With Secretary of State David Whitley close to losing his job, anxious Democrats take attendance

[TexasTowelie]

by Alexa Ura, Texas Tribune


With just four days left in the legislative session, state Sen. José Menéndez began his day in the Texas Capitol — but his mind was in San Antonio.

It was his son’s fifth grade graduation, and the Democrat wanted to make the hour-and-a-half drive down Interstate 35 to be there. But one of his Democratic colleagues was supposed to be out Friday. If Menéndez left, it would ease up the minority party’s hard block on the confirmation vote of embattled Secretary of State David Whitley.

Senate Republicans have been unable to overcome the two-thirds vote requirement to confirm the governor’s appointment to serve as the chief elections officer. Things have looked bad for him ever since the chamber’s 12 Democrats came out against confirming Whitley, who presided over a botched review of the voter rolls for noncitizens that threatened the voting rights of thousands of legitimate voters. The Democrats have characterized the secretary of state’s actions as a reckless abandonment of his commitment to the voters of Texas and have derided the turmoil and fear his actions caused among some voters.

Menéndez had submitted what’s known as a non-vote request, asking the chamber to honor the block Democrats had on Whitley’s confirmation without trying to push through a vote in his absence. With two Democrats out, Senate Republicans would still be a vote short, but Menéndez would not leave the Capitol until he was sure his colleagues would honor that commitment.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/05/24/can-texas-democrats-deal-final-blow-david-whitleys-nomination/

[Gothmog]

1. Texas Democratic Senators stood firm

Link to tweet

[TexasTowelie]

2. I hope that Abbott will select another candidate is more moderate than Whitley.

While I understand the need to clean up the voter registration lists, the effort should err on the side of caution so that eligible voters are not purged.

[Gothmog]

3. I am very happy

Link to tweet