Judge Issues Arrest Warrant For Rep. Poncho Nevárez After Security Cameras Caught Him With Cocaine

This week in Texas politics with The Texas Tribune.

By Rhonda FanningNovember 15, 2019 12:58 pm,

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

Authorities issued a warrant for the arrest of Texas state Rep. Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass, after Austin-Bergstrom International Airport security cameras caught him dropping an envelope with plastic bags of cocaine. The envelope was from Nevárez’s set of official Texas House stationery. Nevárez confessed the drugs were his, and said that he is seeking help and treatment. 

This comes the week after Nevárez said he would not run for reelection. Samuels says Nevárez tied his issues with drugs to his announcement.

“He said he has no one to blame but himself, and that he accepts that this is all true and that it will eventually help him get better,” Samuels says. 

Another politician not seeking reelection is U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes. Hurd announced his endorsement of candidate Tony Gonzales to replace him as the representative for Texas’ 23rd District in Congress, a seat that will be highly contested in 2020. Gonzales is one of nine Republicans expected to challenge Democratic candidate Gina Ortiz Jones in the general election; Jones lost to Hurd by only about 1,000 votes in the last election. Samuels says Hurd wanted to endorse a Republican who reflected the diversity of the Party.

“One of the reasons he left was to get more Republicans of color up and down the ticket, so he’s endorsed Tony Gonzales who is of Hispanic descent,” Samuels says. 

The lone Texan still fighting for the Democratic presidential nomination, Julián Castro, learned Thursday that he did not meet the poll requirements to qualify for the November Democratic debate. The requirements will be even more stringent for the December debate. Samuels says Castro is focusing on states like Texas, Iowa and Nevada to try to connect with supporters there. 

 

Written by Savana Dunning.