‘Inside Texas Politics’: Don Huffines, Junior Ezeonu, Jason Villalba, and the Record Turnout for the Texas Primary

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Straight ahead, Don Huffine scored a decisive victory, but Governor Abbott wanted someone

else as state-controlled.

So if elected in November, what kind of working relationship would the two have?

A question we had for Huffines.

What did the primary election tell us about the Hispanic vote in Texas?

Jason V. Alba on the single most important story from Tuesday's results.

Plus who is Junior Isanu?

The 26 year old defeated state rep Chris Turner.

Why he says that veteran Democrat was vulnerable and how Isanu tailored that to his campaign.

The ballots are now set for several high-profile run-offs this spring.

Cornyn versus Paxton.

Middleton versus Roy.

How did the polls underestimate so many candidates?

Inside Texas politics with Jason Whiteley starts now.

Thank you for being here.

We appreciate it.

I'm Jason Whiteley.

Let's begin the program as always with the latest political headlines.

Republican Congressman Tony Gonzalez is out.

He will now resign rather than go to a run-off in May.

The Republican from San Antonio finally admitted to an affair with a staffer who later took her own life.

Gonzalez called the affair a lapse in judgment, but the political pressure was growing.

Fellow Republicans wanted to censure him so Friday morning, Gonzalez announced he would not seek re-election in the May run-off.

New leadership and new firings could shake up the Texas Department of Agriculture if Nate Sheets wins in November.

Incompet Sid Miller has had a number of controversies over his 12 years in the position.

After a close political aid was indicted for trying to sell hemp licenses, Miller made that aid,

Chief of Staff, there at the department.

Nate Sheets told the Texas Tribune that if he wins in November, he's going to fire all of Sid Miller's hires.

And a tense and unusual situation in San Antonio.

The council, City Council, they're censured the mayor from verbally abusing a council member last month.

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones admitted that she swore and raised her voice to a colleague.

An independent investigation said the mayor violated the council's code of conduct.

So council voted eight to one to censure her and require the mayor to take leadership training.

Let's begin right now, though, with one of the winners from Tuesday's primary election.

Don Huffines was endorsed by President Trump to be the state's comptroller, the chief financial officer.

But Governor Abbott wanted someone else.

He wanted Kelly Hancock.

Huffines and Abbott have clashed before in the past, but this time Huffines came out on top.

He won the Republican race decisively and says he got a call from the governor not long after.

Senator, you won the GOP nomination obviously decisively here when we look at these results.

Governor Abbott, though, wanted someone else in the position.

And I know you have famously pushed him to the right further to the right politically.

What kind of working relationship do you expect to have with him if you're elected in November?

Well, even though this was a massive win, but actually the governor called me yesterday and we had a great visit.

We really did.

And we're united now going forward as all Republicans should be.

Our primaries are a little tough.

There's no doubt about that.

And so, but we talked about how we're going to beat the Democrats in the fall.

We talked about legislative priorities that he has.

And I'm looking forward to working with the governor.

And when Texans here rooting out waste fraud and abuse in Austin, a lot of people say,

well, listen, Republicans have been in charge there in Austin for 30 plus years.

Do you expect to find any waste fraud and abuse?

Well, there's always going to be that in government always.

And I just put the simple question out there, who really runs Texas?

And it's not the legislature, the executive branch, because the legislature's on there every other year,

burning 40 days.

It's the bureaucracy, it's the administrative state.

And occasionally, after a period of time, the garage gets full of a lot of junk.

Nobody likes cleaning out the garage, but we sure like pulling in when it's done.

And that's what I'm going to do is control it.

You've pledged to bring that private sector mentality to Austin.

What does that look like, though?

Well, it's just looking, it's just like I said, my model's seen beyond the obvious.

Not everything I'm going to do is obvious, but I'm going to take it.

I'm not looking to upsize a business if I buy a business.

I'm looking to downsize the business and make it more efficient.

How does all the team members can get together, justify their position?

And let's work together to make government as efficient as possible,

and spend as little money as possible.

Because government never has enough of our money.

Let's just make sure that they understand who the money really belongs to and belongs to the people.

But the spending decisions are in the legislative branch.

I mean, your office essentially writes the checks and balancing the checkbook, right?

No, that's not all we do, not at all.

The comptroller has deep and vast responsibilities across the spectrum of the state.

The legislature can set the budgets, but that doesn't mean the money is being spent correctly.

And that's what my role is, is comptroller.

And I'm also taking the constitutional responsibility that any government that's using your money,

Texas tax payer money, I have a right to look at it and make sure it's not being stolen or wasted.

And that includes local governments, county, city, school districts.

So I have 600 auditors.

I'll be turning a lot of them over to audit government, local governments.

If you could elect it, which city or local governments would you start looking at first?

Well, it's the ones that have requested help.

And I've been traveling the state, Jason, as you know, for over a year now.

And you would be shocked at how many government mayors, city council members,

county commissioners come up to me with a dossier, a file, a envelope,

with a stack of documents to say, this is the corruption in our county.

This is the corruption in our city.

Please help us.

What can you do to help us?

And so I'm going to turn our people, my people lose to help a lot of people.

So we will be evaluating that.

We'll have a robust whistleblower system in place.

And we're going to root out as much corruption as possible in the state of Texas.

Don, congratulations to you.

Big win.

Thank you, Jason.

Thank you very much.

All right.

Let's bring in the round table to talk about the politics of this here.

We have with us, Ashley Godot, political director at KVU in Austin.

Abby Livingston is a congressional correspondent for Puck News and Natalie Hadad,

political reporter at WFA in Dallas.

Abby, let's start with you.

The runoffs are set for May 26th.

John Corden, Ken Paxson for US Senate on the Republican side, Middleton versus

Chip Roy for Texas AG.

Here's what I'm curious about.

Just every poll underestimated Mays Middleton and underestimated John Corden.

How in the world did they get this wrong?

I think there are a lot of questions.

In fact, I've talked to folks in the state and there are questions about that.

But what I would also just add, this is a very, very unusual Senate race and their repercussions

bouncing in every direction.

It's, I would suggest in part because it's a double-barreled competitive primary on both

sides.

That throws things out of whack in a state like Texas where you don't have, it's an open

primary state and you don't have to be registered to vote.

Yeah, and we'll wait and see what things look like for the May runoff polls and for November

as well.

Some of those runoffs, so Ashley, in Houston, the Democratic 18th Congressional District

there, Christian Menophe versus Al Green.

This is a generational thing we've talked about in the past.

Which way do you think runoff voters go?

Because Democrats, like Republicans, only the most die hard show up for these races

in the runoff in May.

Yeah, and just imagine that it's going to be the day after Memorial Day 2, right?

So folks are going to have to be really, really motivated to show up.

I don't know, Jason, I wish that I had an answer for you.

I wish I felt confident enough to make a prediction, but I just really don't.

I think there's something to be said about having experience in a chamber in Washington,

D.C. that people like, but also I think Democrats are really ready for change and they're

ready for something new.

I think we saw that in terms of some of the, you know, the races on the Democratic

ticket.

And so I think that, you know, I guess, I guess I will make a guess here and say Menophe,

it could work in his favor over Congressman Green.

Yeah, especially if Talleriko brings out younger voters, perhaps it would go to Menophe

there.

And then Natalie, as we record this, the huge question right now is whether the White

House President Trump is going to make an endorsement in the Senate race in Texas, the

Republican side, John Cornyn or Ken Paxson.

I just don't see whoever doesn't get endorsed getting knocked out of this race or saying

I'm going to quit the race.

We've already seen Paxson go on national news and tell one conservative network that he

owes it to the people of Texas after campaigning for almost a year to not drop out.

And he has no intentions to.

And then President Trump in response and hearing that said, Oh, that's bad.

That's really bad for him.

And, you know, I think you could look up anywhere and see that, you know, that experts

believe that President Trump will likely side with endorsing foreign in.

And I'm not personally surprised by that, but I also wouldn't be surprised to see President

Trump potentially sweeten the deal somehow in another way for Ken Paxson.

All right, guys, back to you in just a moment here.

A lot more ahead in just a moment.

When we come back, meet the 26 year old who defeated a veteran Democrat in the legislature.

Why Junior Isano says he's still going to rely on his opponent, Chris Turner.

And Latino voters swinging back to Democrats in the primary election.

Jason Vialba on what that might mean, heading towards November.

Inside Texas politics back in November.

This is Inside Texas politics with Jason Whiteley.

Welcome back to Inside Texas politics.

Now to Taren County and another political upset there.

How did a 26 year old progressive defeat a veteran Democrat?

This guy's name is Junior Isano.

He beat Chris Turner, a Democratic leader at the legislature.

And with no Republican opponent in November, the 26 year old is now heading to Austin.

Junior, congratulations.

Thank you.

You just defeated a long time incumbent.

He served in the legislature more than a decade.

Why did you look at this race and say, Chris Turner is vulnerable?

What made you think that?

Well, first, thank you for having me, Jason.

It's an honor to be here.

I've always watched the show.

So I'm truly grateful to be here.

Appreciate it.

But I would group in District 101.

I've lived there since I was two years old.

Once all my schooling there from pre-K to college.

UTA grad, Bowie High School grad as well.

In my profession as a consultant, I work on numbers.

I'm a political consultant by trade.

I help people get elected all over the country.

And I looked at the numbers just like when I ran for City Council.

The guy beats again on City Council in Grand Prairie was not a bad person.

But I knew the numbers were there to be competitive and potentially win.

And I saw those same numbers with this election.

I just said, you know, I'm going to raise enough money to be competitive

and run a formidable campaign.

And by the grace of God, we're going to win it.

You have experience with political campaigns as a political consultant

there you're just talking about.

Incomments in Texas usually win their legislative primaries.

Democrat or Republican, how did your campaign break that pattern?

You're looking at the numbers as one thing,

but actually executing a plan to break the pattern of something else.

You have to have a very strong field plan.

You definitely have to have a very strong field plan.

Especially that's doorknocking, that's showing up at the different events and venues and places

like that. Is that what it is?

I'll tell you this.

This is what I tell all the candidates that run, especially those that are, you know,

being outspent.

Because Mr. Turner, I'll spend me 10 to 1 if not 11 to 1.

Events are cool, but you're wasting your time if you're spending a lot of time at events.

You need to be at the doors.

You need to have a very targeted doorknocking strategy.

You need to send enough mail to be competitive.

I only sent about three mail pieces.

I didn't have enough money to send out five,

but you need to be doorknocking, running those digital ads.

If you have some money for TV ads, there's some TV ads on cable and streaming.

You just need to make sure that your message and your name is spread out

in a different methods and mediums.

Having signs are good, but signs are not, signs on the side of the election.

But that canvassing component, making sure you're hitting those doors,

because on average, you're going to talk to one out of every five people that open the door.

Right?

So I would always say canvas, canvas, canvas, especially when you're running states and local campaigns.

As you know, Democrats are the minority in Austin.

How does a freshman legislator from Grand Prairie get anything done?

I think first is taking the time out to listen and learn from the experienced legislators

that have been there, both those that are currently serving and those that have served in the past.

Representative Turner, who I'm sure will give me great advice to help me be a successful

freshman in the state legislature.

Will you reach out to him?

Oh definitely.

And others won't really.

I have to.

I have to, for me to be a good legislator for my community for District 101,

I have to have the humility to know that I don't know everything.

And I have to go to those that have been serving prior to me getting there

and ask them for their guidance, for their expertise and for their wisdom.

So I can be able to deliver for my constituents.

So that's the first step.

And the next step is being bold and believing in a vision where we can

not just unite residents across the state of Texas, but deliver on policies that impact their daily life.

And that's what I'm going to focus on, those kitchen table issues.

You support raising the minimum wage, ending school vouchers.

Give voters a realistic answer here though, when you're in a Republican controlled legislature.

How much can you actually accomplish?

You can't accomplish everything all at once.

It's going to take time.

Those are policies that I support and I will fight for.

But being realistic, I know I can't do it all on day one.

Well, we can build tours that we can find common ground.

An issue that I spoke about that people don't even realize has bipartisan support

is banning private equity and large corporations from buying single-family homes.

President Trump talked about it recently and many Republicans are supporting it now.

It's a national issue.

Yeah, you want to bring it to the state though.

Exactly.

Because housing is an issue that affects all of us, especially in Taren County.

Back in 2021, 52% of all the single-family homes that were bought were sold to private equity

or large institutional investors, which price out regular people from home ownership.

So this is an issue that affects everybody, whether you're a Republican or a Democrat.

And that's an issue where we can find common ground and solve that to make housing affordable for all.

Junior, congratulations.

Thank you so much.

Jason, I appreciate you.

As campaigns take apart their wins and losses, they will look closely at the Latino vote.

Democrats once took them for granted, but two years ago, Texas Hispanics

wong towards President Trump. Latinos will likely decide winners this November as well,

which is why Jason Vialba and the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation are paying such close attention

to them. Jason, good to see you again here.

Great to be back, Jason.

When you look at the March 3rd turnout numbers overall, especially in, you know,

Hispanic-rich areas, South Texas places like that, what's the single most important story to

come out of your results?

I think it's the erosion of the Republican support by Hispanics that we saw in 2024.

In 2022, for Republicans began to roll back into the Democratic side.

What we saw in 2024 was Trump winning statewide, 55 percent.

What we saw on election night two nights ago was that strength whittled down

and in mostly Hispanic districts in the RGV.

We saw overwhelming support for Democrats and for people like James Talleriko.

And why is it, though?

I mean, is it the president's policies or the ice raids in Minneapolis?

What's driving the support away from him for Hispanics?

I think it's a number of factors.

The midterm cycle is always going to be less popular for the president.

But I think two other issues are really driving this.

Number one, affordability issues, the economics of it, right?

I mean, can we afford bread and beans on the kitchen table?

Can we send our kids to good schools?

Can we get health care?

These are all promises that the president made for the Hispanic community,

but he has not yet been able to deliver on.

That's had a major impact.

As well, the aggressive tactics we're seeing from ice

has unquestionably whittled down some of the support

that the Hispanics were showing for the president earlier on.

Can Republicans still turn around the Hispanic votes, still attract them,

even if they run away from President Trump and the issues from his first year in office?

I think they can.

I like to talk a lot about that Hispanics never vote for the color of the jersey.

They're not Republicans or Democrats.

They vote for the individual who can most help them

have a life that they aspire to.

Chuck Rocha said, the day of the Wall Street Journal,

Hispanics are aspirational people.

And they seek goodness in their homes and they want a better life for their children,

like all Texans do.

Unless the Republicans are able to really refocus on that message,

they're going to continue to struggle with that.

But I do believe the Republicans can talk about some of the good things that are happening.

There's no question that the stock market remains very strong.

Resilient and the face of these wars were saying tariffs,

because the Supreme Court has recently said that they're not legal,

will probably result in lower prices at the grocery store,

because tariffs will be gone, which are attacks on people.

And I think these wars will, they burn out before the election.

So those are three issues where you're hopeful, Jason, on all the sides.

Well, I'm an optimist, by the way.

You're aspirational.

I ask for racial for sure.

But I think if Republicans can focus on those three things happening,

I think they can win back some of the votes they've lost recently.

Jason, good to see you, man.

Hey, great to be back.

Thank you so much for having me.

The roundtable is ready when we come back here on inside Texas politics.

All right, time now for reporters roundtable to put the headlines in perspective.

Ashley Natalie and Abby all back with us here.

And Ashley, let's start with you.

More Texans voted in the Democratic primary than the Republican primary.

That doesn't necessarily suggest we're going to see the same thing in November, though.

Any idea what you might expect or what people should prepare for?

You know, I think what we did see was I think the likelihood of more independence choosing to

cast a vote in the Democratic primary over the Republican primary.

And that was largely because of the U.S.

center race at the top.

You know, James Salarrico has had the ability to really reach out and talk to voters

and have a message that resonates with them.

And I think that that got a lot of people to the polls.

You know, and we'll just kind of have to wait and see what happens.

And remember, I think it is largely going to depend on who he's facing on the Republican side.

And I mean, you know, who's to say who that person will be?

And earlier in the program, Natalie, we had Jason Villaba on from the Texas Hispanic

Policy Foundation. One of the points he made was that Latino voters, especially in South Texas,

the Rio Grande Valley are swinging back towards Democrats here.

That could be significant for James Salarrico at the top of the ballot.

I think so.

And to what Ashley was saying about, you know, the message and who they would like to see,

your, how this will depend on who Salarrico is facing.

You know, Salarrico has this experience, as we've often heard him talk about being a teacher

in the West side of San Antonio and mother from Laredo.

And I think that he has a message that really resonates with the Hispanic voter

of population along the border and San Antonio.

And I would bet that he's going to be very successful with the Hispanic vote in many areas

of Texas, not just the border or San Antonio or otherwise.

And Abby speaking of the border, South Texas and even West Texas here, we mentioned earlier

in the program, Congressman Tony Gonzalez dropping out of the race. He didn't really have a choice

after admitting to this affair where his staffer self-immolated. This wasn't really an option

for Republicans, but since it's so tight in Congress for Republicans right now, he's still

going to serve out the rest of his term through January.

This is probably the cleanest resolution to a very big mess for Republicans, but what's so

remarkable about it is the allegations against Congressman Gonzalez that he had an affair with

a staffer who ended up dying by self-immolation. They still viewed him both Democrats and Republicans

as the stronger candidate in this district. It's a safe Republican district. It's very

trumpy, but the now de facto nominee, Brandon Herrera, has invoked Nazism on many occasions and

his opposition research file is already starting to come out. And actually in the final 30, 40 seconds

here or so, I mean, he has, Brandon Herrera is also known as the AK guy for people who've kind of

followed the headlines here on this. Even though as Abby said, it's a safe Republican district,

could this still be a target for Democrats? Oh, it's absolutely going to be a target for Democrats.

I think that you see, especially with the messaging that's coming out of the White House,

you know, and some of the actions that they're taking and the impact that it's having and the

impressions that it's having on Latino voters. I just don't see how it's not an issue for him.

And if the Democrats keep pushing the gas, I think that this is going to be a district that's

going to be in play for certain coming November. Well, I'm looking forward to November,

eight months away, guys. Thanks so much. As always, we appreciate your insight. Thank you for

watching as well. We're back next Sunday to take you inside Texas politics. We hope to see you then. Take care.

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