From RaTmasTer to kingmaker: How Jonathan Stickland trolled his way to Texas GOP power
In his teens and his 20s, Stickland was a prolific internet troll. But instead of growing out of it, he would make a career of it โ ascending to the role of a conservative Texas powerbroker, before taking heat for hosting a meeting with white supremacist Nick Fuentes.
Defend Texas Liberty backs Brent Money in special election to replace Bryan Slaton
The far-right political action committee is getting involved in a critical special election for the Texas House, the first major test of its influence since its then-leader was spotted meeting with a prominent white supremacist.
Texas House committee recommends expelling Rep. Bryan Slaton
The House General Investigating Committee found that Slaton, a Republican from Royse City, engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a subordinate. The Texas Tribune previously reported on an allegation that he had sex with one of his staff, a woman under 21, and gave her alcohol.
Complaint alleges Rep. Bryan Slaton had โinappropriate relationshipโ with an intern
The complaint came after an incident in which Slaton and the staffer allegedly met up at his Austin apartment last weekend. A separate staffer told The Texas Tribune that Slaton drank alcohol with an intern under 21 years old.
Texas GOP lawmaker hires Christian nationalist who called for drag show attendees to be executed
State Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, hired Jake Neidert, 22, last month as his officeโs legislative director amid a wave of anti-LGBTQ violence and rhetoric and ahead of an impending legislative session that is expected to focus heavily on anti-trans bills.
Another Texas GOP lawmaker is attempting to make abortion punishable by the death penalty
A Texas lawmaker has filed a bill that would abolish and criminalize abortions, leaving women and physicians who perform the procedure to face criminal charges that could carry the death penalty. The legislation, filed Tuesday by state Rep. Bryan Slaton, does not include exceptions for rape or incest. All my bill does, is say that an unborn child is the same as a born child and should be treated the same by the laws.โLt. Gov. Dan Patrick has identified two abortion bills that will be priority items during the legislative session that started in January. One would ban nearly all abortions if the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision or otherwise altered abortion laws.
Republican Texas lawmakers reviving push to end in-state tuition for undocumented college students
Two state lawmakers want to prevent undocumented college students from being able to pay in-state tuition rates. Two freshman Republican state representatives want to stop undocumented immigrants from being able to pay in-state tuition at Texasโ public universities, they announced Friday. In 2001, Texas became the first state to allow undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition. In his statement, Cason called in-state tuition rates for undocumented students โhandoutsโ from the Legislature that frustrate Texans whose property taxes are rising. AdThis is not the first time Texas GOP lawmakers have sought to repeal the 2001 law that allows undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition.
Texas House requires masks for 2021 legislative session, declines to expand virtual testimony
Legislators greet each other on the floor of the House prior to the opening of the 2021 legislative session. Members may also remove masks during a committee hearing if protected by a barrier and socially distanced from others. Every senator will be required to test negative for the virus before entering the upper chamber or attending a committee hearing. โThat is the people's House,โ said Hunter, one of the House members spearheading the rules proposal. โWould Rep. Stickland โ I mean Rep. Slaton โ yield to a question?โ Leach asked.
Two Texas House incumbents, Dan Flynn and J.D. Sheffield, fall behind early in primary runoff results
Two Republican Texas House incumbents were considerably behind their primary runoff opponents as early election results came in Tuesday. State Rep. Dan Flynn of Canton trailed Bryan Slaton 37% to 62%. State Rep. J.D. The winner will face off against Republican Lacey Hull in November after state Rep. Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston, opted against seeking reelection. No matter what happens in the general election, House members will have a new speaker for the 2021 legislative session.
Three Texas House runoffs give warring GOP factions chance to settle up before November
The anti-abortion group has endorsed Flynn challenger Bryan Slaton, Sheffield rival Shelby Slawson and Francis. He is the only candidate across the three runoffs that the group has formally endorsed, and he is the son-in-law of Farris Wilks, one of Empower Texans top allied donors. And the governors campaign has since put significant money behind the endorsement, making $83,000 in in-kind contributions to Rogers campaign, including for a TV ad buy featuring Abbott pitching Rogers direct-to-camera. Flynn, Slaton has argued on the campaign trail, is a do-nothing Republican who has not represented the district while in office. Slatons taken over a $150,000 from West Texas oil billionaires the same West Texas billionaires funding vile attacks on Gov.