Latest news with #Hinojosa
Atlantic
4 days ago
- Politics
- Atlantic
The Flaw in the Texas Democrats' Plan
Texas state Democrats had been plotting their departure for weeks. But most weren't sure they were going—or where they were headed—until just before they boarded their plane. For a successful quorum break, the timing 'has to be ripe,' State Representative Gina Hinojosa told me. 'Like a melon at the grocery store.' On Sunday, she and dozens of her colleagues hopped on a chartered plane and flew to Chicago in an attempt to prevent Texas Republicans from redrawing the state's congressional maps. They don't seem to know how long they'll be there or when, exactly, they'll consider the job done. Perhaps, Hinojosa suggested, they can attract enough attention to the issue that Republicans will be shamed into abandoning the effort. Shame, however, is not an emotion experienced by many politicians these days, least of all ones who answer to Donald Trump. The likeliest conclusion of this effort is that Republicans will get their wish, just as they did after a similar situation in 2021. Right now, the Texas Democrats' quorum-break project appears to have two goals, one much more easily accomplished than the other. The first is to send a message; the gerrymandering attempt in Texas is a chance for Democrats nationwide to accuse Republicans of cheating, and to demonstrate a bit of the gumption their voters have been clamoring for. Because the party is effectively leaderless, now is a perfect moment for wannabe standard-bearers to soak up some of the limelight. Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker, for example, has made a lot of speeches and trolled Republicans; so has New York Governor Kathy Hochul. And tonight, California Governor Gavin Newsom will host Hinojosa and other Texas Democrats in Sacramento for a press conference. The second, more practical objective is to run down the clock. If Texas Democrats can stay out of state long enough, they could make it difficult for Republicans to implement the new district maps ahead of the first 2026 election deadlines. This goal is optimistic, experts I interviewed said. Living in a hotel for weeks is expensive, and resources will eventually dry up. Pressure is mounting from Republican leaders. 'And there's a stamina factor at play that can't be avoided,' Brandon Rottinghaus, a political-science professor at the University of Houston, told me. It seems, he added, 'inevitable that the new maps pass.' State Democrats have only been on the run for five days in the Chicago area (as well as in New York and Massachusetts). The public is still interested, and Democrats have plenty of opportunities to shape the media narrative. 'Democratic voters are paying attention,' Joshua Blank, the research director of the nonpartisan Texas Politics Project, told me. 'Having something to rally around is very, very useful for them.' Republicans have not tried to deny that they're making a blatant power grab, though they argue that they're simply following the lead of Democrats in heavily gerrymandered states such as Illinois. 'It's just unilateral disarmament if you don't match what Democrats have done on the other side,' Matt Mackowiak, a Texas Republican strategist who is working on Senator John Cornyn's reelection campaign, told me. (The difference is that in Texas, they're redrawing the maps five years early, rather than waiting for the Census.) But quorum breaks are, by nature, temporary. Eventually, the wayward lawmakers will go home. What matters is when. The candidate-filing deadline for the 2026 election is December 8, and the primary is in March, so theoretically, if lawmakers can stay out of state for multiple months, Republicans might run into legal problems getting their new map in place. One problem with the run-down-the-clock strategy is that, in the past, Texas courts have simply postponed the state's primary while congressional maps were being litigated. (That delay likely contributed to Ted Cruz's 2012 Senate victory.) Another challenge is keeping up the political will; as time drags on, Texas voters will want their representatives to come home and do their job. Then, there are the logistical issues. A long quorum break means that Texas Democrats spend weeks or months living in a hotel, away from their families and racking up bills. Many of those state lawmakers have jobs outside politics—jobs that might not be well suited to working remotely from a hotel conference room. A few members brought small children with them to Chicago, Hinojosa told me, and some of those children will probably have to be back in school soon. 'We've seen it before,' Rottinghaus said. 'The biggest pull for members to come back isn't always the politics; it's most often the personal.' When I asked Texas Representative Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos how long she was willing to stay in Chicago, she told me that she understands the burden this puts on families; her own daughter is recovering from a liver transplant. 'Am I prepared for two weeks? Three weeks? What is the alternative?' she asked. 'If this is a sacrifice that we need to make, then it's the sacrifice that has to be made.' But two or three weeks probably won't be enough. (It's possible, Rodríguez Ramos suggested, that the state's 11 Senate Democrats, who remain in-state, could take their own turn breaking quorum; only one chamber needs to do so to stop legislation from being passed.) Texas Governor Greg Abbott's threats complicate the picture. This morning, he suggested that if Democrats 'don't start showing up,' Republicans will add a few more GOP seats to the new map. He has promised to fine the runaway Democrats $500 each for every day that they're gone, and to go after any groups raising money for them. Abbott has also suggested that he'll kick the Democrats out of their seats in the legislature—although, experts say he does not have the power to do so directly. Earlier this week, the state house issued civil-arrest warrants for the rogue Democrats, and yesterday, Cornyn announced that the FBI had agreed to 'locate' them. Although FBI involvement might seem far-fetched, 'there's very little that restricts' the agency, Michael German, a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice and former FBI agent, told me. The bureau could share information with local law enforcement, he said. A single one of these variables is not likely to shatter the Texas Democrats' resolve, but over time, the pressure adds up. After making headlines for a few weeks, Democrats will probably be squeezed dry, emotionally and financially. A few will return home, and then, eventually, they all will. The new GOP district map will pass, perhaps in a slightly altered form, and Republicans will have what they've been fighting for: a few more GOP congressional districts, perhaps just enough to preserve the party's narrow hold on the House of Representatives through what might be a tough midterm election. But Texas Democrats aren't willing to entertain that possibility just yet. In Chicago, members are reassessing the situation each day, Hinojosa told me. To sum up the general attitude, she paraphrased former Texas Governor Ann Richards. 'All we have is the here and now,' she said, 'and if we play it right, it's all we need.' A more realistic view of the situation might be that Democrats are seizing the moment because they know it's fleeting.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hodgers wins Florida House District 32 seat
Republican Brian Hodgers clinched a win over his Democrat challenger Juan Hinojosa in the June 10 special election for the Florida House District 32 seat. Hodgers got 14,488 votes (55%) compared to Hinojosa's 12,088 votes (45%) of the total 26,255 votes cast in the special election. The two faced off in a special election that Gov. Ron DeSantis scheduled to fill the seat in Central Brevard County that became vacant with the resignation of incumbent Republican Debbie Mayfield of Indialantic, who beat Hinojosa for the seat in November. Mayfield resigned her House to seat to run for the Senate District 19 seat she had held until November, when she was forced out by term limits. Fellow Republican Randy Fine won Mayfield's old Senate seat, but, in turn, resigned to pursue a congressional opening in a district north of Daytona Beach, vacated when Mike Waltz resigned after President Donald Trump appointed him to a brief stint as National Security Advisor. Waltz is now Trump's current nominee for ambassador to the United Nations. Mayfield's brief break in service made her eligible to run again, according to the Florida Supreme Court. She won the Senate seat back in the June 10 special election. District 32 includes parts of Central and South Brevard: Rockledge, Viera, Suntree, Melbourne, Indian Harbour Beach and Indialantic. The term for the seat is two years, and the salary is $29,697 a year. Hodgers, 52, of Viera, a real estate broker and insurance agent, aims to use his expertise in insurance to lower rates for Floridians. He also wants to cap and roll back property taxes, and ease regulatory burdens on small businesses. Hodgers topped his two opponents in the April 1 primary, with 5,640 votes (35.02%), to Bob White's 5,328 (33.08%) and Terry Cronin's 5,138 (31.9%). Hinojosa also faced a large fund-raising disadvantage. As of June 5, Hodgers had raised $487,073 in monetary contributions, $16,946 in "in-kind" contributions, spending $343,154 of that, with $503 in "other" expenses. By June 5, Hinojosa had raised just $1,620 in monetary contributions, with a $3,210 self loan and $80 in in-kind contributions, spending $3,688. Waymer covers the environment. Reach him at (321) 261-5903 or jwaymer@ Follow him on X at @JWayEnviro. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Hodgers wins Florida House District 32 seat
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wisconsin's Most Wanted: Lewis Hinojosa, sought for July 2010 homicide
The Brief U.S. Marshals are asking for help to locate Lewis Hinojosa. Officials say in July 2010, Hinojosa killed Giovani Tirado and tried doing the same to his brother. Marshals say Hinojosa has a distinctive tattoo on his arm. RACINE, Wis. - Investigators are looking for a man charged with killing a person inside a bar nearly 15 years ago. What we know In July 2010, U.S. Marshals say Lewis Hinojosa let his rage take over when he killed Giovani Tirado and tried doing the same to his brother. "Shot and killed the first victim and then attempted shoot the second victim, however his gun jammed or something malfunctioned with his firearm," said Racine Police Detective and U.S. Marshal Task Force Office Michael Seeger. "This warrant isn't going away." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Hinojosa, now 39 years old, was 24 at the time when he went on the run. U.S. Marshals have been searching for him ever since. What they're saying "With so many years that have passed, his appearance could've changed, weight, hairstyles or anything," Seeger explained. Though he might look different since 2010, investigators say one feature likely still stands out. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News "He has a clown tattoo on his arm," the U.S. Marshals Task Force officer said. The tattoo is Hinojosa's face depicted as a clown with stacks of money around his neck. Investigators say the Maniac Latin Disciples gang member goes by the nickname "Kamala" and he could be as far away as Mexico. Hinojosa is 5'6" tall. What you can do If you know where Lewis Hinojosa is, you are urged to call the U.S. Marshals Tipline at 414-297-3707. You will remain anonymous. The Source The information in this post was provided by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hodgers faces Hinojosa in special election for District 32 Florida House race
The Florida House District 32 race pits a real estate broker/insurance agent against a retired United States Army reservist. They're competing mainly over who's best to help ease skyrocketing insurance rates — central among the district's challenges.. Republican Brian Hodgers asserts his experience in insurance will empower him to help lower rates for Floridians. His Democratic opponent, Juan Hinojosa, blames career politicians for enabling insurance companies to increase insurance rates. He says his 30-year military career armed him with the skills to fight for policies that lower rates. The two face off in a special election on June 10. Gov. Ron DeSantis scheduled the special election to fill the seat in Central Brevard County that became vacant with the resignation of incumbent Republican Debbie Mayfield of Indialantic, who beat Hinojosa for the seat in November. Mayfield resigned her House to seat to run for the Senate District 19 seat had held until November, when she was forced out by term limits. Fellow Republican Randy Fine won Mayfield's old Senate seat, but, in turn, resigned to pursue a congressional opening in a district north of Daytona Beach. Mayfield's brief break in service makes her eligible to run again, according to the Florida Supreme Court. District 32 includes parts of Central and South Brevard: Rockledge, Viera, Suntree, Melbourne, Indian Harbour Beach and Indialantic. The term for the seat is two years, and the salary is $29,697 a year. Here are the two candidates in a nutshell: Hodgers, 52, of Viera, a real estate broker and insurance agent, aims to use his expertise in insurance to lower rates for Floridians. He also wants to cap and roll back property taxes, and ease regulatory burdens on small businesses. Hinojosa, 73, of Rockledge, who retired in 2012 from a 30-year career in the United States Army Reserve, wants to focus on policies that lower our auto insurance rates, expand Medicaid coverage, and that make housing more affordable. Hinojosa has a steep hurdle to climb in a district that is 46.8% Republican, 24.3% Democrat, 25.1% no party affiliation, and 3.6% "other" minor party affiliations. Hodgers topped his two opponents in the April 1 primary, with 5,640 votes (35.02%), to Bob White's 5,328 (33.08%) and Terry Cronin's 5,138 (31.9%). Hinojosa also faced a large fund-raising disadvantage. As of May 1, Hodgers had raised $425,348 in monetary contributions, including $250,000 in his own donations to his campaign and $2,084 in in-kind contributions, spending $341,282 of that, with $503 in "other" expenses. By May 1, Hinojasa had raised just $438 in monetary contributions, with a $2,500 self loan and $80 in in-kind contributions, spending $2,851. Age: 52 Residence: Viera Occupation: Real estate broker and insurance agent Education: Bachelors of Business Administration Political/government/civic experience: Served on the government affairs committee for FAIA (Florida Association of Insurance Agents); Government affairs committee for the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce; member of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee; member of the Republican Club of Brevard; member of the North Brevard Republican Club; CO-Founder of the Brevard County Trump Club; Brevard Marine Resource Council; Brevard County Planning and Zoning Board; and Citizens Market Accountability Board. Campaign email: brian@ Campaign phone number: (321) 209-4645 Website or Facebook page: Top two to three issues and what specific actions you would take to address them? As an insurance agent that works tirelessly every day on behalf of my clients to find them the lowest rates possible on their insurance, while maintaining the best possible coverage, I feel I am the best person to represent our voters in this current insurance crisis we are engaged in. We need someone with in-depth knowledge of how insurance markets work and has the commitment to fight for consumers. We must look at capping and rolling back property taxes. The rise in property taxes is beginning to cripple some of our small businesses and homeowners, and we need our local governments to be responsive to their taxpayers with solutions. As a small business owner. I believe it's important that we look at the streamlining of the red tape local, state, and federal governments throw in our way. We see far too many small businesses fail due to the burdens they face in getting their business open while burning through their investment dollars just to get open. Getting expedited permitting, and occupational licenses would help these small businesses not only get open quicker, but employ more people that help benefit the local community. Age: 73 Residence: Rockledge Occupation: Retired, United States Army Reserve Education: Biology/chemistry, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, Texas, 1975 Political/government/civic experience: U.S. Census Office manager, Corpus Christi and San Antonio, Texas, four years; U.S. Census regional technician, McAllen, Laredo and El Paso, Texas one year; U.S. Army Reserve, senior supervisory administrator, Richmond, Virginia, 11 years Campaign email: juanhinojosadistrict32@ Campaign website: Campaign phone number: 321-978-1605 Top two to three issues and what specific actions candidate would take to address them? Auto insurance: "The 2023 Florida Legislature voted yes on Senate Bill 1002 and House Bill 541, forcing the auto insurance companies to change our comprehensive and collision deductive. This action raised our auto rates thus forcing all Floridians to pay additional costs. Arizona passed the same law, but opted their constituents to opt out of the coverage and their rates only slightly changed. I want to amend House Bill 541 if elected, to lower our auto insurance rates." "I truly believe a portion of our career politicians have enabled the insurance companies to increase consumer insurance rates in Florida," he said. Expand Medicaid coverage: "We have disabled children and adults without medical coverage. Federal funding is available to cover their medical costs, and the state of Florida refuses it." Housing: "Families are struggling to find affordable rentals or housing, and the career politicians are focused on their political careers and $1,000 political donations from special interests organizations." Hinojosa said. Waymer covers the environment. Reach him at (321) 261-5903 or jwaymer@ Follow him on X at @JWayEnviro. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Hodgers faces Hinojosa for District 32 Florida House seat
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas continues to restrict the care women receive - but hey, moms could soon use the carpool lane
Texas moms could soon be allowed to use the carpool lanes, even if they are driving alone. The Texas House passed a bill on the eve of Mother's Day that would permit a woman who is 'pregnant or is a parent or legal guardian' to drive in the carpool lane even if there are no other passengers. Republican Rep. Jeff Leach, who authored the bill, said it was 'a gift to our mothers in Texas.' But judging from the reaction of many women on social media, a carpool lane wasn't at the top of their wish list. Women pointed out the irony of the bill, given that the state has some of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the U.S. 'We may let you die in a parking lot, but you can drive there in a HOV lane,' Susan Welch commented under a local news story about the bill on Facebook. 'We'd rather have affordable childcare & healthcare access, but I guess HOV lanes are also a thing we could do,' Dianna Orender added. 'Hows about we just get autonomy over our own bodies and we call it even?' Vanessa Mlynn wrote. After Roe v Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022, abortion was prohibited in Texas at all stages of pregnancy. The only current exception is when a pregnant patient has a life-threatening condition. Doctors who support a patient by providing an illegal abortion face up to 99 years in prison, a $100,000 fine, and could lose their medical license. Leach, a fierce abortion opponent, was motivated to push the bill after a pregnant woman in Texas was given a ticket for driving in the carpool lane in July 2022, a month after Roe v Wade was overturned. Brandy Bottone, who was 34 weeks pregnant, argued that under the state's new abortion law, there were two passengers in the car. The story sparked a conversation about the laws regarding when a life begins, which was welcomed by anti-abortionists who believe life begins at the moment of conception. Leach's bill initially specified that pregnant women would be able to use carpool lanes, but Austin Democrat Rep. Gina Hinojosa filed the amendment to extent it to 'a female operator of a motor vehicle who is pregnant or is a parent or legal guardian of another person.' Leach accepted the amendment. Hinojosa acknowledged that more needs to be done for families in the state, but said the bill presented 'an opportunity.' 'We don't do nearly enough to help families,' Hinojosa said. 'So when we have a chance to do something, we take it.' The bill will now proceed to the Texas Senate. Meanwhile, the state Senate passed a controversial bill this week that would allow individuals to sue anyone who 'manufactures, distributes, mails, prescribes or provides' abortion pills for up to $100,000.
