UPDATE: This PAC spent over $60,000 on behalf of Bowen.
It took me a while to figure this out, but I did.
While on the CCISD Board former Trustee Scott Bowen recruited candidates to run against sitting Board members. He also accepted money from his billionaire buddies featured by CNN, Timothy Dunn and Farris Wilks. They formed a PAC, Defend Texas Liberty and was spreading money all across Texas to extremist candidates like Bowen. That was until their leadership was caught by The Texas Tribune meeting with a known white supremacist, Nick Fuentes. The PAC dissolved. But they are back and are attacking Bowen’s opponent Albert Wittliff.
Bowen’s buddies have a number of PACs, one being Texans for Common Sense. (LOL) This PAC was created late this year and has only 1 ethics report and only 1 donor, Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC. This PAC is solely funded by Farris Wilks and Timothy Dunn, Bowen’s billionaire buddies after their original PAC was dissolved.
As noted earlier Bowen is the new PACMAN receiving 98% of all his donations from PACs. This does not include the cost of the mailers paid for by his billionaire buddies. You have to wonder why the Republican Party is spending almost $500,000 on a race in the Clear Lake area that is a 15 point Republican stronghold.
Maybe there is a perfect storm brewing. A horrible candidate like Bowen, a great candidate like Wittliff, and a possible wave of discontent. Besides the incredible amount of money being raised and spent, this mailer kind of sucks. Most people are too g**damn busy wondering how they are going to buy groceries and could care less about a g**damn damn.
Alex Mealer is running for Congress in the newly drawn Congressional District 9. In 2022, she ran for Harris County Judge as Alexandria Moyer Mealer, lost by a couple thousand votes, sued over the results, and then shortened her name on the ballot for the Republican primary four years later. She went on to handily defeat her primary opponent, State Representative “Little Baby” Briscoe Cain pictured below with his mom.
Why the name change? Her pollsters likely calculated that running as “Alex” would give her an edge with conservative voters who might assume she was a male candidate. The strategy worked, and she won the nomination. She now faces Leticia Gutierrez, who comfortably won her own primary against two other candidates while running under her established name.
In the general election, local connection matters. Gutierrez grew up in the district, while Mealer lives in The Heights—outside District 9’s borders. Though election law doesn’t require candidates to live in the district they seek to represent, opponents will certainly highlight the gap. Election law also doesn’t require an official name change in her case. Besides not living in the district and adopting a white mans name, her unwavering love and devotion to Donald Trump will require a subscription to the Chap Stick of the month club.
Confused? Don’t be, just vote for the woman in the race.
The Clear Creek Association of Retired Teachers (CCART) is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving public education across the Clear Creek area and advocating for retired teachers. Its members regularly donate their time and energy to this mission, including forming a Legislative Committee to engage local political candidates on key education priorities.
As an example last session the Legislature passed a teacher pay raise which CCART supported but they created a $5 Billion liability for the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) causing it to go from being actuarially sound to unsound. Fixing this situation in the upcoming session is one of the priorities for CCART.
CCART recently hosted a candidate forum and extended invitations to all local candidates running for state office—including former CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen. Bowen failed to attend. State Representative Dennis Paul was also a no-show. In contrast, Shannon Dicely (candidate for Texas Senate) and Albert Wittliff (candidate for House District 129) both prioritized the event and showed up to listen to public school advocates.
This marks the second time Bowen and Paul have ignored community invitations. Just a few months ago, both turned down a nonpartisan neighborhood meeting regarding skyrocketing homeowners insurance costs. Neither bothered to respond; neither bothered to show up.
Bowen’s absence comes as no surprise. His tenure on the CCISD Board was defined by chaos, culminating in a decisive 12-point defeat in his reelection bid. During his time on the board, he sponsored a partisan resolution favoring school vouchers and backed measures that divert public funds to wealthy private school families. His true priorities are clear: aligning with Governor Greg Abbott, slashing school funding, and tuning out educators—all while falsely campaigning as a champion of public education.
Don’t be fooled. Scott Bowen is bad for business, bad for education, and bad for our community.
Thanks to I45Now for providing the video. You can watch it below. Thanks to Eric for the notes of the event.
Just an FYI. I believe Bowen is probably one of the worst candidates for State Representative the Bay Area has ever had. He has a horrible record on the CCISD Board, all documented at bayareahouston.net/ScottBowen. It is why he lost his re-election by 12 points. It was a very clear message, and notably, those 12 points came from the Harris County portion of CCISD.
HD-129 is in Harris County. The district historically is a 15-point stronghold for Republicans, but this year there might be a perfect storm brewing: a poor Republican candidate, a very well-qualified Democratic candidate, and a potential wave of voter frustration with the party.
Today I’m fact-checking Scott Bowen. Tomorrow I will fact-check Wittliff.
On Insurance: Bowen warned that putting restrictions on the free market will drive home insurance companies out of Texas, just like California. However, that has already happened. TCAIS is composed of six of the largest insurance companies in Texas: Allstate, Farmers, Farm Bureau, USAA, Nationwide, and State Farm. Of these, only USAA will offer policies in the Bay Area, and their rates are exorbitant (they quoted me $15,000/year with a $13,000 deductible). The others refused to offer a policy at all.
On Supporting State-Sponsored Insurance: Insurance companies have largely pulled out of the 14 coastal counties. Now, most homeowners rely on a state-sponsored policy called TWIA (Texas Windstorm Insurance Association). Bowen wants to expand their coverage to HD-129 instead of requiring the free market to remain. (Note: Harris County and all of Texas also have access to the Texas FAIR Plan, another state-sponsored program.)
On Driverless Cars: When asked about street congestion in the district, Bowen suggested driverless cars instead of mass transit. How adding more cars to the road reduces congestion makes no sense. Furthermore, his claims linking rail to crime were unsupported by facts or figures. It was one of the weakest moments of the forum.
On Taxes: After 30 years of Republican rule, Texas has some of the highest property taxes in the country. Scott fully supports Governor Abbott’s tax strategy, just as he backed his voucher plan. Bowen claimed he spoke with a resident whose property taxes exceed what he paid for his house—a mathematical impossibility. While no one likes paying taxes, cutting school property taxes simply shifts the burden to taxpayers through higher sales taxes while starving our public schools, cities, and counties.
On School Vouchers: Bowen fully supports another round of school vouchers, which primarily benefit wealthy parents. Over 70% of vouchers have been awarded to students already enrolled in private schools.
Closing Statement: According to Bowen, the Bay Area is a Republican stronghold and voters should continue voting for a “conservative.” For over 30 years, the Bay Area has elected Republicans, yet the cost of living has continued to rise. Over the last 28 years, I recall only one town hall meeting held by Representative John Davis. The Republican Party has taken voters for granted, and local residents are paying the price.
As I have said before, Bowen is going to take a knee to Abbott leaving us without representation. Again.
In this latest reporting period 90% of Greg Abbott’s total donations were from those contributing $1Million to $10,000. Abbott raised $20.3 Million with $18.3 Million coming from donors contributing $10,000 or more! This includes $5 Million from 5 donors with $1 Million each. $14.4 Million came from those donating $100,000 or more. This includes $750,000 Million from his Muslim buddy Javaid Anwar. (I guess he will not attack a Muslim just as long as they are donors. Go figure.) Jeff Yass donated $1 Million. He doesn’t live in Texas.
So who do you think Abbott is going to represent if reelected?
Donor
Amount
Yass, Jeff
$1,000,000
Dwyer, John
$1,000,000
Fisher, Kenneth
$1,000,000
Gebbia, Joe
$1,000,000
DealOn LLC
$1,000,000
Rowling, Robert
$500,000
Sewell, Carl
$500,000
Stedman, Stuart
$500,000
Texas Republican Leadership Fund
$500,000
Rosenzweig, Robin
$250,000
Perot Jr., H. Ross
$250,000
Henderson III, George
$250,000
Brauer Jr., Stephen
$250,000
Campbell, Cody
$250,000
Mayfair Investments
$250,000
Baggett Jr., David
$250,000
Kinder, Nancy
$250,000
Duncan, Janet
$250,000
Bejarano, Andrew
$250,000
Hildebrand, Jeffery
$250,000
Weisman, John
$250,000
Anwar, S. Javaid
$250,000
Anwar, S. Javaid
$250,000
Anwar, S. Javaid
$250,000
Culp, Timothy
$250,000
Foster, Paul
$250,000
Tucker, Bradford
$200,000
Bellinger, John
$200,000
Pyle, David
$200,000
Hernandez III, Michael
$150,000
Breyer, James
$150,000
Formby, Katrine and William
$100,000
Sprecher, Jeffrey
$100,000
Clay Cooley Investments
$100,000
Dharod, Sunil
$100,000
Halbert, David
$100,000
Coffman, Barbara
$100,000
Long, Thomas
$100,000
Deason, Douglas
$100,000
Martin III, Ruben
$100,000
Perkins, James
$100,000
Moore III, Ardon
$100,000
Lacy Jr., Thomas
$100,000
Peinado, Frank
$100,000
Mitzner, Ira
$100,000
Agresti, Joseph
$100,000
Texans United For A Conservative Majority
$100,000
Spamer, Joaquin
$100,000
Porter, Michael
$100,000
Timmerman, Timothy
$100,000
Hock, Stacy
$100,000
Friends of The University of Texas System
$100,000
Stallings, Kyle
$100,000
Love, Katharine Armstrong & Ben
$100,000
Davis, James
$75,000
Huddleston Jr., Albert
$75,000
Evans, Donald
$75,000
Rydman, John
$50,100
Housing Continuity PAC
$50,000
Mansour, Tarek
$50,000
Sinha, Vikas
$50,000
McGuire, Michael
$50,000
Solomon, Steven
$50,000
Schaap, Andrew
$50,000
Alpert, Robert
$50,000
Korenvaes, Harlan
$50,000
Stodghill, Steven
$50,000
U.S. Anesthesia Partners of Texas, P.A.
$50,000
Brooks, Randy
$50,000
Thomas Jr., Clifton
$50,000
Stumberg, Eric
$50,000
Weaver, Rad
$50,000
Franklin, Larry
$50,000
Upward Communities, LLC
$50,000
Texas Automobile Dealers Assn. PAC
$50,000
AT&T Inc. Texas Political Action Committee
$50,000
Stone Hilton PLLC
$50,000
Sharplin Jr., Arthur
$50,000
Base Power, Inc. PAC
$50,000
Kaye, Spencer
$50,000
Roche, David
$50,000
Lance Jr., D. Kent
$50,000
Ford, Curtis
$50,000
Harper, Jack
$50,000
Snap Partners LP
$50,000
Serrao, Gregory
$50,000
Martin, Gary
$46,450
Cox, Bobby
$44,800
Martin, Gary
$44,750
Martin, Gary
$37,300
Martin, Gary
$37,100
Ford, Curtis
$36,839
Texas Apartment Assn. PAC
$35,000
Houghton IV, Edward
$35,000
Bowling, Randall
$35,000
Bowling IV, Robert
$35,000
Martin, Gary
$32,300
Martin, Gary
$32,300
Curry, Patrick
$32,200
Metropolitan Anesthesia Consultants, LLP Political Action Committee
$30,000
Mahrouq, Hussein
$30,000
Texas Building Branch Associated General Contractors PAC
$30,000
Olson, Robert
$28,000
Martin III, Ruben
$26,170
Peykoff II, Andrew
$25,000
INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN’S ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION
$25,000
Stewart, Andrew
$25,000
HNTB Holdings Ltd. Political Action Committee
$25,000
Surls, Phillip
$25,000
Troutt, Kenny
$25,000
Long, Kathleen
$25,000
Haddad, Mojy
$25,000
Byrd, Lance
$25,000
NCHA’s Texas Events PAC
$25,000
Kleinheinz, John
$25,000
Merrill, Rick
$25,000
Luskey, Stephen
$25,000
Johnson, John
$25,000
Pontikes Jr., George
$25,000
Cokinos, Michael
$25,000
D’Ambra Jr., Anthony
$25,000
Bloxsom III, Allan
$25,000
Galo, John
$25,000
Hartman, Gordon
$25,000
United Services Automobile Association Employee PAC
$25,000
Accelerate Central Texas
$25,000
Herschmann, Eric
$25,000
Texas Land Title Association PAC
$25,000
Price, Tracy
$25,000
Williams, Modesta
$25,000
Stice, Travis
$25,000
Gilliam Jr., Frosty
$25,000
Needham, John
$23,972
Curry, Patrick
$22,633
Curry, Patrick
$20,533
PrizePicks PAC
$20,000
Mahrouq, Hussein
$20,000
Bennett Jr., James
$20,000
Patel, Veena
$20,000
Benavides Jr., Arturo
$20,000
Benavides, Arturo
$20,000
Farias III, Fred
$20,000
DeWitte, Jacob
$20,000
Ahern Jr., James
$20,000
Metropolitan Anesthesia Consultants PLLC
$19,783
Mitzner, Ira
$15,810
Jaffe, Jordan
$15,000
Wells Fargo and Company Employee PAC
$15,000
Hickman, Christopher
$15,000
Houston Pilots PAC Fund
$15,000
Cantu, Alonzo
$15,000
Sicilia, Michael
$12,500
WhitestorkBio LLC
$10,000
Kotlicki, Dan
$10,000
Kotlicki, Dan
$10,000
Bair, Andrew
$10,000
ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS, INC. / ENTERPRISE MOBILITY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
$10,000
ConocoPhillips SPIRIT PAC
$10,000
Carson, Richard
$10,000
Marchant Leadership Fund
$10,000
Nafal, Marwan
$10,000
Mann, Doug
$10,000
King, Glyn and Karen
$10,000
White, Alan
$10,000
Bancroft, Christopher
$10,000
Aung, Katie
$10,000
Southwest Airlines Co. Political Action Committee
$10,000
Heart Place PAC
$10,000
Sargent, David
$10,000
Basin Ventures II LLC
$10,000
Austin, Dustin
$10,000
Patton Jr., Robert
$10,000
Campbell, Cody
$10,000
NextDecade Corporation Political Action Committee
$10,000
Pitcock Jr., James
$10,000
Pitcock Jr., James
$10,000
NRG Energy Inc. Political Action Committee
$10,000
University of Houston Political Action Committee
$10,000
Loveless, Gary
$10,000
HPCP Investments LLC
$10,000
Manners, Michael
$10,000
BU Growers LTD.
$10,000
Phillips, Bob
$10,000
Dekowski, Donovan
$10,000
Asel, John
$10,000
Guenther Jr., Jack
$10,000
Kahlig II, Clarence
$10,000
Quinones, Manuel
$10,000
Quinones, Manny
$10,000
Khan, Bilal
$10,000
Border Health PAC
$10,000
Bhadriraju, Padmini
$10,000
Pechero, Guillermo
$10,000
Falcon, Antonio
$10,000
Kanhere, Gauri
$10,000
Rios Jr., Jesus
$10,000
Texas Society Of Anesthesiologists Political Action Committee
$10,000
Texas Society Of Anesthesiologists Political Action Committee
$10,000
Texas Medical Association Political Action Committee
$10,000
Texas Medical Association Political Action Committee
The video of the forum for House District 129 between Albert Wittliff and former CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen will be posted soon. Until then, if you attended the event and would care to post a comment please do. You can post anonymously by commenting on this post.
As previously posted Scott Bowen is the new PACMAN of the Bay Area ranking in $365,776 from various out of district PACs. That amount made up 98% of his total donations. Only $13,029 was from individuals ranging from $521.51 to $5.21. Half of these individual donations came from outside of the district.
Some interesting donors include the Galveston County DA for $520.51 and Eric Dick for $500. Dick is an insurance attorney in Houston and a Trustee on the Harris County Department of Education. He is probably the last person a candidate would want to associate with. You can read about him here.
Others include Peter Lauzon for $500. Bowen recruited Lauzon for the CCISD Board. He lost. The Chair of the Harris County Party Cynthia Siegel gave $250. Former Representative John Davis who represented the Bay Area for 16 years donated $250. James Bowen (Scott’s father?) gave $250. Senator Paul Bettencourt gave a measly $100. Tommy Cones, League City Councilman gave $70. Chris Russo, Chair of Stronger Borders gave only $72.88. And to top it all off, State Representative Little Baby Briscoe Cain gave a whopping $5.21.
Out-of-district PACs are bankrolling Scott Bowen’s campaign for State Representative.
Let’s cut right to the numbers. In the latest reporting period, Bowen pulled in a massive $378,815—a standard haul for a competitive State House race. But look closer: only $15,139 of that total came from individual donors. That includes a grand total of $5.21 from State Rep. Briscoe Cain. (Five bucks? Cheap bastard.)
That means a staggering 98% of Bowen’s funding came straight from out-of-district PACs. Highlights include $150,500 from the newly minted Texas Conservative Majority PAC and $90,000 from Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR)—an organization dedicated to destroying consumer access to the very court system our tax dollars pay for. On top of that, $25,000 came from Texans United for a Conservative Majority, a PAC whose leaders notoriously met with a known white supremacist. That group is bankrolled by Bowen’s billionaire backers, Farris Wilks and Tim Dunn, both featured in CNN’s expose “Deep in the Pockets of Texas.”
Why flood a district that historically votes Republican by 15-plus points with this much money? Simple: their internal polling probably shows what everyone already knows—Bowen is a terrible candidate, his opponent is a great one, and local Republicans are currently about as popular as herpes at a hot tub party.
The Pentagon has rolled out formal guidance for mandatory sperm count testing for male service members 18 and older, a policy that faces questions from medical experts about the need and efficacy of such a program.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in July that a new program to screen troops for “sperm deficiency” was necessary to allow them to operate at their “absolute best.” The new clinical guidance, released late Thursday, outlines how the program would work. According to Hegseth this program will begin immediately and there will be significant consequences for anyone who refuses to participate. According to Hegseth:
“As war fighters you will get on board and you will participate in this activity. Let me warn anyone who choses to challenge me on this decision no matter how high of rank or level of legal expertise you may think you have, if you challenge me I will beat you off. With BOTH hands!”
When you are asked a softball question like “Will you vote for a racist?” the answer is clear.
Anyone tracking Orlando’s career might have pegged him as a solid contender for Harris County Judge. He didn’t come across as a typical MAGA partisan, a Mexican MAGAt; in fact, he urged voters to see him as an independent voice rather than just another Republican line-item. But when the big moments came—on FLOCK cameras, ICE abuse, and now basic issues of racism—he completely struck out, he whiffed, he was caught looking like a racist.
His pitch for the Houston Chronicle endorsement collapsed on camera, exposing a blatant partisan posture that left his opponent, City Councilwoman Letitia Plummer, shaking her head in disbelief.
Pressed on Bo French—the Republican Railroad Commissioner nominee known for a stream of bigoted comments—Sanchez folded into party loyalty. Rather than condemning the rhetoric, he echoed the double-talk seen across the GOP, similar to State Representative Jeff Leach’s standard defense at Texas TribFest (“there is no room for racism in our party, but I’m still voting for him”). Sanchez signaled that partisan identity comes first, confirming he is firmly on Team Red and will vote the party line regardless, stating:
“I ask you to ignore that R and remember who Orlando Sanchez is. I know they are going to call me MAGA Sanchez. My response is: I’m Orlando Sanchez. I’ve never hitched my wagon to any extreme ideals. I am my own man. I am not going to listen to some slogan from some past presidential election.”
Needless to say he did not receive the endorsement from the Chronicle and that comment should have disqualified him from serving. But this is the new Republican Party where the (R) stands for Racist. Go watch the video.
Former CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen is sending out mailers boasting about his support for public education—as if voters have collective amnesia. In reality, Bowen has aligned himself with Governor Abbott’s agenda, backing property tax shifts and voucher programs that strip critical funding from our public schools. His actual record on the School Board speaks for itself, and there is very little in it worth bragging about. Here is the reality:
Bowen was caught on camera sponsoring a resolution on behalf of the Texas Republican Party in support of vouchers.
Bowen was caught on camera testifying in Austin against aspects of public education
Bowen lost his re-election to the Board by a huge 12 point margin losing to a conservative candidate
Bowen attempted to stack the Board by recruiting unqualified partisan candidates (5 of 7 lost)
Bowen spearheaded the banning of CRT (Critical Race Theory) which was not taught in K-12 and was never going to be taught. It was a complete waste of time, effort, and money.
Bowen brought in tens of thousands of dollars from extremist billionaires to fund his candidates
Bowen bought chaos to the CCISD Board and to the district
Bowen was so toxic the Board members will not endorse him
Well he isn’t a Mexican MAGAt (he is from the Honduras) but he is a Bo French.
Voters in House District 144—including Pasadena, La Porte, and Deer Park—face a clear choice this election. Since 2013, Representative Mary Ann Perez has been an outstanding, dedicated public servant for this diverse community. Her opponent, David Flores, offers a vastly different record.
Flores has been arrested five times, including a DWI captured on video (See below) where he was also recorded using abhorrent racial slurs. In any standard political environment, such behavior would immediately disqualify a candidate. Yet top Republicans, including Governor Greg Abbott, remain silent—unwilling to condemn Flores because doing so would require addressing recent racial slurs from Bo French. With less than a month until the election, Flores hasn’t even launched a campaign website to tell voters where he stands.
It wasn’t said out loud by the panelists, but it was loud and clear.
During a post-2024 election panel at TribFest in Austin, I listened as speakers claimed the Democratic Party failed to offer a candidate worth voting for.
When Q&A opened, I asked them to break down that math: On one hand, a twice-convicted felon. On the other, a prosecutor who served as a District Attorney, State Attorney General, U.S. Senator, and Vice President. What, exactly, made the candidate with that record so unpalatable compared to a convicted felon?
The room went quiet. After a noticeable hesitation, a panelist offered a non-answer. But an audience member captured the unvarnished reality, blurting out what everyone was thinking: “If she had been a white male, she would have won.”
It was a blunt assessment, and a depressing reminder of the double standards still shaping American politics. Texas voters can truly suck at times.
The Galveston County Daily News ran a story titled “La Marque Councilman whose company owes $28K disputes tax treatment“. It’s a thorough article and worth the read if you have access. In short, a Republican Judge issued a default judgment against Lowry for unpaid back taxes for 2024 and 2025. Don’t take my word for it. Go to this website and review the documents and the judgement. Enter 26-TX-0085 as the case number or you can read the judgment below. Eitherway, he owes over $28,000.
On a side note the Society of Hypocrites in Texas (SHIT) is suing Lowry for defecation of character because the only person yelling and screaming about taxes on La Marque City council is the very person that…..wait for it….owes the county $28,000 in taxes! According to SHIT “We will not sit idly while someone disrespects the shit out of us!”.
By the way, this is NOT the first time Lowry has been sued for back taxes. Back in 2025 he was sued for back taxes totaling $49,000 for 2021, 2022, and 2023. Again, search the county website for case #24-TX-0303 and read for yourself. He eventually paid the taxes.
Of course now Lowry is blaming everyone for his failure to pay taxes including the Republican tax collector and assessor, Cheryl Johnson and the Republican Judge Seth Jones. According to the article:
Lowry accused unidentified officials of unlawful conduct and alleged an employee was targeting conservatives and people who have criticized Galveston County government. Lowry wouldn’t identify the employee or provide documentation establishing the company’s treatment differed from that of other taxpayers.
He also claims he is going to sue everyone. Yeah. Right. As I have said in the past Lowry is like a constipated two year old. He ain’t going to do shit.
Heard at The Texas Tribune TribFest by a Republican lawmaker “I’m voting for the racist in the race for Texas Railroad Commissioner”.
Jeff Leach is a Republican member of the Texas House representing District 67 in Collin County including Plano and nearby communities. Leach was on a panel of three white guys appropriately representing their party to discuss their Party’s agenda.
The conversation turn to the comments made by Bo French. French is the republican nominee for Texas Railroad Commission and has made numerous racist comments which have been condemned by just a few Republicans. Leach spent a number of minutes condemning French’s multiple racist comments, then surprisingly added that he will vote for him.
This is the agenda of the Republican Party. From a party that used to run on family values, fiscal responsibility, and law and order to a party that protects pedophiles, runs up a $40 debt, supports January 6 rioters and now voting for racist.
And you wonder what the (R) stand for behind Leach’s name?
Senator John Fetterman’s interview with The Texas Tribune at TribFest was strange, awkward, and deeply frustrating. Showing up in his trademark black hoodie and gym shorts—despite the 90-degree heat—he looked completely out of place, especially compared to an audience that at least put in the effort to dress appropriately. But his sloppy attire was the least of his problems; his performance and substantive positions were entirely off base.
Iran: He repeated tired Republican talking points, insisting “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” while ignoring that a working nuclear deal was tore up by the previous administration.
Israel & Palestine: His blank-check support for Netanyahu is disturbing. Supporting Israel’s right to self-defense shouldn’t mean backing actions that risk war crimes. Democrats can and should support both everyday Israelis and Palestinians without aligning with Netanyahu’s far-right government or Hamas.
Bipartisanship & Shutdowns: He claims to champion the working class, yet he echoed GOP narratives on government shutdowns—blaming them for impacting TSA workers while ignoring that shutdowns have consistently been driven by the Republican majority. Pushing for “bipartisanship” misses the reality of who actually controls Congress.
Reputation & Policy: Reports from outlets like the Philadelphia Inquirer have labeled him ineffective, and his high staff turnover speaks volumes. While he briefly aligned with standard Democratic positions—such as opposing Trump’s attacks on voting rights and criticizing DOGE—his answers on data center regulation, immigration, and foreign policy were evasive or laden with Trumpian rhetoric like “Super Intelligence.”
Overall, it was 45 minutes of evasive non-answers and recycled talking points that his own state’s polling suggests voters aren’t buying.
I attended a session at the Texas tribune TribFest discussing the significance of the Latino vote in the upcoming November election. According to the panel, the two most pressing issues for the Latino community are the cost of everything is out of control and ICE is out of control. These issues should not be confined to the Latino community alone. Anyone with a bank account and anyone with a sense of empathy and humanity recognize the killing of people on our streets due to ICE is unacceptable in America.
It bothers me that it appears as though we must coddle the Mexican American community into voting. I’m not sure what they desire beyond good jobs, affordable healthcare, reasonable gas prices, an opportunity for improvement, and safety within their community. Those were the core issues we campaigned on in both 2024 and 2020. I believe we’ve been advocating for these issues for the longest time. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, we haven’t been effectively communicating with them. Regardless, let’s move on.
I had to ask a question to the panel:
“With the cost of everything out of control and ICE out of control, can you name one specific campaign issue that would convince a Mexican-American to vote for a Republican in November?”
The response from a former Republican state representative Jason Villalba was what JD Vance said. Give us another chance. Trust us. He also said that if he was a candidate running this year, he would focus on local issues and avoid the affordability issue and ICE. Run on education and possibly taxes. I hope the Mexican-American community will return to their roots and tell the Republicans, ‘Fool me once, shame on you. This time, I’m going to kick your ass.’
What bothers me is this: if Mexican Americans had exercised their voting power 20 years ago, we wouldn’t be discussing issues like the death of brown people on the streets due to ice or the affordability of a breakfast taco. It’s time for the Mexican-American community to take a stand and vote their strength, removing Republicans from office.
It was a pleasure listening to Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, Congressman Christian Menefee, and Pete Sessions today. It started on a unified note, with everyone talking about bipartisan cooperation, passing bills, and working together for the benefit of Texas. By the end, I felt a glimmer of hope—provided Democrats like Fletcher and Menefee take control of the House.
On the flip side, the re-redistricting of the state and the voting barriers put in place by Republicans and President Trump are deeply concerning. If those tactics allow Republicans like Sessions to retain control, it honestly terrifies me.
Unlike the Democrats on stage, Sessions couldn’t resist starting off with partisan sniping—the exact kind of rhetoric everyone is tired of. At one point, the crowd even called him out for claiming Joe Biden “opened the border,” which is a absurd statement for a sitting congressman to make. Sessions refused to distance himself from Trump, even on major issues like immigration. He couldn’t even bring himself to condemn the cruel deaths of Americans on American soil by ICE.
Fletcher made a great point that redistricting must be a bipartisan effort, taken out of the hands of partisan politicians who are only interested in maximizing their own party’s seats. As she said, the current system is wrong, and I completely agree.
Menefee put it plainly: President Trump is a bad president who doesn’t care about ordinary people. While everyday Americans suffer from skyrocketing affordability issues and soldiers are being killed in Iran, Trump is busy playing with “Lego sets” in the White House—building a ballroom, designing an Arch, renaming monuments after himself, and bulldozing the East Wing. Yet Sessions just sat there and said nothing. Menefee is right: there is nothing good about Trump’s leadership, and the only way to prevent further damage to our country and institutions is for Democrats to win the House and cut off the funding.
Fletcher and Menefee give me hope; Sessions just leaves me deeply alarmed for our future.
From left: Texas Tribune reporter Alejandro Serrano speaks with state Reps. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, Carol Alvarado, and Gene Wu during a panel discussion at The Texas Tribune Festival 2026 on Friday, June 26, 2026.
People in Texas are furious—and for good reason. From skyrocketing prices on gas, diesel, home insurance, and healthcare to general inflation and ICE abuses, the frustration is palpable.
This discontent was front and center at The Texas Tribune’s “Texas Democratic Agenda” panel, featuring State Senator Carol Alvarad, State Representatives Barbara Gervin-Hawkins and Gene Wu. Representing a diverse cross-section of Texas voters, the panel stood in stark contrast to the Republican session, which featured three white men in matching blue suits. The venue choice and turnout said it all: the Democrats packed the large St. David’s Sanctuary, while the Republicans struggled to fill a much smaller room.
The lawmakers didn’t mince words. They laid Texas’s current struggles squarely at the feet of 30 years of uninterrupted Republican leadership, dismissing GOP promises—like a theoretical $5,000 check—as empty desperation. Voters are exhausted by the childish antics at the top of the party and feel deeply betrayed.
Key takeaways from the session:
Fair Representation: Redistricting must remain a once-a-decade, non-partisan process.
Sensible Immigration: Texas needs a humane immigration policy that supports businesses relying on immigrant labor and ends the cruel treatment of families and children.
Voter Backlash: Angry Latino voters are poised to make a massive impact in the upcoming midterms due to aggressive ICE tactics.
Accountability on Racism: Panelists highlighted Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French’s history of racist remarks, pointing out that not a single Republican leader has called for his resignation. Rep. Wu emphasized that while lawmakers swear an oath to a Constitution that guarantees non-discrimination, many continue to actively target Muslim, LGBTQ+, and Hispanic communities.
Faith and Politics: The speakers called out party leaders who encourage bigotry while claiming to follow Christian values.
Despite the heavy topics, the panel closed on a note of optimism. Democrats believe they can flip 6 to 8 seats in the upcoming election, giving them the leverage needed to block harmful legislation and deliver meaningful results for everyday Texans. We will see in November.
From left: Texas Tribune reporter Alejandro Serrano speaks with state Reps. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, Carol Alvarado, and Gene Wu during a panel discussion at The Texas Tribune Festival 2026 on Friday, June 26, 2026.From left: Texas Tribune reporter Alejandro Serrano speaks with state Reps. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, Carol Alvarado, and Gene Wu during a panel discussion at The Texas Tribune Festival 2026 on Friday, June 26, 2026.From left: Texas Tribune reporter Alejandro Serrano speaks with state Reps. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, Carol Alvarado, and Gene Wu during a panel discussion at The Texas Tribune Festival 2026 on Friday, June 26, 2026.From left: Texas Tribune reporter Alejandro Serrano speaks with state Reps. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, Carol Alvarado, and Gene Wu during a panel discussion at The Texas Tribune Festival 2026 on Friday, June 26, 2026.
I left this year’s TribFest deeply disappointed. I appreciate The Texas Tribune’s efforts in organizing the festival, but the keynote event with Marjorie Taylor Greene fell short in several critical ways. Greene has a track record as a toxic, inflammatory politician—one whose past behavior, like shouting from the Capitol floor like howling monkeys, is hard to look past. Yet the audience treated her with far more respect than she deserved, effectively normalizing her past actions. Worse, the moderator treated the session as a casual chat rather than pressing her with the tough, accountable questions asked of other speakers, like James Talarico.
The only real pushback came from an audience member who asked if she took responsibility for instigating some of the most divisive politics in modern American history. Her response boiled down to boasting that she was the “only one who apologized,” rather than offering a simple, sincere, “Yes, I am sorry.” It is impossible to give her a pass for her tenure in Congress, and I won’t.
Beyond the frustration, Greene’s comments were revealing:
The Fallout: She detailed the severe death threats made against her family and mentioned asking Trump to tone down his rhetoric, only to be met with total inaction from him and the party. While no one should face violence, it remains difficult to feel sympathy when her own rhetoric contributed to the dangerous political climate that ultimately turned on her.
The “Both Sides” Cop-Out: She leaned heavily on the tired claim that “people are disappointed in both parties.” It’s an easy retreat for MAGA figures when facing political headwinds, ignoring the fact that her faction drove much of the chaos.
The Epstein Files: She described her discussions with Trump regarding the Epstein files, noting how he personally stifled efforts to investigate or hear survivors. While she deserves basic credit for speaking out, standing against child abuse is the bare minimum for any human being, not an act of heroism.
Calling MAGA a Cult: Greene claimed MAGA is a cult that will collapse once Trump is gone—a movement she admitted to being a part of. While she continues to advocate for “America First” policies and the release of January 6th rioters, she openly called MAGA supporters hypocrites and liars.
Where is MTG going now? Who cares? Maybe she should join with Lauren Boebert and start the “Reach Around” Party.
New York Times Domestic correspondent Robert Draper speaks with former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene during a one-on-one conversation at The Texas Tribune Festival 2026 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.New York Times Domestic correspondent Robert Draper speaks with former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene during a one-on-one conversation at The Texas Tribune Festival 2026 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.New York Times Domestic correspondent Robert Draper speaks with former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene during a one-on-one conversation at The Texas Tribune Festival 2026 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.New York Times Domestic correspondent Robert Draper speaks with former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene during a one-on-one conversation at The Texas Tribune Festival 2026 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.New York Times Domestic correspondent Robert Draper speaks with former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene during a one-on-one conversation at The Texas Tribune Festival 2026 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.