News out of Texas is Unacceptable
We write today to make sure you saw the news out of Texas: State Attorney General Ken Paxton, among the most corrupt politicians in the country, is still in office after being acquitted in his impeachment trial. Our colleagues leading the Texas Forward Party released this statement over the weekend, and we hope you’ll take the time to read and share it.
Earlier this year, a staggering 60 of 85 (70%) Texas House Republicans voted to impeach Paxton on charges of abuse of office, bribery, and other unethical behavior. The response to these public servants putting integrity over party? The Republican establishment attacked them, declaring they’d be targeted in primaries in next year’s elections.
This weekend, only two of the 19 Texas Republican Senators voted to convict Paxton. These two have now made themselves instant enemies of party bosses.
The episode in Texas underscores the need to transform our politics away from party fealty into a system of putting voters and values first.
Given the tight grip traditional political parties have on our elections, the demand for party fealty, and the way in which this grip is enforced through primary elections, it is likely many of those Republicans will face steep paths to reelection—if they even decide to run again at all. As party fealty requires the sacrificing of one’s integrity, only candidates without integrity will be drawn to run in the legacy parties.
The events in Texas encapsulate why we are motivated to put aside old partisan allegiances in favor of the good of the country. It’s why we’ve joined forces with each other—and with all of you—to imagine something new, powered by the people.
Together, we can build something better. Together, we can move this country Forward.
Thanks for being a part of this journey.
Andrew Yang
Christine Todd Whitman
Michael Willner