Texas Republicans are regrouping.
After last week’s elections, Republicans are developing a game plan for the next Congress in which they’ll have a minority in both chambers. But despite their election losses, many say they plan to work with Democrats to address issues voters care about, like affordability.
Representative Randy Weber (R-TX), who won re-election for his seventh term representing Texas’ 14th Congressional District last week, said House Republicans will work with Democrats and “do what’s good for America.”
“I want to make sure everything benefits Texas, benefits District 14,” Rep. Weber told Texas Politics. “Lots of energy in my district, so let’s not make problems for the energy providers. That’s what my hope is.”
A New Blue Texas
Rep. Weber added that he has never seen an election like last week affect his home state in the way that it did. Texans elected the first Democratic Senator in 38 years, the first Democratic Governor in 36 years and flipped two seats in the House.
“I've never seen this many blue votes even in Texas,” Rep. Weber said. “I think people were tired, not necessarily because of the energy prices.”
Rep. Weber said he thinks voters didn’t like the war in Iran and see it as “unnecessary.”
Ensuring national security and military readiness is a major priority for returning Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX), a member of Defensive Probes.
“The only thing I’m concerned about,” Rep. Ellzey told Texas Politics. “Whether I’m in the majority or the minority, is to ensure our military is the best equipped, our troops are the best paid, that we find new and inventive ways and cheaper ways to defend our country, and prevent war, but if necessary to win it.”
A House Divided?
Rep. Ellzey said Republicans must work toward the next election by learning from the results of the most recent one.
“You have to learn the lessons of what just occurred,” he said. “You can’t say, ‘It’s this thing. It’s that guy.’ Because it’s not, it’s a number of things.”
Despite the sweeping loss of many Republicans, Rep. Ellzey said he remains optimistic about what the incoming class of Republican freshmen will achieve.
“We’ve got a new generation of leaders who are ready to take the mantle of conservatism, of positive conservatism,” Rep. Ellzey said. “And go from there.”
This unity, according to Rep. Ellzey, is not mirrored by the incoming Democratic Party.
“They got a big majority. So, we’ll see how they perform,” he said. “They’ve got some ideological differences within their own caucus.”
Rep. Weber added that although he hopes “common sense” policies will take shape in the next Congress, “common sense really isn’t all that common.”
“I hope and pray common sense will prevail,” Rep. Weber said.
