A Republican congressman in East Texas alleged Democrats working in a county elections office banned his poll workers from observing ballot counts, and one of the county commissioners says his office has received similar claims. Though the Texas Supreme Court dismissed the suit, this allegation joins the stack of questions of election integrity this year.
On November 7, U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) alleged on social media that Democrats “running Dallas County elections” had “continually kicked [his] poll watchers out of the counting room,” keeping them from observing the counting of mail-in ballots.
He petitioned the Texas Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus, which was denied.
Gooden, who won re-election on November 3, said, “Many candidates are afraid to fight ballot fraud after they lose because they don’t want to be called sore losers, and the fraud just continues.”
“Democrat-run state and local governments must follow the law, and here in Texas, these Dem-led election overseers are as crooked as ever,” he continued.
Texas Scorecard sent a press inquiry to all Dallas County commissioners about Gooden’s allegations. Only Republican Commissioner J.J. Koch replied before publication time.
“Congressman Gooden’s claims are troubling, particularly because my office has received similar claims,” he replied. “I have been focusing on forwarding allegations of criminal wrongdoing in Dallas County Elections to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.”
These aren’t the only allegations leveled at Dallas County Elections this cycle. A Trump supporter alleged an election judge assaulted her, and election workers said they were fired for not wearing masks despite exemptions in Gov. Greg Abbott’s mask mandate.
There have been other election integrity issues across Texas—recently, in Limestone County and San Antonio—and allegations surrounding the presidential election.
Gooden provided another update yesterday, including a response he received from the office of Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot, which says his office doesn’t represent one of the individuals Gooden sought action against: Allyn Coleman, chair of the Dallas County Signature Verification Committee.
Gooden said the DA’s office represented the committee chair in 2018 when he sued over the rights of poll watchers. “This is just a ploy by the Democrat DA’s office to delay the adjudication of this matter,” he wrote.
Creuzot’s office did not respond to a press inquiry before publication time.
Over the past few days, citizens rallied across North Texas over election integrity concerns, expressing their desire for the Texas Legislature to take action.
Concerned citizens may contact their elected state representative and state senator.
The 2021 Texas Legislative Session convenes on January 12, 2021.
