Following a crushing defeat in the general election last month, Texas House Democrats are shifting even further to the left, electing one of their most liberal members to lead their caucus in the next legislative session.
At Wednesday’s caucus meeting, Houston State Rep. Gene Wu defeated San Antonio State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, the outgoing caucus chair seeking re-election. Wu, known for his liberal record, earned a 17 on the most recent Fiscal Responsibility Index, placing him among the lowest-rated legislators.
Wu has also faced scrutiny for his ties to the Chinese Communist Party. He has attended events hosted by Chinese consulates, fostered discussions on U.S.-China relations, and opposed the 2020 federal closure of the Houston Chinese Consulate over espionage concerns. His wife, reporter Miya Shay, downplayed the espionage allegations during an interview with a Chinese official.
These connections were the subject of a 2022 Texas Scorecard investigation.
In addition to his ties to the CCP, Wu has been a vocal opponent of legislation banning hostile foreign entities, including China, from purchasing land in Texas, calling such measures a threat to “the American dream.”
“We should not target China, we should not target Russia, we should not target any place,” Wu stated.
The change in Democrat House leadership comes as Democrats have failed to secure a statewide victory in 30 years. In the November election, President Donald Trump won Texas by more than 13 points, securing victories in 12 of the state’s 14 border counties. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz also defeated his Democrat opponent by approximately nine points, while Democrats lost two seats in the Texas House.
Change is also on the horizon for the state Democrat Party, as Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa announced his resignation following last month’s losses.
Hinojosa, who partially blamed the party’s defeat on its focus on divisive radical gender ideology, later apologized after backlash from supporters, reaffirming his “unequivocal and unwavering support for LGBTQ+ Texans.”
The House Democrat Caucus’ announcement of their new officers—which was sent out with the wrong title from a previous endorsement of Kamala Harris for president—said the election “brings new, diverse, and experienced leadership to the largest body of elected democratic officials in the state.”
