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The Case Against Will Hurd

DCCC Spokesperson, Cole Leiter released the following statement:

“Since the day he went to Washington, Congressman Hurd has tried to convince voters he’s different, but his record tells the real story. From his votes to fund Trump’s border wall, to his full-throated support for a tax handout to the wealthiest Americans, to his failure to move his party on DREAMers, Hurd has not delivered for West Texans. And if the surge in Democratic turnout demanding a change is any indication — Congressman Hurd’s eagerness to walk lockstep with Speaker Ryan and President Trump, even when it’s bad for West Texas, will be his political undoing.”  

To: Interested Parties
From: Cole Leiter, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: March 7, 2018
RE: The Case Against Will Hurd

Congressman Will Hurd would have you believe he’s different. But stack his record up next to any other Republican politician in Washington and the truth is evident that his loyalties lie with his political party in Washington and President Trump – not with West Texas voters.

From his full-throated support for a tax handout to the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations, paid for by middle class families, to his votes to fund Trump’s border wall, Hurd has stood with his political party and with President Trump more than 97% of the time, even when it’s bad for the Texas families he’s supposed to represent.

Hurd’s loyalty to his Washington party bosses and to Donald Trump sets up his own undoing in a heavily Hispanic district where the President’s approval rating is underwater. Luckily, voters in Texas’ 23rd will have the opportunity to elect a Democratic candidate with a strong records of service, who has shown they are ready to take the fight to a reckless and unpopular Republican agenda, backed by a reckless and unpopular President. Congressman Hurd will spend the final months of his time in office defending his shameful Speaker Ryan and Trump voting record that puts Washington first and Texans last, and failing to convince voters he’s anything but a typical Washington Republican.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“The two most damning accusations against Hurd is that he voted in favor of repealing Obamacare during his first term and only voted against repeal this year; and that he speaks out against the border wall, but once voted to fund it.” [Texas Monthly, 8/11/2017]

Headline: Trump agenda lays traps for Texas’ most vulnerable Republican. [McClatchy, 2/05/2018]

Headline: Here’s How Much San Antonio Congressmen Were Paid to Let Internet Providers Sell Your Browser History [San Antonio Current, 4/06/2017]

“Hurd votes in accordance with Trump’s position 96.9 percent of the time, as outlined by fivethirtyeight.com’s ‘Trump score’ tracking model. That’s similar to other Republican House members, with only one lawmaker aligning with Trump less than 90 percent of the time.” [San Antonio Express-News, 1/25/2018]

WILL HURD: TALKS AS BIG AS TEXAS, VOTES PARTY LINE IN DC

President Trump, You’re Wall-come

Congressman Hurd claims to oppose President Trump’s border wall, but he has cast two votes to fund the construction of that wall, a clear indication of where his loyalties lie in Washington. Folks in Texas are starting to wise up to that, and his pro-Trump voting record will define him this November.

Nothing Independent About 97% Trump

Congressman Hurd ducked and dodged the Trump question in 2016, but as soon as Trump was elected, Will Hurd welcomed him with open arms, even when his policies  hurt people in Texas. In fact, as of last month, Hurd had voted with Trump 97% of the time and with Speaker Ryan 95% of the time. That record makes it clear Hurd’s disavowal of the President in 2016 was an opportunistic election year stunt to mask his true partisan colors.

All Hat, No Cattle

Hurd’s lack of bipartisan accomplishment cuts against his claims that he is a bipartisan problem-solver.  For all of the national media attention he seeks, Hurd has accomplished strikingly little on issues key to TX-23.

Here’s just one example: Hurd was named to the Republican DACA task force to much fanfare. But when it came time to get his DC party bosses like Speaker Ryan – who run the Swamp – to take action to protect DREAMers, he failed. Ultimately, Hurd’s party is in control of the White House and all of Congress, and it has produced nothing but downside for the people of Texas’ 23rd Congressional District.

THE PATH TO VICTORY

TX-23 is a perennial swing district and Trump’s 3.4 point loss in this district in 2016 sets TX-23 up as one of the most competitive districts in the state. A public poll from February 2018 shows Donald Trump 10-points underwater, with a generic Democrat within one-point of Will Hurd. Add Hurd’s record of voting with Speaker Ryan 95% of the time and with President Trump 97% of the time to that and it shows just how vulnerable Rep. Hurd truly is.

There is no district in the country that holds more of the US-Mexican border, and the reality of the President’s proposed border wall is front and center for voters here, approximately 60% of whom are Hispanic.

Bexar County, the most suburban portion of the district, resembles other areas that have swung towards Democrats in reaction to Trump’s presidency. Nearly half of the more than 65,000 potential new Democratic voters in this district are located in Bexar County. Where TX-23 saw a strong primary turnout, that grassroots energy means Democrats have the opportunity to bring thousands of new votes into the Democratic column.





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