Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen Forms New PAC

AUSTIN -- House Speaker Dennis Bonnen announced on Monday the creation of a new political action committee focused on re-electing Republicans to lower chamber of the Texas Legislature during next year's crucial elections. Bonnen, an Angleton Republican who just wrapped up his first session as the House's leader, started the PAC, Texas Leads, with $3 million from his own campaign account."The 86th legislative session was hailed as one of the most successful sessions in modern history," Bonnen said in a news release. "What we accomplished would not have been possible without the Republican members of the Texas House who fought tirelessly to get smart, conservative policies over the finish line. If we are to continue building upon these successes in future legislative sessions, we must do everything in our power to reelect the Republican legislators who made them a reality."Keeping the Texas House in 2020 is a Republican priority, as Democrats, fresh from their victories in last year's elections, look to re-take a majority in that chamber for the first time since 2003. But to do that, Democrats would have to hold the 12 seats they picked up in the last election and pick up nine more. At the end of the session, Bonnen warned incumbent legislators not to campaign against their colleagues in the House - including Democrats, to the chagrin of some in his party's right-wing who criticized Bonnen for being too cozy with the minority party. It also put Democrats, who necessarily will have to go after Republican incumbents to win a majority, in a tight spot. The PAC's news release stressed the focus on re-electing Republicans and keeping the Texas House, but notably did not mention going after Democratic incumbents. "Texas Leads is committed to supporting the reelection of Texas Republican House Members, and in doing so, securing our House majority and the future of the State of Texas," Bonnen said in the release.   Continue reading...