Latest news with #NateSchatzline
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nate Schatzline exits race for Texas Senate after new candidate announces her run
Texas Rep. Nate Schatzline is withdrawing his days-old candidacy for a state Senate seat after a conservative activist with ties to Patriot Mobile announced Friday that she intends to run. Schatzline, a Fort Worth Republican, announced on June 27 that he is no longer running for Senate District 9. His exit comes as Republican Leigh Wambsganss enters the race. The Senate seat is open after Kelly Hancock of North Richland Hills resigned to become the Texas comptroller starting July 1. On Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Nov. 4 will be the date for a special election in Senate District 9. The filing period ends Sept. 3. Wambsganss is a political activist in North Texas who has served on the Tarrant County GOP executive committee for more than a decade, according to her campaign announcement. She is the chief communications officer for Patriot Mobile, according to her LinkedIn. The Christian conservative cell phone company's political action arm has worked to elect conservative candidates in North Texas school board races. 'I am announcing my campaign for Texas Senate, District 9, because this district deserves a proven conservative fighter,' Wambsganss said in a statement. '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. I am not a career politician—I'm a battle-tested conservative who gets results.' Wambsganss has the endorsement of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Schatzline announced his bid for the North Texas Senate seat on June 24. Instead, he will run for reelection in 2026 in House District 93. In a statement, Schatzline said the pivot came after 'prayerful consideration, conversations with my family, and an assessment of where I can be most effective.' He threw his support behind Wambsganss in a social media post. 'I am officially announcing my re-election campaign for Texas House District 93!' Schatzline said. 'My #1 goal was for SD9 to be represented by a true conservative, & with Leigh Wambsganss, that's exactly what you'll get. She has my full support. Can't wait to fight for Faith, Family, & Freedom alongside you in Austin!' Schatzline's Friday reelection announcement included an endorsement from Gov. Greg Abbott. House District 93 in Tarrant County covers Blue Mound and Haslet, and includes parts of Fort Worth and Saginaw. Senate District 9 spans part of Tarrant County, including Hurst, Keller, North Richland Hills, White Settlement, Haltom City, Saginaw, Watuga, most of Southlake, and portions of portions of Fort Worth, Azle, Bedford, Benbrook and Arlington. Taylor Rehmet, a Democrat from Fort Worth who works at Lockheed Martin, is also running for the open North Texas Senate seat.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Rep. Nate Schatzline launches bid for newly vacant Texas Senate seat
Rep. Nate Schatzline, a hardline Fort Worth Republican, announced his bid Tuesday to fill the state Senate seat vacated by Kelly Hancock, who left the Legislature last week to become Texas' acting comptroller. 'It's clear that our state will only be as conservative to the extent we are willing to fight for it,' Schatzline said in his announcement. 'As a senator, I will continue to show up to battle for Texans, standing firmly by the principles and promises I have made and kept.' Gov. Greg Abbott has not yet called a special election to fill the North Texas seat, which covers about half of Fort Worth and much of Tarrant County's northern suburbs. Hancock, a North Richland Hills Republican, resigned from the Senate last week to take a senior position in the comptroller's office, paving the way for him to become the agency's interim head July 1, when Comptroller Glenn Hegar will step down to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Shortly after vacating his Senate seat, Hancock launched his campaign to win a full term as comptroller in 2026. Schatzline, who was elected to the Texas House in 2022, is one of the body's most conservative members and a frequent participant in partisan battles over religion and social issues. He is a member of the Corrections and Human Services committees. His campaign announcement highlighted his work during this year's legislative session championing school vouchers, requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms and banning land sales to people tied to the Chinese, North Korean, Russian and Iranian governments. Schatzline rolled out his campaign with endorsements from dozens of fellow House Republicans and local elected officials, including Tarrant County leaders and Fort Worth and North Richland Hills city officials. A former pastor, Schatzline, 33, founded For Liberty & Justice, an organization 'dedicated to mobilizing the local church to see reformation in government,' according to his campaign website. He also serves as the director of operations for The Justice Reform, a Fort Worth nonprofit focused on combating human trafficking. Disclosure: Texas A&M University and Texas A&M University System have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. 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
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas House passes bill barring Chinese citizens from owning property
[Source] The Texas House of Representatives voted 86-59 on Friday to advance legislation that would bar citizens from China and other nations from purchasing property in the state. Catch up Senate Bill 17, sponsored by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), specifically targets citizens from countries designated as national security threats — China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — in the U.S. Director of National Intelligence's annual assessment. The House-amended version exempts visa holders, lawful permanent residents and dual citizens from the ban, significantly narrowing the original Senate version. An amendment introduced by Rep. Nate Schatzline (R-Fort Worth) specifically grants Gov. Greg Abbott unilateral power to add other countries and 'transnational criminal organizations' to the restricted list without legislative oversight. Trending on NextShark: Security or xenophobia? Supporters frame the bill as essential for national security. 'We must not allow oppressive regimes who actively seek to do us harm to seize control and dictate their terms over our economy, supply chain and our daily lives,' said Rep. Cole Hefner (R-Mount Pleasant), the bill's House sponsor. Critics, on the other hand, call the measure xenophobic and harmful to immigrants. 'This is a loud and clear message that Asians don't belong in this country,' said Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston), the chamber's top Democrat and lone Chinese American legislator. 'When the attacks come, when the hate crimes start, it will be against all Asians — anyone with an Asian face.' Trending on NextShark: Hundreds of protesters gathered in Austin on Sunday, carrying signs that read 'stop the hate' and 'housing is a human right.' Organizer Alice Yi, co-founder of Asian Texans for Justice, called the bill 'racist' and stressed, 'This is our country too.' The big picture The legislation reflects mounting political tensions between Washington and Beijing following President Donald Trump's return to office, with similar bans targeting Chinese property ownership emerging in multiple states. Around 5.7 million acres in Texas are foreign-owned, with China reportedly accounting for 3.6% of that land. Leaders of multiple Chinese American organizations are now considering challenging the bill in federal court should it become law, similar to how a comparable Florida law was temporarily halted by a federal appeals court. Trending on NextShark: The bill now returns to the Senate, which must approve House amendments before it goes to Abbott's desk. If signed, the law would take effect on Sept. 1 and apply to property purchases after that date. This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas House passes bill barring Chinese citizens from owning property
[Source] The Texas House of Representatives voted 86-59 on Friday to advance legislation that would bar citizens from China and other nations from purchasing property in the state. Catch up Senate Bill 17, sponsored by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), specifically targets citizens from countries designated as national security threats — China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — in the U.S. Director of National Intelligence's annual assessment. The House-amended version exempts visa holders, lawful permanent residents and dual citizens from the ban, significantly narrowing the original Senate version. An amendment introduced by Rep. Nate Schatzline (R-Fort Worth) specifically grants Gov. Greg Abbott unilateral power to add other countries and 'transnational criminal organizations' to the restricted list without legislative oversight. Trending on NextShark: Security or xenophobia? Supporters frame the bill as essential for national security. 'We must not allow oppressive regimes who actively seek to do us harm to seize control and dictate their terms over our economy, supply chain and our daily lives,' said Rep. Cole Hefner (R-Mount Pleasant), the bill's House sponsor. Critics, on the other hand, call the measure xenophobic and harmful to immigrants. 'This is a loud and clear message that Asians don't belong in this country,' said Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston), the chamber's top Democrat and lone Chinese American legislator. 'When the attacks come, when the hate crimes start, it will be against all Asians — anyone with an Asian face.' Trending on NextShark: Hundreds of protesters gathered in Austin on Sunday, carrying signs that read 'stop the hate' and 'housing is a human right.' Organizer Alice Yi, co-founder of Asian Texans for Justice, called the bill 'racist' and stressed, 'This is our country too.' The big picture The legislation reflects mounting political tensions between Washington and Beijing following President Donald Trump's return to office, with similar bans targeting Chinese property ownership emerging in multiple states. Around 5.7 million acres in Texas are foreign-owned, with China reportedly accounting for 3.6% of that land. Leaders of multiple Chinese American organizations are now considering challenging the bill in federal court should it become law, similar to how a comparable Florida law was temporarily halted by a federal appeals court. Trending on NextShark: The bill now returns to the Senate, which must approve House amendments before it goes to Abbott's desk. If signed, the law would take effect on Sept. 1 and apply to property purchases after that date. This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Texas Could Ban Certain Foreigners From Buying Land. Here's Who
The Texas House of Representatives has approved an amendment to a bill that would allow Governor Greg Abbott to block people from certain countries and affiliated organizations from purchasing land in the state. Newsweek contacted Governor Abbott and state Rep. Nate Schatzline, who proposed the amendment, for comment on Friday via email and online inquiry form outside of regular office hours. Proponents of Senate Bill 17 argue that it addresses national security risks by limiting land purchases from foreign actors deemed potential threats to the United States. However, critics warn that the measure could foster discrimination against immigrants. It follows a wave of concern over Chinese land purchases in the United States, some of which have taken place close to military bases. Senate Bill 17, originally introduced by Republican state Senator Lois Kolkhorst, specifically targets individuals and entities residing in countries deemed security threats by the U.S. national director of intelligence. Currently there are only four countries on that list; China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. However, an amendment passed by the Texas House on Thursday in 1 85-60 vote would allow the governor to add more countries to the list. Governor Abbott has yet to comment on the nationals of which countries, if any, he thinks the ban should be extended to. Under SB 17, the ban would apply to future land purchases by individuals, businesses and entities connected to specified countries. The legislation would not apply to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. The bill restricts land purchases based on a person's country of residence rather than their national origin, a distinction meant to comply with federal civil rights laws. The measure requires an additional House vote before it returns to the Senate for further consideration, the Texas Tribune reported. Republican state Representative Nate Schatzline, who proposed the amendment to give the governor authority to add other countries to the restricted list, said, "Our governor can act swiftly rather than waiting for a year for that to be added into the [director of national intelligence's] designated country list." Republican state Representative Cole Hefner, who carried the bill in the House, said the legislation was about "securing Texas land and natural resources and making sure that this precious resource does not fall prey to adversarial nations and oppressive regimes that wish to do us harm." Opponents, including state Representative Gene Wu, who chairs House Democratic Caucus, expressed concern over the governor's expanded powers. "This gives the governor unfettered power to add whatever country he wants to in this bill," Wu said, warning that the move could lead to racial profiling and discrimination against Asian Texans. "All these will also bring more anti-Asian hate crime, and reinforce existing social biases, particularly against the Chinese community," Eileen Huang, who works with the Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition, told ABC13. According to the Texas Tribune, Democratic state Representative Gene Wu said: "It's kind of dangerous to say one person can decide whatever country he or she wants to add to this without any oversight, without any controls—this is the definition of overreach." Eileen Huang, who works with the Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition, told ABC13: "Texas has a long history of pride of a business-friendly environment that encouraged competition. Now, the SB17 has a negative impact on the Texas economy and competitiveness." Republican state Senator Lois Kolkhorst said in a March news release: "This is a matter of national security. Texas must act now to protect our land, food sources, water, and natural resources." SB 17, which is still under consideration, may see further amendments. If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1 and apply only to transactions occurring after that date. The legislation is likely to face legal challenges from advocacy groups arguing that it could result in unconstitutional discrimination based on national origin. Related Articles Our Elders' Stories Bridge the Past to the Present. This Mother's Day, Let's Honor Them by Listening | OpinionConservative Ex-Bishop Strickland, Who Francis Removed, Reacts to New PopeFamily With 2 US Citizen Children Deported by ICE After Traffic StopTexas Bill Would Let Election Judges Carry Guns at Polling Sites 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
