Three Texas Republicans Show True Colors In Opposing Jordan
The recent dustup over who would be the next House Speaker exposed the ugly truth for some in the Republican Party. Being in the GOP and being a true conservative are not the same, especially when it comes to a trio of Texans.
Republican Reps. Jake Ellzey, Tony Gonzales and Kay Granger collaborated with over 20 of their House colleagues to oppose Rep. Jim Jordan’s (R-OH) bid for Speaker.
Jockeying continued for weeks and Jordan was passed over in three votes before Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) assumed the gavel.
Jordan is a very popular figure in the conservative movement. He is not afraid to get his hands dirty and has no issue standing up to radical leftists in Congress.
For this, he was vilified by Democrats and their mainstream media partners. That was both understood and expected.
What is not understandable and came as a surprise was the opposition to Jordan leading the House from among his own party. Ellzey, Gonzalez and Granger all stood firm against handing the chamber’s leadership to a steadfast conservative.
One of the more interesting opponents to Jordan’s candidacy was Gonzales. The Republican was silent on his reasons for rejecting the Ohio senator, but he loudly proclaimed his support for Steve Scalise (R-LA) after the ouster of Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
His stand against Jordan will not win him many friends among conservatives in his home state. Already this year, the Republican Party of Texas censured Gonzales for joining forces with Democrats on several pivotal issues.
The GOP senator supported the controversial 2022 Respect for Marriage Act. This codified the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 decision that opened the floodgates for same-gender marriage across the nation.
During the tempestuous negotiations that landed McCarthy in the Speaker’s role in January, Gonzales was the only Republican to vote against the rules negotiated between the candidate and concerned conservatives.
Gonzales publicly criticized fellow GOP Texas Rep. Chip Roy’s legislation to bar the release of illegal migrants until asylum cases are completed. He blasted the measure as “not Christian” and “anti-American.”
He also threw his support behind last year’s sweeping gun control legislation that followed the Robb Elementary School shooting.
Gonzales is just one of three Texas Republicans who have much explaining to do to voters before next year’s House elections. Opposition to Jordan’s candidacy is just another indication that being Republican does not automatically make one conservative.
