Standing in front of the gates of the Governor’s Mansion in Austin on Saturday, Republican Party of Texas Chairman Allen West read aloud from an official resolution from the Texas GOP urging Gov. Greg Abbott to “immediately rescind all COVID-related mandates, closures, and restrictions” and immediately reopen the state.”
As West noted, that resolution was passed just a few weeks ago with support from 53 members of the State Republican Executive Committee. Only four members opposed it.
These are the four members who opposed the Open Texas Now resolution:
- SD 17: Sean Cheben
- SD 25: Kris Coons
- SD 26: Fred Rangel
- SD 26: Marian Stanko
Additionally, the following three members abstained from voting:
- SD 15: Gail Stanart
- SD 27: Carlos Cascos
- SD 27: Morgan Graham
Consisting of one man and one woman from each of the state’s 31 senate districts, the SREC is, essentially, the governing body of the Republican Party of Texas, meeting several times a year to do the party’s business, such as organizing convention and passing resolutions.
Texas Scorecard has reached out to the members who voted against the resolution, or abstained, and will publish their unedited answers below.
SD 26 Fred Rangel:
I was one of four that opposed the Open Texas Now resolution. While I favor Texas to be Open, it is an issue of when and how. I believe I was not privy to all the facts that are available to our Governor, with all the issues at hand, with its endless complexities. It is good to always be available to open conversation, with all the issues present at the table, to take a wise and favorable position with all the concerns of our citizens of the State of Texas.
SD 15 Gail Stanart (Abstained):
I was concerned as I always am about the circular firing squad. Not that it dies [sic] not need to be done, but that the timing or the optics, that could be capitalized on by our political party opposition, are not best. I am absolutely FOR Opening Texas Now and doing it completely. I hate it when I feel the SREC is rushing on an issue or a vote without Sufficient discussion.
