A day after the leader of the Texas House Democratic Caucus predicted the state’s minority party will flip the Texas House, a GOP lawmaker said Friday the math does not add up for them and Republicans should retain control of the chamber.
“If Republican voters turn out, we won’t have to worry about anything like that happening,” state Rep. Mitch Little, R-Lewisville, said during a panel at the Texas Tribune Festival.
Little made the comment during a discussion about the Republican Party with state Rep. Daniel Alders, R-Tyler, and state Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano. The state lawmakers called for reducing taxes, regulating data centers and addressing prediction markets.
On Thursday, Democratic state Rep. Gene Wu of Houston said Democrats can gain enough seats in November to establish a majority in the Legislature’s lower chamber. The party needs 14 seats to gain control of the chamber.
“If everyone pushes a little bit, we win,” Wu said.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warned in April that Republicans are “going to have a tough time” holding onto control of the Texas House, as the GOP battles political headwinds ahead of the midterm election.
Leach said that the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate Ken Paxton “has got to communicate more effectively with independents.” The attorney general will face state Rep. James Talarico of Austin in November, the Democratic nominee.
“I personally believe, for what it’s worth, that General Paxton needs to get on a debate stage with James Talarico,” Leach said. “We conservatives do not run from a fight. We shouldn’t at least, and so I’m hopeful that that will happen.”
In July, Paxton’s campaign said “of course we are going to debate James Talarico” but has yet to accept a debate invitation. Speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival on Thursday, Talarico challenged Paxton to a debate moderated by Fox News’ Bret Baier.
The Republican state lawmakers also previewed the next legislative session. Leach floated the idea of redrawing state house districts, after the Legislature redrew the state’s congressional map last year, pointing to Wu’s comments Thursday that Democrats should consider the same should they regain power.
“Why would we not redistrict next session?” Leach said.
But more urgent is an array of issues that constituents are talking about, according to lawmakers — like worries about data centers, property taxes, schools and public safety.
“There is not enough relief that we could provide Texas homeowners in the area of property taxes,” Little said, referring to maintenance and operations taxes.
