Time for the week that was in Texas politics with Alex Samuels, politics reporter for The Texas Tribune.
Gov. Greg Abbott continues to chide the city of Austin for its policies related to people experiencing homelessness. Recent stabbings that involved people who are homeless led Abbott to order the Department of Public Safety to increase patrols in downtown Austin, and near the University of Texas campus.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler said Abbott is demonizing people experiencing homelessness, and that the governor should increase support for them, including increasing the availability of mental health care.
After dropping out of the presidential race, Julián Castro announced his endorsement of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. But Samuels says Castro’s supporters are, instead, getting behind candidate, and former vice president, Joe Biden.
“Biden released his list of endorsers. I believe there were eight people who had previously been with Castro who are now on Biden’s campaign,” Samuels says.
Warren has landed some new Texas endorsements, including three state representatives and several city council members. Samuels says the list of 18 supporters is one of the largest groups of endorsements Warren has announced since increasing her focus on Texas.
“Warren definitely has her work cut out for her,” Samuels says. “She’s overshadowed in the race for Texas endorsement by Biden.”
Warren placed second to Biden in a recent UT/Texas Tribune poll of Texas voters.
Written by Shelly Brisbin.
