Rep. Vicente Gonzalez Jr., a Democrat, has won re-election in Texas’ 34th Congressional District, defeating former Republican Rep. Mayra Flores. This victory marks a significant win for Democrats in a district that has become increasingly competitive in recent years.
Texas State Representative Shawn Thierry has announced she will switch her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, citing her disagreement with the Democratic Party’s stance on gender transition procedures for minors. Thierry, who lost her primary election after supporting a GOP-led bill restricting such procedures, believes the Democratic Party has moved too far left, embracing policies she considers harmful. She plans to serve the remaining months of her term as a Republican.
Two of the most powerful Republicans in Texas, House Speaker Dade Phelan and Attorney General Ken Paxton, are facing off in a high-stakes primary runoff election, while Republican congressman Tony Gonzales, who represents the district where the Uvalde school shooting occurred, is fighting for his political life against a far-right opponent backed by controversial House members.
A bitter runoff election is unfolding in North Texas’s Senate District 30, pitting the Republican Party’s establishment wing, supported by Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, against a coalition of grassroots activists. The battle centers on the candidacies of Brent Hagenbuch, a transportation executive backed by the establishment, and Jace Yarbrough, an attorney and conservative activist backed by tea party groups. Hagenbuch is facing accusations that he does not legally reside in the district and donated to a nonpartisan mayoral candidate supported by local Democrats. Yarbrough has criticized Hagenbuch as an “Austin swamp darling” out of touch with conservative values. The outcome could have implications for Lieutenant Governor Patrick’s influence within the Senate.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has endorsed Representative Tony Gonzales in his bid for a third term, praising his efforts to secure the border. The move comes amid a feud within the Republican Party, with Gonzales facing criticism from more conservative members over his comments about Matt Gaetz and Bob Good. Gaetz and Good have endorsed Gonzales’ opponent, Brandon Herrera, in the upcoming runoff election. Meanwhile, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is facing pressure from hardline conservatives to vacate his position over his support for aid to Ukraine.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has endorsed Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) in the upcoming primary runoff election, defending him from attacks by fellow Republicans. Gonzales had previously criticized two far-right members of the House Freedom Caucus, calling them ‘scumbags’ and accusing one of paying minors for sex. Despite not directly addressing the controversy, Abbott praised Gonzales’ efforts in Congress and urged Texans to support his re-election.
