Texas Tidbits: Brandon Gill Learns Nothing, Dan Patrick Does Less
More distractions, less solutions, business as usual.
Texas Tidbits is a collection of quick snapshots of the most interesting, outrageous, and important political stories across the Lone Star State. Each edition will feature several short stories highlighting the issues shaping Texas today.
The TDP Chair Race Continues to Heat Up
After my article yesterday covering the tensions within the party, some insiders pushed back, arguing that the framing made it seem like Kendall Scudder is the clear progressive choice in the race.
The reality? Multiple candidates are making their case to progressives and the broader coalition that makes up the Texas Democratic Party. However, the Texas Progressive Caucus has officially endorsed Scudder, making him one of the candidates with organized grassroots support. That said, other candidates in the race have also positioned themselves as champions of progressive values and continue to make their case to SDEC members ahead of the March 29 vote.
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about what could happen if Scudder does not resign from the Dallas Central Appraisal District Board before assuming the chair position. Some worry that Paxton could use it as a legal argument to disrupt the party’s ability to place candidates on the 2026 ballot. Others argue that such a challenge would be baseless, pointing to election law and past precedent.
One thing is clear: this race has become about much more than just electing a new chair. It’s a test of how the party navigates internal disputes, legal uncertainty, and the broader ideological battles shaping its future. Expect the intensity to increase with just over two weeks until the SDEC votes on March 29.
HB3 Backlash: Eight Texas Republicans Could Lose Their Seats Over Vouchers
The numbers are in, and it doesn’t look good for Republican lawmakers pushing school vouchers. Texans for Public Education analyzed 14,388 public comments on HB3, the bill aimed at funneling public education funds into private school vouchers, and found overwhelming opposition, especially in rural districts.
According to the data, eight Republican House members are at high risk of losing their seats if they vote in favor of the bill. Their districts have spoken loud and clear: They don’t want vouchers.
If these legislators think they can vote against their constituents and walk away unscathed, they’re in for a rude awakening. Texans have spoken across the political spectrum, and they aren’t going to forget this betrayal.
If you live in these districts, now is the time to call, email, and show up. Let them know that a vote for vouchers is a vote against Texas public schools and a ticket out of office.
Alex Jones Is Off The Rails Again
Alex Jones is at it again, spinning yet another conspiracy out of thin air. This time about the tragic death of InfoWars reporter Jamie White.
White interrupted some guys who were breaking into his car late at night in Austin. They shot him and took off. Police are investigating, and there’s no evidence to suggest anything beyond a robbery gone wrong.
But in Jones’ world, reality is never quite exciting enough. Instead of accepting the obvious, he’s gone full “Deep State Globalist Soros CIA Ukraine Assassination” mode, insisting that White was taken out because he was on some kind of Ukrainian hit list.
It’s convenient for a guy who needs to keep his audience hooked after losing $1.5 billion in the Sandy Hook defamation case.
And what’s the best way to honor a fallen colleague? According to Jones, sell some supplements and fundraiser coins. Yes, while mourning his reporter, Jones seamlessly transitioned into a sales pitch for InfoWars’ latest must-have merch. The man never misses an opportunity.
Meanwhile, the Austin police and Travis County DA are treating White’s death as what it actually is, a homicide investigation, not a global conspiracy.
Democratic Dance-Off: Who Boogied Better?
Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett:
Or Texas Senator Cesar Blanco:
I really hope this becomes a trend. And speaking of cutting a rug, Erica Lee Carter posted this on her social media this week. I hope it fills your heart with joy as much as it did mine:
Two souls who will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Sheila Jackson-Lee and Sylvester Turner.
Brandon Gill Is The Gift That Keeps On Giving (If You Like Public Embarrassment)
North Texas Congressman Brandon Gill is making headlines for all the wrong reasons, again. This time, it’s for a tweet where he declared that “multiculturalism will tear our country apart.”
This is an interesting take from a guy who is literally married to the daughter of Dinesh D’Souza, an Indian-American right-wing commentator.
Gill, who is quickly carving out a reputation as one of the dimmest bulbs in Congress, recently introduced a bill to put Donald Trump’s face on the $100 bill. Because clearly, that’s the most pressing issue facing Americans today. Protests are already being organized against Gill this week. ⬇️😉
The backlash isn’t surprising. His district includes a large and diverse population, and his racist dog whistles aren’t sitting well with his constituents. While Gill continues trying to make a name for himself in the MAGA outrage machine, his biggest accomplishment so far is proving that electing trust-fund conservatives with more connections than qualifications is a terrible idea.
Brian Harrison Still Isn’t Working
Brian Harrison (R-HD10) is back at it again, doing what he does best: pretending to be the hardest-working man in Texas politics while actually doing nothing.
He posted yet another video whining that the legislature wasn’t working over a four-day weekend. Never mind that lawmakers are working—just because the chamber and committees weren’t meeting doesn’t mean legislators weren’t handling constituent services, preparing bills, or doing the behind-the-scenes work that makes government function.
But Brian? He only works when the cameras are rolling.
If Brian Harrison spent half as much time doing his job as he does grandstanding for social media, he might get something done. Instead, he’s too busy checking his lighting for another selfie video.
Dan Patrick’s Legislative Dumpster Fire Continues
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick just dropped the second round of his “priority” bills for the 2025 legislative session, and if you were hoping for something that helps Texans, you’re going to be disappointed. Instead, Patrick is laser-focused on doubling down on his usual mix of authoritarian nonsense, culture war hysteria, and policies that actively make life harder for working people.
Among his latest batch of bad ideas:
SB32: Business Tax Relief – Corporations needed another tax break while Texas schools were underfunded.
SB33: Stopping Taxpayer-Funded Abortion Travel – Even though the state has already criminalized abortion, Patrick wants to ensure Texans can’t leave the state for care either.
SB36: Establishing a Homeland Security Division within DPS – More bloated spending on border theatrics to score Fox News points.
SB39: Protecting Texas Trucking – Because nothing says “urgent priority” like more deregulation for an industry that already barely follows safety laws.
This is what Texas Republicans are spending their time on instead of, you know, fixing the power grid, expanding Medicaid, or addressing the actual cost of living crisis hitting Texans. If Patrick and his crew spent as much time on real governance as they do waging culture wars, Texas might be in better shape.
But hey, that would require them to care about governing in the first place.
Texas Republicans are doing what they do best. Ignoring real issues while setting the state on fire for their own political gain.
Whether it’s Dan Patrick’s legislative circus, Brandon Gill’s racist nonsense, or Brian Harrison’s performative laziness, the theme remains the same: bad-faith actors pushing bad policies while pretending to be the voice of the people. Meanwhile, the Texas Democratic Party is at a crossroads, facing internal battles to determine whether it can finally break through and turn outrage into action.
The stakes have never been higher, and the choices have never been clearer. Texans deserve leadership that works for them, not self-serving grifters and out-of-touch ideologues. The question now is whether voters are ready to make them pay for it.
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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