Gene Wu vs. GOP: Democrats Turn Chaos Into Opportunity

Gene Wu’s sharp debates are putting GOP hypocrisy on full display.

When Dade Phelan (R-HD21) was the House Speaker, he strictly enforced a few House rules, which current Speaker Dustin Burrows seems to completely ignore. These rules concern personalities and political statements at the mic. Phelan even went so far in the 87th Session as to ban Democrats from calling Republicans “racist.” However, Burrows has not admonished members for doing either.

This has led to escalating rhetoric, especially from our side. It’s created an environment where inflammatory statements and personal attacks go unchecked, amplifying tensions on the House floor and making debates increasingly hostile and less substantive.

Yesterday marked the 119th Day of the 140-day Legislative Session, and it was by far one of the most hostile and messy days on the House floor that I can recall in recent memory.

This unrestrained atmosphere on the House floor has surprisingly played to the advantage of Democrats, who, despite being in the minority, have seized the opportunity to call out Republicans openly and directly. Without strict enforcement of decorum, Democrats have leaned into holding Republicans accountable for their racist and bigoted rhetoric, using pointed and unflinching language to expose their hypocrisy and regressive policies.

In particular, Gene Wu (D-HD137) has been an absolute rock star. From calling out Republicans’ racism in SB17 to his speech yesterday during the debate for SB1257, which will ban transgender care for adults, Wu has been relentless in his attacks against Republicans.

Check him out:

Now, Wu is the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, which explains why he’s been putting himself out there more aggressively than other Democratic members, but his relentless attacks against the right have landed some blowback.

At one moment yesterday, Wu Wes Virdell (R-HD53) had a tense and revealing exchange. Wu asked Virdell questions about the bill’s reasoning and the lack of evidence to support its effectiveness. Virdell, on the other hand, fumbled his responses, resorting to evasiveness and frustration rather than engaging thoughtfully with Wu’s points.

The most striking moment came when Wu challenged Virdell’s claims that gun buyback programs increase crime rates. Virdell cited vague studies without being able to name any specific peer-reviewed sources, leading Wu to call out his lack of credible evidence. When pressed further, Virdell became increasingly defensive, accusing Wu of trying to drag out the discussion rather than addressing the substance of the critique.

Watch the heated exchange:

Virdell’s demeanor was unprofessional and flustered, compared to Wu’s calm and incisive questioning. The stark contrast highlighted the intellectual gap between the two and the Republicans’ increasingly desperate attempts to justify their legislative agenda. Ultimately, Virdell’s attempts to explain the bill appeared childish and ungrounded, while Wu’s persistence underscored the Democrats’ strategy of holding the GOP accountable through rigorous debate.

This clash was emblematic of how Democrats, despite being in the minority, have successfully used floor debates to challenge and expose the Republicans’ weak arguments, often leaving GOP members scrambling to defend themselves. Wu’s ability to cut through the noise and demand real answers has made him a standout voice among Texas Democrats during this session, and his confrontations with Republicans like Virdell only amplify his message.

Watch another moment, when Wu calls a POO (Point Of Order) against Cole Hefner’s (R-HD05) bill, and Hefner makes a catty remark into the mic, “Of course he does.”

Wu has been incredibly effective at getting under the Republicans’ skin. Democrats have displayed sharper wit and strategic communication, catching Republicans off guard and prompting flustered, often childlike reactions. Instead of countering with substance, Republicans have stumbled over their own words, defaulting to defensive bluster or awkward attempts at retaliation.

In a chamber where Republicans usually control the discourse, the lack of decorum enforcement has, ironically, allowed Democrats to demonstrate their rhetorical prowess and make the case to the public about who holds the moral and intellectual high ground.

House Democrats scored a big win yesterday when they defeated Daniel Alder’s (R-HD06) carbon tax ban.

We discussed this bill last week, as the Texas Democratic Party platform calls explicitly for implementing a carbon tax, yet eight Democrats voted for the ban.

Democratic House leaders spoke against this bill, a constitutional amendment that would have needed 100 votes to pass. It failed with a vote of 93-47.

Seven Democrats still voted for this bill, going against their constituents, the Party, and climate action. Those Democrats are highlighted below:

Dear Sunrise Movement and Sierra Club,

Do you see that? Surely, you have someone among your ranks ready to primary one of the oil-sucking, climate-denying Democrats who voted against planet Earth. Let me know, I’ll help boost them in the primary season.

❤️,

Michelle

I wish I could tell you that was the only time yesterday Democrats crossed the aisle to vote on pro-fossil fuel legislation. Unfortunately, the king of oil-suckers, Tom Craddick (R-HD82), brought forth two pro-fossil fuel constitutional amendments that just scraped by with Democratic votes.

HJR35 creates the Grow Texas Fund, which allocate financial resources to areas in Texas significantly impacted by oil and gas production. This fund essentially funnels public money into supporting oil and gas infrastructure without addressing environmental impacts.

• Later this week, Central Texas will see temperatures as high as 113° and it’s only mid-May. Our planet is continuing to heat up and the climate emergency is on-going, which is why being pro-fossil fuel in 2025 is not only regressive, it’s also stupid.

Most Democrats (highlighed below) voted in favor of HJR35 and I’m sure it’s because no one told them not too, and they’re probably looking at it as an infrastructure bill.

But allocating funds directly to oil-rich areas while ignoring broader infrastructure and climate challenges could perpetuate dependency on fossil fuels, contradicting climate action goals.

Texas should focus on transitioning to cleaner energy sources and mitigating climate risks caused by fossil fuel extraction, rather than spending more money on oil and gas regions.

Historically, both parties in Texas have supported the growth of the oil and gas industry.

For decades, oil and gas lobbyists have been some of the most influential players in Texas politics, pouring high-dollar donations into campaigns and shaping policy to maintain their dominance. Even among Texas Democrats, there’s been a long-standing tradition of supporting fossil fuel interests, especially in districts where oil and gas are the primary sources of employment.

It’s not hard to understand why. For generations, oil and gas jobs have been the backbone of entire communities, from the Permian Basin to the Eagle Ford Shale. Lawmakers, regardless of party affiliation, often feel pressure to protect these jobs, especially when their constituents’ livelihoods are directly tied to the industry. For some Democrats, supporting oil and gas projects seems like a practical way to ensure economic stability in their districts.

But the climate crisis has gotten so severe that clinging to fossil fuels no longer makes sense, not in 2025, not when the stakes are this high. Scientists have made it clear that reducing carbon emissions is essential to curbing the worst effects of climate change. Extreme weather events, record heat, catastrophic flooding, these are no longer hypothetical threats. They are happening now, and they are costing lives.

• DFW is sinking faster than any inland urban area in the nation, because of groundwater extraction. As the climate crisis continues on and droughts become worse, DFW will continue sinking even more.

HJR47 was the next constitutional amendment Craddick laid out, although the bill’s author was Brooks Landgraf (R-HD81). This bill creates the Texas Severance Tax Revenue and Oil and Natural Gas (Texas STRONG) Defense Fund. While the bill frames itself as a way to mitigate the adverse effects of fossil fuel extraction, it ultimately serves to sustain the oil and gas industry’s presence rather than facilitating a transition to renewable energy.

By funneling public revenue into oil-producing areas without addressing environmental concerns or transition strategies, the fund could perpetuate dependence on fossil fuels. Moreover, some Democrats who voted for the bill may see it as an infrastructure investment, but it raises questions about whether these funds could be better used for clean energy initiatives or broader climate resilience projects.

Most Democrats also voted for this bill.

It’s time for Democrats, especially those in leadership, to recognize that supporting fossil fuel infrastructure is no longer justifiable when there are cleaner, more sustainable energy alternatives. Solar, wind, and other renewable sources are rapidly advancing, creating jobs and reducing emissions at a fraction of the environmental cost. Instead of doubling down on oil and gas, Texas should be investing in the infrastructure that will secure a livable future for all Texans.

Republicans kill Ray Lopez’s worker bill yesterday, because… racism.

HB2858 by Lopez (D-HD125) proposed the establishment of a Temporary Guest Worker Program in Texas, designed to address labor shortages by allowing businesses to hire legal foreign temporary workers from Mexico.

The bill had nothing to do with undocumented immigrants, however, listen to Mike Olcott’s (R-HD60) extremely racist line of questioning:

Olcott repeatedly equated legal temporary guest workers with undocumented immigrants, suggesting that a program designed to bring legal, vetted workers into Texas would somehow increase illegal immigration.

His argument tapped into the racist trope that immigrants, particularly from Latin America, take jobs away from US citizens. It pits minority communities against each other, ignoring the fact that the program is meant to address specific labor shortages.

Using minority groups as a shield to justify xenophobia is a classic tactic to give racist arguments a veneer of legitimacy. It falsely frames immigrants as enemies of other marginalized communities.

But Mike Olcott once proudly served as a Minuteman, those racist fucks who camp out on the border, itching to shoot refugees. So, his line of questioning isn’t surprising.

What was surprising is apparently, now, Richard Raymond (D-HD42) is acting as a Republican spokesperson and used this bill to tell Lopez Senate Republican’s position.

This dude is going to switch parties before 2027. I would put money on it. Also, I’ve been hearing a lot of rumors about Raymond, I’m not ready to divulge them yet, but after the legislative session is over, expect hellfire.

Some activists have been told to lay off Raymond and Henry Cuellar, because it may be pushing them into the arms of the Republican Party. No one told me that, yet. And even if they do, they only people I am beholden to is Lone Star Left readers. So I promise, a scathing reckoning is coming. Let’s just get through the next 20 days, first.

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Ultimately, the GOP killed Lopez’s bill because they like to use minority groups as political pawns.

A health emergency with Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D-HD120).

During the middle of the day, Charlie Geren (R-HD99) announced that 71-year-old Gervin-Hawkins was rushed to the emergency room with a suspected stroke. However, as it turned out, it was just her blood pressure. She was to be kept in the hospital last night and then released today.

Here was his announcement:

Here were all members of the House praying for her health and speedy recovery:

From what I understand, Gervin-Hawkins is now out of the hospital, although not at work today.

One last constitutional amendment passed yesterday in which several Democrats bucked the caucus to vote with Republicans.

SJR37 will add to our Texas Constitution that only citizens will be able to vote in our elections, something that is already in place in our constitution. So, it’s redundant. Plus, it’s red meat for the Republican base.

During the debate, it was pointed out that there is no evidence of widespread non-citizen voting in Texas. Even the Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, confirmed in an official letter that federal and state laws already prohibit non-citizens from voting in any Texas election, whether local, county, or state.

This type of rhetoric feeds into the false narrative that there’s a crisis of non-citizens voting, which echoes Trump-era voter fraud conspiracy theories. Implementing this unnecessary amendment would cost nearly $200,000 of taxpayer money to put on the ballot, despite the fact that it duplicates existing law.

It’s part of a larger strategy to stoke fear about immigrants and sow doubt about the integrity of elections, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Highlighted are the Democrats who voted in favor of it:

This legislative session has been a chaotic, hostile, and often embarrassing display of how far the Texas House has veered off the rails.

Republicans have let decorum crumble, allowing Democrats to use the opportunity to hold them accountable, exposing their racist and hypocritical policies for what they are.

But it’s not just about Republicans losing control. It’s about Democrats finally using their voice, despite being in the minority, to call out the right’s backward agenda on the record. From Gene Wu’s relentless pushback to the unexpected wins against pro-fossil fuel bills, Democrats have shown that even in a hostile environment, they can turn the lack of discipline into a platform for truth-telling.

Yet, it’s frustrating to watch Democrats fall for the same old tricks, like voting for redundant, fear-driven bills like SJR37 or aligning with fossil fuel interests out of political convenience. It’s time for the party to recognize that caving to Republican pressure only weakens the progressive fight. We can’t afford to compromise on climate action or pander to xenophobic narratives.

On the plus side, most House Democrats are solid representatives of Democratic ideals. So, don’t let the bad ones discourage you or make you feel hopeless. When the scorecards come out over the summer, we’ll see less than ten Democrats actually need a primary challenger, and the rest will only need our ongoing support.

As we inch toward the end of the session, Democrats need to dig in, fight harder, and keep exposing the GOP’s hypocrisy. We need to remember who we’re fighting for, the people of Texas, not the oil and gas lobby, not the anti-immigrant fearmongers, and certainly not the Republican power brokers clinging to the past.

The stakes are too high to fall back into old habits. Let’s keep the pressure on, and when this session is finally over, let’s hold accountable every Democrat who failed to stand with the people. Texans deserve better, and we’re not backing down.

• June 2: The 89th Legislative Session ends.

• June 3: The beginning of the 2026 election season.

• Click here to find out what Legislative districts you’re in.

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