Texas Republicans rally their base at CPAC, but draw criticism over Hungarian prime ministerโs appearance
Viktor Orbรกn appeared at the convention in Dallas after saying last week that Europeans โdo not want to become peoples of mixed race.โ Texas officials attending, though, stayed focused on criticizing Democrats.
Texas House Democrat Michelle Beckley announces run against Republican U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne
Beckley unveiled her plans in a video filmed inside a hotel room in the nationโs capital, where state House Democrats fled earlier this month to break quorum in protest of Republicansโ priority elections bill.
Ex-campaign spokesman kills self outside Texas congresswomanโs home
Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) wears a protective mask while walking through the Canon Tunnel to the U.S. Capitol on January 12, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images)IRVING, Texas โ A former campaign spokesman for freshman Rep. Beth Van Duyne, of Texas, shot and killed himself outside of the Irving Republicanโs home, police said Thursday. The congresswoman was inside her home when she heard a gunshot Wednesday afternoon, looked outside and saw Richard Christian Dillardโs body, Officer Robert Reeves said. He also was a public affairs officer for the Texas State Guard. Iโm devastated for her, his daughter and grandchildren, we are praying for Chrisโs family and loved ones and ask that everyone please respect their privacy,โ Van Duyne, a former Irving mayor, added.
How Texans in Congress voted on the objections to certify Joe Biden's win
Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi preside over a joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results, after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol earlier in the day. But overall, Congress overwhelmingly voted against the objection by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to the certification of Arizona's results. Later, the Senate voted 92-7 against an objection to certifying Pennsylvania's results; House members rejected it 282-138. All Texas Democrats voted against the objections. New Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Irving, was the only Texan to split her vote โ she supported certifying Arizona's results but voted against certifying Pennsylvania's.
Beth Van Duyne could be the GOPโs antidote to high-profile progressives when she joins Congress
But Van Duyne easily sailed through a five-way primary to win the Republican nomination to replace U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant, R-Coppell. To be sure, Van Duyne will be a freshman member of the chamberโs minority party when she is sworn in next month. โThe people spoke loud and clear that theyโre ready for a change,โ Van Duyne said after her first mayoral victory. โPeople talk about, โOh youโre so brave,โโ Van Duyne said during a 2015 speaking engagement, according to The Morning News. On the same day in 2019 that Marchant, the outgoing U.S. House member who Van Duyne replaced, announced he wouldnโt seek another term in Congress, Van Duyne said she planned to run for the seat.
At the center of many Texas congressional battles: Who will protect preexisting conditions rules?
โItโs frankly disgusting that they say theyโre going to protect preexisting conditions when they want to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a plan to replace it. Her campaign didnโt respond to a question how she would prefer to protect preexisting conditions. โYour little line isnโt cute, John, itโs potentially deadly for 5 million Texans with pre-existing conditions,โ Hegar tweeted. I look forward to getting on the Hill and working toward a replacement that covers preexisting conditions." 692, which would preserve health care for people with preexisting conditions if the Affordable Care Act was changed or repealed.