Politics
NEW: Texas Lawmaker Introduces Bill That Could Recall ‘Rogue’ Senators
Texas State Rep. Brian Harrison has introduced a bill that would allow the Texas legislature to recall either of the two U.S. Senators representing the Lodestar State if they “go rogue” during their term.
Under House Bill 1267, both of Texas’ senators could be recalled at any time through a simple majority vote in both the Texas State House and Senate. If state lawmakers voted to recall a senator, the seat would become vacant the same day.
Texas is currently represented by Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. Cruz was just re-elected to a third term after soundly defeating Democrat challenger Colin Allred back in November, while Cornyn is up for re-election in 2026. Cornyn is expected to face a fierce primary challenge from current Attorney General Ken Paxton, as the longtime senator has drawn the ire of conservatives due to his support for a controversial gun control in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting, among other controversial votes.
When introducing the bill, Harrison stated that it would simply return Senate elections to the vision laid out by the founding fathers. U.S. senators were initially elected by state legislatures and could be recalled at any time until the 17th Amendment, which allowed the direct election of senators, was ratified in 1913.
“Our founders intended U.S. Senators to represent the interests of the sovereign states and safeguard against federal overreach,” Harrison wrote in a statement, according to Reform Austin. “Unfortunately, since the 17th Amendment, many have become beholden to DC special interests and complicit in the erosion of liberty and acceleration of America’s move to a post-constitutional era,” the Texas conservative continued, adding that the legislation would “empower Texans to ensure our U.S. Senators serve the best interest of the State of Texas.”
Harrison further laid out his reasoning behind introducing the legislation in a recent interview with Newsmax’s Chris Salcedo. “Some of you viewers might be shocked to learn for the first time that the 17th Amendment, when it was enacted, caused perhaps irreparable harm to the design of our founders. Where the U.S. Senate was basically supposed to be filled up with people who were there not directly elected by the people, but to be ambassadors of the sovereign states because the federal government was supposed to be a creation of the states and responsive to the needs of the sovereign states,” he said.
The 17th Amendment, Harrison argued, ushered in much of the big money and federal overreach that has plagued American politics over the last 100 years or so. “We can’t unilaterally undo a destructive amendment like the 17th Amendment, but I think that it’s time for Republican states and for Republican leaders to take bold, creative actions to restore the foundations of our Constitution where they’ve been damaged,” the Texas lawmaker continued.
Salcedo then argued that Senator Cornyn fits the bill of a “rogue” senator who should be recalled, noting that some of the most prominent Republican organizations in Texas opted not to endorse his candidacy for Senate majority leader last year. Harrison agreed, stating that placing a Republican “R” next to a candidate’s name should “mean something” to the voters.
“I think voters across the country, the election has told us a lot of things. President Trump’s got a real mandate. When people send Republicans to Washington, D.C. to represent them, they do not want them stabbing them in the back and teaming up to and empowering the very Democrats that they promised the voters in the election that they would go to D.C. and fight against,” Harrison said.
