In a nationally broadcasted television appearance, one Texas congressman made a bold prediction about the upcoming 2020 elections.
Freshman Republican Lance Gooden (TX-5), a former state representative elected to the U.S. House in 2018, is predicting electoral success for House Republicans next year. The Terrell lawmaker’s comments came in an appearance on the Fox Business program “Varney & Co.,” where Gooden was asked to discuss the ongoing national security and humanitarian crisis along the nation’s southern border with Mexico.
“The local communities in Texas, how do they feel about criminals walking in the door [across the border]?” host Stuart Varney asked.
“They’re outraged. They’re upset about it. They’re fed up,” Gooden replied. “That’s why Donald Trump got elected last time, that’s why I think he’ll get re-elected again this next time. That’s why, I think, Republicans will take the House back over.”
“[Democrats] won’t even acknowledge that we have a crisis at the border,” Gooden added. “People are fed up across this country; something has got to be done.”
Varney was surprised by the assertion. Recent polling, he suggested, said Trump was essentially in a dead heat with would-be Democrat nominee Joe Biden statewide.
“In Texas, Democrats still lead President Trump head-to-head,” Varney said.
“You know what, these are the same wonderful polls that told us Hillary Clinton would be our next president,” Gooden responded.
When reached for comment on the exchange by Texas Scorecard, Gooden doubled down on his remarks.
“Republicans are ready to fight, and we plan to win big next year,” he said. “With Donald Trump driving conservative turnout in 2020 and a rerun of past liberal failures like Wendy Davis and Beto O’Rourke reminding us of how bad things could be, I’m confident we won’t squander this opportunity of a lifetime.”
During Gooden’s time in the Texas House, he was not someone who broke ranks with those in power, often aligning himself with then-House Speaker Joe Straus. But since being sworn into Congress in January, it appears Gooden may have turned a corner. He has been a vocal supporter of conservative initiatives on social media, from the House floor, and in frequent media appearances on network cable.
If Gooden’s record matches his rhetoric at the end of his first term, he might just be one of the most conservative members of Texas’ congressional delegation. And though his district is reliably red, he might be exerting the kind of leadership and confidence Texas needs to salvage the six Republican seats that Democrats are targeting in the Lone Star State next year.
