Texas Political Spotlight

Texas and Greg Abbott Receive Early Praise from President Trump

President Donald Trump, during his inauguration speech, outlined aggressive measures on immigration and border security, with Texas and Governor Greg Abbott playing pivotal roles. Trump declared a national emergency, pledging to deploy troops to the southern border, build a border wall, and deport undocumented immigrants on an unprecedented scale. He praised Abbott’s border policies, calling him “a leader of the pack,” and recommitted to partnering with the Texas governor on border initiatives. Abbott has already taken extensive measures through Operation Lone Star, deploying the National Guard and funding a state-constructed border wall. Trump’s administration has promised to elevate these efforts, with Abbott expressing eagerness to collaborate on curbing illegal border crossings.

Texas, which hosts over 1,200 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, remains central to Trump’s agenda. Trump credited Abbott for his steadfast support during his first term and lauded his popularity among Texans for prioritizing border security. Despite occasional past disagreements, Trump’s remarks overwhelmingly celebrated Abbott, highlighting their mutual commitment to strengthening border enforcement. Trump's vision also includes controversial policies like ending birthright citizenship, likely facing legal challenges, but he vowed to pursue these actions to “restore America.”

Trump's inauguration solidified Texas’s role in his administration, with Governor Abbott congratulating Trump on his election win. Trump tapped several Texans, including former state officials and allies, for key federal roles. Figures like former Governor Rick Perry’s policy director Brooke Rollins and former U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe were named to prominent positions. In Washington, numerous Texans attended inauguration events, signaling the state’s influence in the new administration. With Abbott and other Texas leaders prominently involved, Trump’s plans to revamp border security and broader policy initiatives reflect a strengthened alliance between the president and the Lone Star State.

Our Jeff Blaylock said the 2024 election demonstrated increasing support for President Trump and his policies among border-area residents. Trump improved his performance among the dozen border counties collectively by 20.9 percentage points over 2016, carrying all but two of them. In 2016, he won five of them. His 52.5% in Cameron Co. is 20.5 percentage points higher than his 32.0% in 2016. In Hidalgo Co., Trump received 51.0% percent of the vote, up 23.0 points from 2016. In Webb Co., Trump won with 50.7% of the vote, up 28.1 points from his first presidential run. His vote share rose 39% in Starr Co., 38% in Maverick Co., 22% in Zavala Co. and almost 20% in Val Verde Co. The reddening of South Texas was among the biggest takeaways from the last election, and its continuation may depend on Trump delivering on his campaign promises.

Icy Start: Texas Lawmakers Face Controversial Resolution After Weather Delay

With snow and ice in the forecast, Texas lawmakers have postponed their return to the Capitol until Wednesday, lengthening the holiday recess. Once sessions resume, legislators will turn their attention to typical early-session matters, including the House’s housekeeping resolution, HR3. Traditionally focused on issues like staff pay and committee support, this year’s resolution includes a contentious provision allowing the House speaker to appoint an attorney with the authority to represent the House and its members in legal matters. Blaise Gainey of The Texas Newsroom highlights concerns that this addition could grant the speaker unprecedented power, sparking debates over potential misuse.

Lt. Gov. Patrick Calls for Precision in Texas Abortion Legislation

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has called for clarifying Texas’ near-total abortion ban to address concerns among doctors about performing life-saving procedures without fear of penalties. The current law, enacted in 2022, prohibits abortions except when the life of the pregnant person is at risk. However, some doctors have expressed uncertainty about how severe a medical condition must be to qualify under the exception. Punishments for violating the law include life imprisonment and steep fines, leading 111 Texas obstetrician-gynecologists to urge state leaders to reform the statute. Recent investigations have highlighted cases where delayed care under the law may have contributed to preventable deaths.

Patrick’s remarks mark a notable shift, as he is the first major Texas official to support revisiting the law during this legislative session. While the issue has drawn criticism and support from various lawmakers and groups, it remains unclear whether abortion law reforms will become a legislative priority. Patrick did not include abortion law revisions in his interim priorities for Senate committees last year, raising questions about how much momentum these proposed changes might gain in the current session.

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