Beto, Bonnen And The Suburbs: Looking Ahead To 2020 

This week in Texas politics with The Texas Tribune.

By Michael MarksDecember 27, 2019 2:18 pm, ,

It’s time for the week that was in Texas politics with Alex Samuels, political reporter for The Texas Tribune.

Beto O’Rourke is no longer running for president and will not run for Senate. However, he has launched a new political group to support Texas Democrats in the 2020 election. The group, Powered by People, will coordinate volunteers from around the state to work for Democrats in 2020. In a letter to supporters, O’Rourke mentioned fighting for the state House majority and unseating Republican Sen. John Cornyn.

And, it turns out members of the Texas House can impeach House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, if they have the will to do so. This comes as the result of a scandal that broke weeks after the legislative session ended this spring. Bonnen had met with a political activist and agreed to exchange media credentials for the activist’s targeting 10 Republican representatives during the 2020 races. Since then, the House General Investigation Committee investigated Bonnen’s conduct, and ruled that he “likely violated” state law. That investigation is now closed, and further action is up to the members of the Texas House. House members have the authority to impeach Bonnen, but they would have to reconvene in Austin to hold hearings. In the meantime, Bonnen has announced his retirement, and will not run for reelection in 2020.

Also, Samuels says Texas suburbs are just one of the places that “pro-Trump” messages are getting harder to sell. An October University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll found that 46% of people living in the suburbs said they would definitely vote for someone besides Trump in the 2020 presidential election, compared to the 41% who said they would definitely vote for him.

 

Written by Morgan Kuehler.