Latest news with #DanPatrick
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election for open state Senate seat
Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday set a special election for Nov. 4 to fill the Texas Senate seat vacated by Republican Kelly Hancock, who resigned from the Legislature earlier this month to become the acting state comptroller. The contest coincides with the state's November uniform election, when voters across Texas will already be at the polls to elect representation for local offices and vote on numerous ballot measures, including 17 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. The candidate filing deadline for the Senate District 9 special election is Sept. 3, with early voting to start Oct. 20. Earlier Friday, conservative activist Leigh Wambsganss announced her candidacy to fill the vacant seat. Shortly after her announcement, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the president of the Senate, endorsed Wambsganss, saying she would be a 'great addition to our conservative Texas Senate.' In a statement announcing her bid, Wambsganss said she was 'not a career politician' but a 'battle-tested conservative who gets results.' 'I have spent decades on the front lines of the conservative movement—leading one of the most impactful campaigns against Critical Race Theory in the country, working alongside Republican leaders during the Republican Revolution of the 1990s, and consistently standing firm for pro-life and pro-2nd Amendment values,' she said. Wambsganss is a former congressional staffer and a longtime conservative activist on the Tarrant County GOP executive committee. She has also spearheaded the Patriot Mobile Action, a PAC that led the charge to elect conservative candidates to school boards across North Texas in 2022. Soon after Wambsganss's announcement, Rep. Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth, withdrew his own bid for the seat and endorsed her. A Democratic candidate, veteran and union president Taylor Rehmet, is also running for the seat. The North Texas district leans solidly Republican and covers about half of Fort Worth and much of Tarrant County's northern suburbs. In 2024, Republican Donald Trump carried the district with 58% of the vote. Whoever wins the special election will serve the remainder of Hancock's term, which runs until January 2027. The seat is up for reelection in 2026. Big news: 20 more speakers join the TribFest lineup! New additions include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church; Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; Joe Lonsdale, entrepreneur, founder and managing partner at 8VC; and Katie Phang, journalist and trial lawyer. Get tickets. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election for open state Senate seat
Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday set a special election for Nov. 4 to fill the Texas Senate seat vacated by Republican Kelly Hancock, who resigned from the Legislature earlier this month to become the acting state comptroller. The contest coincides with the state's November uniform election, when voters across Texas will already be at the polls to elect representation for local offices and vote on numerous ballot measures, including 17 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. The candidate filing deadline for the Senate District 9 special election is Sept. 3, with early voting to start Oct. 20. Earlier Friday, conservative activist Leigh Wambsganss announced her candidacy to fill the vacant seat. Shortly after her announcement, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the president of the Senate, endorsed Wambsganss, saying she would be a 'great addition to our conservative Texas Senate.' In a statement announcing her bid, Wambsganss said she was 'not a career politician' but a 'battle-tested conservative who gets results.' 'I have spent decades on the front lines of the conservative movement—leading one of the most impactful campaigns against Critical Race Theory in the country, working alongside Republican leaders during the Republican Revolution of the 1990s, and consistently standing firm for pro-life and pro-2nd Amendment values,' she said. Wambsganss is a former congressional staffer and a longtime conservative activist on the Tarrant County GOP executive committee. She has also spearheaded the Patriot Mobile Action, a PAC that led the charge to elect conservative candidates to school boards across North Texas in 2022. Soon after Wambsganss's announcement, Rep. Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth, withdrew his own bid for the seat and endorsed her. A Democratic candidate, veteran and union president Taylor Rehmet, is also running for the seat. The North Texas district leans solidly Republican and covers about half of Fort Worth and much of Tarrant County's northern suburbs. In 2024, Republican Donald Trump carried the district with 58% of the vote. Whoever wins the special election will serve the remainder of Hancock's term, which runs until January 2027. The seat is up for reelection in 2026. Big news: 20 more speakers join the TribFest lineup! New additions include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church; Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; Joe Lonsdale, entrepreneur, founder and managing partner at 8VC; and Katie Phang, journalist and trial lawyer. Get tickets. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Patrick: 'Can't imagine' Tucker plays in NFL again
Dan Patrick weighs in on the NFL's 10-game suspension for ex-Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, exploring key takeaways from the decision and why it could eventually spell the end of his time in the NFL.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Abbott vetoes THC ban, calls upcoming special legislative session
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed one of the most scrutinized bills of the legislative session — a total ban on all consumable hemp products that contain the intoxicating chemical in cannabis — less than an hour before the veto deadline. Abbott signs over 300 bills Friday as deadline nears Thousands of Texans on both sides of this issue sent petitions to the governor to sway his decision. Those against the bill said it would negatively impact farmers and small businesses. Others argued it would take away a medical option for many Texans who use the products to help with pain and other diseases. The Hemp Industry and Farmers of America applauded the governor late Sunday night after the decision was announced. In a statement it said, 'The hemp industry stands with the Governor's decision to allow this industry to prosper and thrive. The hemp industry welcomes the opportunity to work with the legislature to put forth common sense and thoughtful regulations that keep our children safe while protecting consumers.' Supporters of the bill say the hemp industry in Texas is not regulated when it comes to consumable hemp products containing THC. They also claimed the packaging of certain products could attract children. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a huge supporter of the bill, took to social media to share his reaction to the veto. He said the governor had remained silent on the bill the entire session. 'The bill that would have banned dangerous THC products in Texas,' wrote Patrick. 'His late-night veto, on an issue supported by 105 of 108 Republicans in the legislature, strongly backed by law enforcement, many in the medical and education communities, and the families who have seen their loved ones' lives destroyed by these very dangerous drugs, leaves them feeling abandoned. I feel especially bad for those who testified and poured their hearts out on their tragic losses.' Patrick said he will hold a press conference Monday. Earlier this week, the Allen police department announced it seized more than 75,000 pounds of THC products at three different warehouses in Dallas. Police say the $7 million bust involved products with THC concentrations ranging from 7% to 78%, far above the state's legal threshold of 0.3%. Lawmakers will get another crack at Senate Bill 3 — Abbott called for a special session to begin on July 21. He's listed six bills that will be up for consideration during the special session: SB 3 – regulating consumable hemp products. SB 648 – recording requirements for certain instruments concerning real property. SB 1253 – impact and production fees for certain water projects and to the regulation of certain wells; authorizing a fee. SB 1278 – an affirmative defense to prosecution for victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution. SB 1758 – the operation of a cement kiln and the production of aggregates near a semiconductor wafer manufacturing facility. SB 2878 – the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government. 'Working with the Texas Legislature, we delivered results that will benefit Texans for generations to come,' Abbott said in a press release. 'Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dustin Burrows, and the Texas House and Senate worked hard to send critical legislation to my desk. This session has seen monumental success, but there is more we can do.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Gov. Abbott wants to legalize recreational THC
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect that Abbott's proposal was to permit all locations and make sure they only sell to those over 21. AUSTIN (Nexstar) — On Monday, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick held a news conference to express his dismay with Gov. Greg Abbott vetoing Senate Bill 3 less than an hour before it would've become law. The eleventh-hour action was accompanied by a call for a special session starting on July 21 to strongly regulate hemp, which Abbott says Texas 'must do immediately.' Gov. Abbott vetoes THC ban, calls upcoming special legislative session 'It sort of puzzles me why my friend Governor Abbott would at the last minute—22 minutes after 11—decide to veto this bill,' Patrick said. 'One can only come to this conclusion, which surprises me. The Governor of the state of Texas wants to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. That's the headline folks.' The strongest push for SB 3 came from Patrick, who previously hosted a confrontational news conference in support of the bill after it had already been sent to Abbott's desk. While Patrick's toss of THC-A infused cereal bites at the reporter pool stole headlines, his response to questions about a potential veto was more paramount in hindsight. 'I speak to the governor every day,' Patrick said in response to the third question asking him if he was afraid about a veto. 'About this?' A reporter asked. 'Look, I'm not going to speak for the governor, OK?' Patrick said. 'He will do what he's going to do. I have total confidence in the governor. You will know his decision when he makes it. The reason I'm here today is for you to tell the story. I'm not worried about the governor understanding it. I'm worried about you all understanding it.' On Sunday night, Patrick posted his disappointment on social media. 'Throughout the legislative session, @GregAbbott_TX remained totally silent on Senate Bill 3, the bill that would have banned dangerous THC products in Texas,' Patrick wrote. 'His late-night veto, on an issue supported by 105 of 108 Republicans in the legislature, strongly backed by law enforcement, many in the medical and education communities, and the families who have seen their loved ones' lives destroyed by these very dangerous drugs, leaves them feeling abandoned. I feel especially bad for those who testified and poured their hearts out on their tragic losses.' In his veto proclamation, Abbott called SB 3 'well-intentioned' but likely to face significant legal challenges. 'It would never go into effect because of valid constitutional challenges. Litigation challenging the bill has already been filed, and the legal defects in the bill are undeniable,' Abbott wrote. 'If I were to allow Senate Bill 3 to become law, its enforcement would be enjoined for years, leaving existing abuses unaddressed. Texas cannot afford to wait.' Abbott called upon Arkansas as an example, the only state to pass a similar measure into law. However, their effort still hasn't gone into effect, as federal courts have put the implementation on pause. 'Their law has sat dormant, meaningless, having no effect for nearly two years while further legal proceedings play out. That result must be avoided in Texas,' Abbott wrote. He said SB 3 conflicts directly with federal law, making it constitutionally problematic. 'It therefore criminalizes what Congress expressly legalized and puts federal and state law on a collision course: Today, federal law promises Texas farmers that they may grow hemp without fear of criminal liability. But under Senate Bill 3, the seeds used to grow those plants are 'consumable products'—currently available in stores—and they naturally contain cannabinoids. What's a Texas farmer to do? Trust the federal government's promise, or fear criminal liability from the State?' He also worries about running afoul of the Fifth Amendment by seizing private property. 'While states may restrict the use of dangerous contraband, it is a different thing entirely to change the rules in the middle of the game, thereby interfering with 'distinct investment-backed expectations' in property,' Abbott wrote. 'Allowing Senate Bill 3 to become law—knowing that it faces a lengthy battle that will render it dead on arrival in court-would hinder rather than help us solve the public safety issues this bill seeks to contain.' While Abbott may have been the former attorney general of Texas and a former state supreme court justice, Patrick disagrees with his assessment. 'I talked to him yesterday, he said, 'It's the Arkansas case,'' Patrick said. 'This was a lowly district judge in Arkansas, and it's been going through the courts, we believe the Eighth Circuit will stand with Arkansas. If that happens while we're going through this charade, then what's the governor going to say? Oh, 'I guess I was wrong about Arkansas.' But even if Arkansas loses, it doesn't matter. Arkansas does not impact Texas.' He also points to other laws Abbott signed which will have obvious legal challenges. 'If they haven't already, they're going to sue us on school choice and the 10 Commandments,' he said, referring to Senate Bill 2 and Senate Bill 10. 'We deal with lawsuits all the time, so that shouldn't be a surprise. He says, 'if we were to allow Senate Bill 3 to become law, its enforcement would be enjoined for years.' How does he know that?' Patrick also accused Abbott of leading him on by telling him to not worry about the bill before the session started and staying silent on the proposal until his last-minute veto. 'He said, 'Don't worry about the bill.' He said, 'Your bill is fine.' That's what he told me in front of witnesses. In fact, he asked a couple of lawyers on my staff—he said, 'Can you give me some answers I can give? Because when I sign this, I need some answers to give,'' Patrick said. 'So what happened? Who convinced him—on his staff, on the outside—to kill Senate Bill 3… where has he been all session? Where has he been? I mean, we get this proclamation from him last night, after midnight, and he parachutes in at the last moment with arguments that we do not think are valid.' 'The problem THC poses for our communities is real. Earlier this year, a 15-year-old in Houston took a large amount of hemp gummies. When he suffered a 'bad reaction,' he called 911, then shot his mother and his sister repeatedly. Just this month, two teens distributed hemp products at a graduation party in Prosper. The celebration ended early when seven high school students had to be rushed to a hospital,' Abbott wrote. 'How did we get here?' Abbott said bad actors are to blame for using the federal government's farm bill to legalize hemp and creating intoxicating products. In his veto proclamation, he called for the legislature to tackle these topics relating to intoxicating hemp: Criminalizing sale to minors Banning sales near schools, churches, parks, playgrounds, etc. Requiring child-safe packaging Banning packaging that appeals to children Requiring permits to sell to those over 21 Banning the mixture of THC and other psychoactive substances, including alcohol and tobacco Requiring testing at all phases of the product Keeping manufacturing and processing facilities up to food safety rules Requiring sellers to maintain warning signs Limiting sale hours Preventing Sunday sales Limiting the raw amount of THC in each product Limiting how many products a consumer can buy in each purchase Requiring a surgeon general-style warning on the label Punishing fake lab results as a felony Punishing public consumption and on-site consumption Allowing local government to prohibit or limit consumable hemp selling Levying excise taxes on the products The special session will start on July 21 and run for 30 days. As the presiding officer of the Senate, Patrick controls what reaches the Senate floor. However, he says he won't be in his chair if THC regulations pass that are short of a ban. 'I'm not sure what the (Senate) members are going to do. That will be up to them, but they will understand they're casting a vote to legalize marijuana in Texas,' Patrick said. 'I don't know how they'll react, but I will not be on the podium if the votes are there.' Patrick said he'd follow the will of the Republican senators. As long as 15 of them support a bill, he'll support it. However, he doesn't believe they have the votes. 'What kind of culture do we want? We want everybody high? I mean, everyone will tell you in [Colorado, California and Washington], work product has gone down. Everywhere you go it smells like grass. It's awful,' Patrick said. 'I don't want that for Texas. You know, gaming and sports betting and that—look, that's a person's choice… but this is life and death. This is life and death. This destroys lives. This reaches a whole other level.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
