Phelan: GOP anti-trans ads fail to move Texas voters
The story so far
Former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan told Texas Monthly that Republicans' continued transgender ads are "just not resonating" with the 8 to 10% of swing voters who decide elections. In the Texas Senate race, he said $100 million to $125 million in ads "hasn't moved the needle" in a month. Phelan, who remains a House member but is not seeking re-election, warned the party could face trouble in November. The figures are Phelan's own characterization of the spending; the reports do not independently confirm the Senate-race totals. Them and The Advocate reported that Republicans spent $215 million on anti-trans ads in the 2024 cycle and that Elon Musk's America PAC has carried the strategy into this year's midterms. Phelan's comments followed Politico's 14 October interviews with five senior Republican lawmakers, who agreed the party was likely to lose control of the US House. Phelan led the 2023 impeachment of Senate candidate Ken Paxton.
Written by AI from the reports · updated 12 hrs ago
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- themTexas Republican Dade Phelan Says GOP’s Anti-Trans Ads Aren’t Resonating
Former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan told Texas Monthly that Republicans’ focus on anti-transgender ads is “just not resonating” in the state’s Senate race, citing $100 million to $125 million in spending that “hasn’t moved the needle.” Phelan, who led the 2023 impeachment of Senate candidate Ken Paxton, warned the party could face trouble in November. Republicans spent $215 million on anti-trans ads in the 2024 cycle, and Elon Musk’s America PAC has carried the strategy into this year’s midterms.
- The AdvocateTexas Republican Dade Phelan Says GOP’s Anti-Trans Ads Aren’t Resonating
Former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan told Texas Monthly that Republicans’ focus on anti-transgender ads is failing to move voters in the state’s Senate race. Phelan cited $100 million and $125 million in ad spending with no shift in a month, after Republicans spent $215 million on anti-trans ads in the 2024 cycle. He warned the party could be in serious trouble in November as Texas becomes a battleground state.
- PinkNewsRepublican Dade Phelan Challenges His Party’s Focus on Trans People: “It’s Just Not Resonating”
Former Texas House speaker Dade Phelan told Texas Monthly that Republicans’ continued transgender ads are “just not resonating” with the 8 to 10% of swing voters who will decide elections. His comments follow Politico speaking on 14 October to five senior Republican lawmakers who agreed the party was likely to lose control of the US House of Representatives. Phelan remains a Texas House member but is not seeking re-election.
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