Good morning,

Texas' John Cornyn wants to be the majority leader of the U.S. Senate. In today's One Click Survey, tell us what you think about that.

Here is the Texas Minute for Monday, March 4, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Abbott Downplays VP Speculation... By Announcing for 4th Term

• Gov. Greg Abbott is tamping down speculation that he may join President Donald Trump as his running mate, saying he plans on running for re-election. Brandon Waltens has the details.
        
• Trump himself fueled the speculation in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News last week. The president said he was on his shortlist of candidates for vice president.
       
• “Obviously, it’s very nice to say, but I think you all know that my focus is entirely on the state of Texas,” said Abbott, adding that he would be seeking re-election to a fourth term in 2026.
        
• Should Abbott run for and win another four years as governor, he would surpass Rick Perry’s record-breaking 14 years in office.

Leaked Audio: Superintendent Instructs Faculty on Whom to Vote For

• A leaked audio recording has revealed Huffman Independent School District’s superintendent urging school administrators to support all 16 anti-school choice Republicans in the GOP primary. Luca Cacciatore reports the audio was given to Texas Scorecard by someone who was in the meeting.
     
• In the audio, Superintendent Benny Soileau can be heard railing against Gov. Greg Abbott before urging administrators to vote for the Republicans who helped Democrats kill Abbott's education reform agenda. He ordered district staff to create the list and distribute it.
     
• Shockingly, Soileau can be heard admitting that the district has verged close to the line of electioneering in the past when it “had a cause like this that was that important.”
       
• Attorney General Ken Paxton has already sued a half-dozen school districts for illegally electioneering with taxpayer resources. Late Friday, Paxton's office announced a lawsuit against Huffman ISD for ille­gal electioneering.

Related News

Citizens Pursue Criminal Complaint Against Denton ISD

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Aquatics League Lets Boys Compete Against Girls

• The North Austin Aquatics League has updated its handbook to allow children to choose with which sex they want to compete. Emily Medieros reports the changes will mean boys can choose to compete against girls.
   
• The NAAL changed the terms in accordance with the USA swimming policy to address so-called "gender diverse" athletes. 
     
• The USA Swimming Policy also recommends that a gender-confused athlete should be allowed to use the locker rooms, changing facilities, and restrooms that are consistent with their gender identity.
        
• “NAAL has chosen to ignore fairness and safety for its female competitors to appease a tiny yet vocal minority of ideologues. So-called gender diversity has no basis in fact or reality, yet has wide-ranging negative implications for the future of girls’ opportunities in sport.” – Michelle Evans, Independent Women’s Network 

Houston Makes Progress on Deal with Firefighters

• Houston Mayor John Whitmire and the city's Professional Firefighters Association have reached a tentative agreement to end the city’s 8-year labor dispute with the group. Charles Blain breaks down the history.

      
• The Greater Houston Partnership has estimated that the back pay to the firefighters could be as high as $500 million. Reportedly, both parties have made compromises to reach the agreement, but details have not yet been made public.

Today In History

On March 4, 1789, the government in the United States began under the Constitution.

Quote-Unquote

"Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters."

– Daniel Webster​

ONE CLICK SURVEY

Following news that Mitch McConnell will be retiring from the U.S. Senate later this year, John Cornyn announced last week that he is running to be the next majority leader.

Would you want John Cornyn to serve as majority leader of the U.S. Senate?

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!