TWITP: Voting and campaign finance
While much of the news focused on the upcoming election, there were several other hot issues this week. Some of them also involved the Texas attorney general. And now there are new rules that will send Texas hospitals into a border battle. FOX 7 Austin Chief Political Correspondent Rudy Koski and a panel of political analysts discuss this week’s Texas Politics.
Austin, Texas – With Election Day quickly approaching and early voting drawing to a close, let’s break down this week’s Texas politics.
FOX 7 Austin’s Chief Political Correspondent Rudy Koski and a panel of political analysts cover some of the hottest topics.
Rudy Koski: Halloween may be over, but we certainly saw a lot of trick-and-treating this week in Texas Politics. Let’s get the heading from the panel. We’ll start with Philip Jankowski of the Dallas Morning News. Phil, what are the headlines this week?
PHILIP JANKOWSKI: In the final stretch, Senate candidates take to the airwaves.
Rudy Koski: Brad Johnson of The Texan. What are the headlines this week?
Brad Johnson: Democrats lack enthusiasm for early voting.
Rudy Koski: And political analyst Mark Wiggins. What are the headlines this week?
Mark Wiggins: Will the beehive lead K’s hive to the White House?
Rudy Koski: Early voting is winding down, but campaign fundraising is still going on. A new report has arrived. Brad, you wrote a little bit about this. What impressed you most about who is getting the money?
2024 Election Details
Poll: Cruz, Allred closed as early voting ends
A new poll shows Ted Cruz and Colin Allred in a close race for the US Senate. Early voting closes Friday.
Brad Johnson: Well, first of all, the Republicans are raising money. I looked at the Transparency USA chart today and there was money coming in there. In Texas, there are 222 million Republicans and two Democrats, 54 million. I don’t know how long it will last, but it makes a big difference. It’s just huge. And if you look more closely at all of these races, you can see that Republicans are pretty nervous about some suburban districts, especially Harris, Bexar, and Williamson counties.
Mark Wiggins: Look, Rudy, you can’t talk about money without talking about vouchers. But that’s why this election, more than any other, requires voters to investigate who is funding the candidates they are voting for or considering voting for. I think it’s important for.
Rudy Kosky: Mark makes a great point because the focus is on the top of the ballot. But the real big battles here in Texas are all of these House races.
Philip Jankowski: The real theme that we’re seeing in all of this is that this is very much like a suburban neighborhood. A city located on the periphery or suburbs of a major city. And, yes, that’s where either party can gain or lose seats. And that’s why you’re seeing Governor Abbott go out and campaign for these people.
Rudy Koski: One of the high-profile state legislators in the House of Representatives is State Representative Jeff Leach. He was caught texting a judge on the Court of Criminal Appeals regarding the Robert Roberson case. That death row inmate, his case is very controversial. Now AG Paxton is calling for his resignation and Leach’s resignation. Brad did this, this was a curveball.
Details of the Robert Roberson case
Texas Supreme Court puts man’s execution on hold
Robert Roberson, who was convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter in 2002, had his execution suspended Thursday night by the Texas Supreme Court.
Brad Johnson: Yeah. The fact that he did it first is certainly surprising. I mean, Congressman Leach is a lawyer and he knows this very well.
Philip Jankowski: This is because of Leach’s involvement. This will be a personal battle for Paxton, demanding Leach’s resignation, demanding Leach’s resignation, but I think it all stems from impeachment. And one of the most fascinating and interesting things is that these people used to be very close friends.
MARK WIGGINS: I think the really interesting question to ponder is what the House will do to reassert its position once Congress begins and it is in a position to take some kind of retaliation.
Rudy Koski: Another hot issue in federal court is that pro-Palestinian protesters are suing the governor’s order to suppress protests on college campuses months ago. That’s true. A federal judge here in Austin has given the protesters permission to proceed with the lawsuit. Brad, is this a big loss for the governor or just keep bashing this issue?
Brad Johnson: I don’t think it’s that big of a loss yet. In other words, depending on the court’s decision, it may become so. But, you know, the governor is clear on this. He is pushing this issue to its limits. He and all the state Republicans and, frankly, you know, the top leaders at the University of Texas, they’re not going to make the situation on the University of Texas campus or other campuses in the state more like the Ivy League. He has a very strong stance. we saw.
Rudy Koski: Today, November 1st, immigration begins again. Executive Order by Governor Greg Abbott. An order requiring hospitals to begin tracking all illegal immigrants who come to them for treatment.
Philip Jankowski: You know, that could be a prerequisite for some kind of legislative action. We don’t know what it is. This is still in its early stages. I haven’t seen anything yet. They are literally being asked to collect that data today. So we don’t know what will happen next.
Brad Johnson: We know that hospitals, especially rural hospitals, are struggling with the cost of treating undocumented immigrants.
MARK WIGGINS: I think what it’s going to do, obviously, is that fewer people are going to seek care until they’re probably at death’s door or worse.
Rudy Koski: Well, let me end this week with one word. Let’s start with Philip. What’s your word of the week, Philip?
Philip Jankowski: Voting, I think we used it the same way we used it last time.
Brad Johnson: In four words. Have you arrived yet?
Mark Wiggins: Game over.
Rudy Koski: That concludes another week of Texas politics.
