DALLAS — Conservative state Rep. Glenn Rogers, R-Graford, doesn’t do a lot of interviews.
But he decided to join Y’all-itics for a no holds barred conversation.
For starters, he doesn’t think the GOP civil war in Texas ends well.
“We’re gonna go so far to the right that we’re wrong. And we’re going to lose Texas,” Rogers told us bluntly. “These people that are pushing us so far to the crazy right, they’re gonna turn us blue if there’s not a change of course.”
A staunch conservative, Rogers says that’s the last thing he wants to see happen.
And the people Rogers says is pushing Texas too far to the right are the folks he says are in absolute control of Texas politics.
“They’re primarily two billionaires from West Texas, Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks, that are the two most powerful men in Texas politics,” Rogers said matter-of-factly.
Dunn and Wilks made their billions primarily through oil and have used their political networks and action committees to push Texas to the right, pouring millions into primaries backing far-right candidates over the years, initially starting with the Tea Party.
On Super Tuesday, their groups helped Attorney General Ken Paxton extract revenge on several Texas House Republicans who voted to impeach Paxton.
Nine GOP incumbents lost, including Rogers, while eight others find themselves in runoffs, including Speaker of the House Dade Phelan.
The candidates they backed also strongly support school vouchers, which Rogers opposes.
And since many of those candidates won, school choice is expected to be a major issue again when lawmakers return to Austin in January for the next legislative session.
Rep. Rogers says he has nothing against billionaires, wishing he was one himself.
But he says he takes major issue with how the money is spent.
“It’s how it’s used to disseminate misinformation and lies. To them, the end justifies the means. And I just don’t believe that those tactics are good for Texas or good for America,” the Republican told us.
Rep. Rogers also reveals the new priority he’s focusing on now. And even though Senator Ted Cruz backed his opponent in the primary, will Rogers still vote for Cruz this November? His blunt answer might surprise you. Listen to the full episode to learn more. Cheers!