SUMMARY: After Republicans dominated statewide races, especially in South Texas, Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa announced plans to resign after 12 years. In the Nov. 5 elections, Hispanic voters in border counties largely supported Republican candidates, including President-elect Trump and Senator Ted Cruz. Hinojosa attributed Trump’s success with Hispanics to frustrations over border security and criticized the Democratic transgender agenda. Some Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, blamed the party’s cultural policies for the shift to the right. Hinojosa apologized for his remarks and called for party unity, but announced his resignation due to the party’s electoral losses.

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SUMMARY: Following a Republican sweep in state legislative seats, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have made school choice and property tax reform top priorities for the upcoming legislative session. School choice, which faced opposition in previous sessions, is expected to pass with the support of newly elected candidates endorsed by Abbott. The proposed legislation includes the creation of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) for 60,000 students and funding increases for teacher salaries. Polls show broad support for school choice across political groups. Patrick is hopeful the governor will declare it an emergency item to fast-track its passage.

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SUMMARY: Ahead of the U.S. Senate’s vote for a new majority leader, several Texas Republican groups oppose Sen. John Cornyn, citing his support for gun control and a failed border bill. Cornyn, seen as Mitch McConnell’s preferred candidate, faces competition from Sen. Rick Scott, who is backed by many conservatives. Cornyn has faced criticism for authoring the 2018 ‘FIX-NICS’ Act, which critics say infringed on veterans’ gun rights. Several local Texas GOP organizations have denounced Cornyn’s alignment with Democrats and support for omnibus bills, urging Senate Republicans to choose a leader who upholds conservative, America First values, like Scott.

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