Texas
Texas House Republican Caucus censures 4 members
AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott went after Republican incumbents who voted against his educational voucher plan during this year’s primary elections. Attorney General Ken Paton campaigned against incumbents who voted for his impeachment. And four members of the Legislature joined the governor and AG in trying to unseat incumbents.
“I knocked on doors with Gov. Greg Abbott for Helen Kirwan. I campaigned with Sen. Ted Cruz for Brent Money. I stood on stage with Attorney General Ken Paxton for Andy Hopper. And you know what? I would do it all over again,” said Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian.
The campaigning against incumbent Republican representatives by Reps. Brian Harrison of Midlothian, Nate Schatzline of Fort Worth, Tony Tinderholt of Arlington and Steve Toth of The Woodlands violated caucus bylaws and resulted in them being censured.
“The Texas House Republican Caucus is an impotent organization that is fighting for liberals. And I am not going to stand it. And if they want to censure me, all I got to say to them is bring it on. This whole thing’s a joke. I’m fighting for the future,” Harrison said.
The four violated bylaws adopted in 2019 after a previous incumbent was campaigned against. The caucus chair explained their bylaws are clear but could be changed before the end of this year.
“In order to do that, we require a quorum of members. And so the most likely time that we will achieve that is at our member caucus retreat in October. And so that’s probably where it’ll most likely happen,” said Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Northwest Harris County.
Oliverson isn’t worried about the censorship. He’s eager to turn the page on this chapter.
“And move on,” he said. “We have a lot of important work to do. Republicans are uniting across this state.”
But analysts say there’s no prospect of unity in the near future for the Republican Party.
“These members of the Texas House who were sanctioned said unity comes after victory. One side or the other if going to win this fight and until that fight is won there is going to be division,” said Cal Jillson, a Southern Methodist University professor.
Republican analysts believe the fighting won’t hurt the party.
“Naturally disagreements are going to be on the Republican side, being the party in power,” said Andy Hogue with Travis County GOP.
Paxton also weighed in on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, “the establishment Republicans in the Texas House have not learned their lesson even after 15 incumbents were sent packing.”
Some believe the continued GOP turmoil will give Democrats more power.
More than 150 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have been infected with influenza over the past three weeks — a major outbreak less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American troops would no longer be required to be vaccinated against the flu.
A day off at the pool — and a little sunburn — didn’t stop the Minnesota Twins’ momentum.
Brooks Lee hit a three-run homer as Minnesota scored multiple runs in the first inning for the third consecutive game, and the Twins went on to complete a series sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 9-3 win Thursday.
Minnesota has won four games in a row and scored 25 runs in the three-games series in Texas. The two teams had a rare, mid-series day off on Wednesday with the England-Croatia World Cup game being played in Arlington.
“We’re locked in every day,” Lee told Audra Martin on the team’s broadcast. “Yesterday, taking time off, lay out by the pool, get a little burnt and then right back to it. We did a good job getting focused. I feel like we do that with rain delays, too, just lock back in and we’re doing it.”
Lee’s 12th homer capped a four-run first off Jack Leiter (3-7). Trevor Larnach made it 6-0 in the fourth with a two-run shot to straightaway center that just cleared the extended glove of leaping Alejandro Osuna. Larnach’s third hit was an RBI single in the fifth, and Ryan Kriedler hit a two-run homer in the eighth.
Joe Ryan (5-3) struck out seven but needed 97 pitches to get through five scoreless innings while allowing three singles. Leiter was done after the fourth, and has given up 17 runs while losing three starts in a row.
The Twins never trailed in the sweep that extended their winning streak to four, matching their longest this season. Their 14-5 record at Globe Life Field is the best for any American League opponent since the ballpark opened in 2020.
Wyatt Langford, Ezequiel Duran and Justin Foscue hit solo homers for the Rangers, who have lost five of six games. They are 0-15 when giving up multiple runs in the first inning.
Twins DH Josh Bell, who was born in nearby Irving and grew up in the area, had an RBI single before Lee’s homer. Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning of the series-opening 4-2 win Monday, and had an RBI single for a 2-0 lead in the first of a 12-2 win on Tuesday.
“We’re just passing the baton each time,” Lee said of the offensive output. “Our guys are hot. They feel good and they came out swinging today. It was awesome to see. We’ve done that for a while now.”
Up next
Twins rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA) starts Friday at Arizona. The Diamondbacks are scheduled to start right-hander Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11).
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