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Abbott Condemns Legislative Intervention in Roberson Case, Cruz Gains Democratic Endorsement, and Early Voting Surges in Harris County
Governor Breaks Silence as Roberson’s Execution Delayed; Cruz Secures Cross-Party Support
TXLege
October 22, 2024
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Governor Greg Abbott’s office condemned the actions of Texas legislators who intervened to halt Robert Roberson’s execution, marking his first public comments on the matter. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz receives an endorsement from former state Sen. Eddie Lucio (D-Brownsville), and Harris County reports high early voter turnout.
Today’s Insights:
Abbott Condemns Legislative Intervention as Roberson’s Execution Is Delayed
Cruz Secures Democratic Endorsement in Senate Race
Harris County Early Voting Sees Strong Start
Lucio Endorses Hinojosa in New Texas Senate TV Ad
Abbott Condemns Legislative Intervention as Roberson’s Execution Is Delayed
Robert Roberson, who was convicted in 2003 for the death of his 2-year-old daughter based on "shaken baby syndrome" evidence, has had his execution delayed after a legal battle over a legislative subpoena. The Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee issued the subpoena for Roberson to testify at an upcoming hearing on the state’s "junk science" law. This law, passed in 2013, allows courts to reconsider convictions based on discredited scientific evidence. During this hearing, prominent figures such as Dr. Phil McGraw, author John Grisham, and former lead detective Brian Wharton testified, challenging the validity of Roberson’s conviction.
Governor Greg Abbott broke his silence on the case, condemning the legislative efforts to halt Roberson’s execution. In an amicus brief, Abbott’s general counsel argued that lawmakers “stepped out of line” and emphasized that the power to grant clemency or a reprieve lies solely with the governor. Abbott has not indicated any plans to intervene further.
Roberson's execution remains on hold as the courts address the constitutional conflict raised by the subpoena.
Cruz Secures Democratic Endorsement in Senate Race
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz announced that he has secured the endorsement of former state Sen. Eddie Lucio (D-Brownsville) for his re-election campaign. Lucio, a conservative Democrat, previously supported Sen. Morgan LaMantia but switched his endorsement to Cruz, citing LaMantia's liberal voting record. Lucio’s support reflects a broader trend of voters in increasingly competitive South Texas favoring Republican candidates.
Harris County Early Voting Sees Strong Start
Harris County reported more than 125,000 people voted early in person on October 21, 2024, the first day of early voting. While this is a strong turnout, it is lower than the first-day figures from 2020 (169,000) and slightly below 2016 (129,000). The early voting numbers are expected to play a key role in determining the outcomes of several critical races in the county.
Lucio Endorses Hinojosa in New Texas Senate TV Ad
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Adam Hinojosa, the conservative Republican candidate for the Texas Senate, has launched a new television ad featuring former Texas Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. Lucio, who had previously supported Democratic Sen. Morgan LaMantia, switched his endorsement to Hinojosa. Lucio expressed concerns with LaMantia’s liberal voting record, specifically mentioning her stances on abortion and education, as reasons for the change. The two campaigned together in South Texas, as the ad airs to garner further support during early voting.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read.
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