rep. Leo Pacheco (D-San Antonio).

With all vote centers reporting Tuesday night, Lujan was getting 42% of the vote, while Ramirez was receiving 20%. Lujan is a Republican who previously held the seat and is hoping to help his party make inroads in South Texas. Ramirez is a former San Antonio City Council staffer.

Even More Retirements Coming In

Four more lawmakers announced they will not be returning to their current seats since last week’s update (new updates in bold below).

The list of lawmakers that are retiring or not seeking re-election to the position they currently hold is now up to 15.

• Rep. Leo Pacheco (D-San Antonio)–This seat will be filled by the winner of a special runoff election between John Lujan and Frank Ramirez.
• Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-Waxahachie)–After the special election held yesterday, Brian Harrison will fill this vacant seat.
• Rep. James White (R-Hillister)–running for Texas Land Commissioner.
• Rep. Michelle Beckley (D-Carrollton)–running for U.S. Congress.
• Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)–running for Texas Senate seat after Sen. Jane Nelson departure.
• Rep. John Turner (D-Dallas)–retiring.
• Rep. Ben Leman (R-Anderson)–retiring.
• Rep. Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth)–running for Texas Attorney General.
• Rep. Scott Sanford (R-McKinney)–retiring.
• Rep. Celia Israel (D-Austin)–running for Austin Mayor.
• Rep. Chris Paddie (R-Marshall)–retiring.
• Rep. Jim Murphy (R-Houston)–retiring.
• Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford)–running for Texas Senate District 10.
   
• Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound)–retiring.
• Sen. Dawn Buckingham (R-Lakeway)–running for Texas Land Commissioner.

Only in Austin…

The 28th annual Austin Film Festival kicks off Oct. 21 and will feature an 8-day film festival, 4-day conference, and opportunities to enjoy virtually.

Kicking off the festivities is the opening night film The Same Storm. The feature examining the tumult of the Covid-19 pandemic boasts a stacked cast, with Noma Dumezweni, Mary-Louise Parker, Sandra Oh, Elaine May, and Raúl Castillo amongst its ensemble.

Events will take place at a variety of venues around Austin. For a full schedule of events, go to the festival website.

Third Special Session Gets Underway

Lawmakers returned to the Texas Capitol on Monday for the start of the third special legislative session. Gov. Abbott has asked lawmakers to address the following issues: 

• Redistricting
• Allocation of Federal Funds
• Prohibiting Transgender Student-Athletes in Public School Sports
• Banning Vaccine Mandates by Local Governments
• Legislation relating to the unlawful restraint of a dog 

The primary focus of the session will be redrawing maps for Congress, the Texas House, the Texas Senate, and the State Board of Education, although the allocation of over $16 billion in federal funds will also garner a lot of discussion among lawmakers. 

The Senate has already released a preliminary proposal for redrawn political maps for State Senators and the State Board of Education—both of which preserve Republican power and are drawing backlash from Democrats.

After 3 days in, over 120 bills have been filed and we expect more bills will be filed over the next several weeks. Among them will be the highly anticipated preliminary proposal for redrawn political maps for Texas House members.

Another Retirement in the Texas Legislature

State Rep. Scott Sanford (R-McKinney) announced Sunday he is not running for reelection, citing his family, especially his grandchildren.

This announcement marks the 11th lawmaker that will either retire or not seek re-election to the position they currently hold.

• Rep. Leo Pacheco (D-San Antonio)–retired to take a new job at San Antonio College.
• Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-Waxahachie)–recently became the Congressman representing Texas’s 6th Congressional District.
• Rep. James White (R-Hillister)–running for Texas Land Commissioner.
• Rep. Michelle Beckley (D-Carrollton)–running for U.S. Congress.
• Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)–running for Texas Senate seat after Sen. Jane Nelson departure.
• Rep. John Turner (D-Dallas)–retiring.
• Rep. Ben Leman (R-Anderson)–retiring.
• Rep. Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth)–running for Texas Attorney General.
• Rep. Scott Sanford (R-McKinney)–retiring.
• Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound)–retiring.
• Sen. Dawn Buckingham (R-Lakeway)–running for Texas Land Commissioner.

Beto Plans to Run for Texas Governor

Former Congressman Beto O’Rourke is preparing to run for governor of Texas in 2022, Texas political operatives told Axios.

No announcement date has been released, other than it will be later this year. In the meantime, O’Rourke has been calling political allies to solicit their advice.

In 2018, O’Rourke lost to Sen. Ted Cruz, 51% to 48%, by a margin of some 215,000 votes.

Former State Sen. Pete Flores Seeks Comeback

A retired game warden and self-described pro-business fiscal conservative, former State Senator Pete Flores, a Pleasanton Republican who lost his San Antonio-area seat last year, is planning a comeback run to return to the Legislature — this time in a new district.

Flores used to represent Senate District 19, a sprawling district running from San Antonio to Pecos. He was unseated in 2020 by state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a San Antonio Democrat.

But the Texas Legislature is redrawing the state’s political maps this fall and proposed new lines place Flores’ hometown in Senate District 24, currently held by state Sen. Dawn Buckingham (R-Lakeway). She is leaving her post next year to run for Texas land commissioner.

Only in Austin…

Celebrate the coming of fall by visiting Pioneer Farms for Pumking Nights September 30 – October 31.

At Pumpkin Nights, you will set out on a Halloween walking path, unlike anything you have ever experienced. You will discover 10-foot tall Jack-o-Lanterns, the world’s largest pumpkin guitar, a flying 40-foot handmade dragon, a life-size pumpkin pirate ship, and more fantastic surprises built by our artists using over 5,000 hand-carved real and artificial pumpkins.

Buy your tickets now.

Texas Senate Committees

The Texas Senate announced their Committee Chairs and membership for the 87th Legislature.

Read here: 87th Texas Senate Committees

Rep. Chris Turner Re-Elected Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus

The House Democratic Caucus voted to re-elect Rep. Chris Turner (D-Grand Prairie) to his third term as HDC Chair. The following members were also elected to serve the Caucus:

First Vice-Chair, Rep. Toni Rose (D-Dallas)

Second Vice-Chair, Rep. Oscar Longoria (D-Mission) Treasurer, Rep. Lina Ortega (D-El Paso)

Special Election in North Texas

Four Republicans and one Democrat will be on the ballot this Saturday, January 23 to represent the 68th District in the Texas House of Representatives. The seat was vacated by Drew Springer (R-Vernon) after being elected to the Texas Senate.

John Berry: Republican — Financial planner from Jacksboro, Texas

Jason Brinkley: Republican — Attorney and Cooke County Judge from Gainsville, Texas

Craig Carter: Republican — Businessman from Nocona, Texas

David Spiller: Republican — Attorney from Jacksboro, Texas

Charles D. Gregory: Democrat — Retired U.S. Postal Service from Childress, Texas

Only in Austin…

The University of Texas at Austin has welcomed Steve Sarkisian, formerly offensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide, as the new head coach of the Texas Longhorn football team.

“I came here to win championships,” Sarkisian said. “That’s the goal. We’re here to chase greatness, to win championships. That’s why I’m here. That’s what’s going to drive us every single day.”

Good Things (& Vaccines) To Come in 2021

In the first four weeks of vaccine distribution in Texas, about 1.5 million first doses have been allocated and will reach 214 counties by the week’s end. The CDC will also deliver 224,250 second doses to the providers who received the vaccine on the week of December 14^th.

Week 4 Vaccine Allocation   

Texas Capitol Re-Opened Just in Time for the 87^th Texas Legislative Session

The following protocols have been released: House Protocols, Senate Protocols, Senate Media Information

Texas House District 68 Special Election

The Special Election for House District 68 has been set for Saturday, January 23^rd to replace incumbent and Senator-Elect Drew Springer (R-Muenster).

Four Republicans and one Democrat have filed for the special election.

Only in Austin…

Needing to get out of the house? Check out Doc’s Drive-In Theatre just on the outskirts of Austin in Buda, Tx for a relaxed, socially-distanced outing. https://www.docsdriveintheatre.com/

Texans thought we were done with elections until November – we were wrong. Another special election has been set, this time for Texas Senate District 30

The Tuesday, September 29 special election will determine who will fill Senator Pat Fallon’s recently vacated seat in the Texas Senate. Candidates must file their applications with the Secretary of State by 5 pm this Friday, August 28th. Early voting for the special election begins Monday, September 14th. Three candidates are expected to run including State Representative Drew Springer of Muenster, Denton Mayor Chris Watts, and Dallas hair salon owner Shelly Luther.

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New Texas Women’s Health Caucus Website Launch The Texas Women’s Health Caucus recently launched their new caucus website, https://www.txwomenshealth.com/.  State Representative Donna Howard serves as Chairwoman for the Texas Women’s Health Caucus, an official bipartisan caucus of the Texas House of Representatives with 38 members. The TWHC seeks to promote women’s health care and access and to educate legislators on women’s health care issues including the need and cost-saving benefits of these services​. Only in Austin… Austin: “We’re not just for weird people anymore”  Read this fun article on moving to Austin.

Whoa, we’re halfway there!

Monday marked the halfway point for the 86^th legislative session, which means the House and Senate are picking up in earnest. The House heard its first set of bills on the floor Tuesday.

 

Christina Morales sworn in Monday

Newly elected Rep. Christina Morales, D-145, was sworn in Monday, March 18. She is Harris County’s third freshman House Democrat. Read more about her here.

 

Will Texas raise the smoking age to 21 this session?

A bill with broad support from lawmakers was heard for the first time in a Senate hearing this week. It aims to reduce teen smoking – including e-cigarettes – by raising the smoking age from 18 to 21. Read more about the bill here.

 

Only in Austin…

El Paso Representative Cesar Blanco poses with the “Texas House Candy Jar.”

It is a gorgeous day here in the ATX! Here is a quick picture of the rose garden at the Texas Capitol building. We like to “stop and smell the roses” to and from the Capitol each day. Have a great Monday, everyone!