Texas Republicans praise Hispanic

Freshman lawmaker Lozano switches parties, faces re-election battle

AUSTIN, Texas — Rarely do the Texas governor, attorney general, state comptroller and House speaker heap praise on a freshman lawmaker, but that’s what happens when a Hispanic state representative becomes a Republican at a time when the party considers its dominance in danger.

Gov. Rick Perry congratulated Harlingen Rep. J.M. Lozano for placing personal convictions over party loyalty. Attorney General Greg Abbott pledged the Republican Party’s support for Lozano and all Hispanics who want to join the party.

“For the Republican majority to continue to grow and expand we need a new generation to step forward. We need those fresh faces from communities where our party has underperformed,” Perry said Thursday. “In particular, we need those Hispanic leaders to carry the banner of the party.”

Lozano follows in the footsteps of Rep. Aaron Pena, another Hispanic from the Rio Grande Valley who switched parties last year. Pena served four terms as a Democrat before switching parties, and once inside the Republican caucus he stayed true to his relatively moderate politics.

But Pena’s first year as a Republican also turned out to be a redistricting year, and Pena was drawn into a district where he stood little chance of winning. He chose not to run again, but remains a loyal member of the party.

Republican lawmakers did a better job drawing a friendly district for San Antonio Republican Rep. John Garza, but a federal court redrew his district, putting him in a Democratleaning race. He is expected to face a tough re-election bid.

Lozano switched parties after he saw that new House District 43 voted for Republicans at the presidential level in the past, but they voted for Democrats in down-ballot races. This might help him in the general election, but first Lozano must survive a Republican primary challenge from Portland architect and Republican donor Bill Wilson and former Ingleside Mayor Willie Vaden.

Democrats likely will target Lozano, especially after he accepted $147,000 from top party donors attorney Steve Mostyn and Texans for Insurance Reform. But some Hispanic Democrats predict he won’t make it to the general election.

“Latino Republicans have the highest attrition rate of any caucus in the Legislature this cycle,” said Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, a Democrat who leads the Mexican American Legislative Caucus. “Out of six Latino Republicans, only one may be back next session. This loss rate is proof positive that Texas Latinos face significant obstacles to advancement in the Texas Republican Party.”

Republican primary voters surprised political observers in 2010 when they ousted incumbent Railroad Commissioner Victor Carrillo to nominate little-known accountant David Porter to run in the general election. Carrillo said he lost because of his Spanish surname.

But the problem is not only about ethnicity. Former Democrats have a hard time convincing Republican primary voters that they are true conservatives. Party activists distribute scorecards based on voting records that make it hard for many veteran Republicans to defend themselves, let alone someone who voted with the Democrats just last year.

Another Democrat who became a Republican in 2010 is Rep. Alan Ritter from Nederland, near Port Arthur. He received a failing grade from influential conservative group Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and is facing a Republican primary challenger who doesn’t hesitate to paint the incumbent as a moderate.

Rep. Chuck Hopson of Jacksonville switched to the Republican Party in 2009 and won re-election in 2010. But Texans for Fiscal Responsibility gave Hopson a letter grade of D for his voting record and endorsed conservative challenger Travis Clardy, an East Texas attorney.

With the primary election taking place the day after Memorial Day and a run-off July 31, political analysts predict party activists will play a major role in the results. But how well conservative Republicans do in the general election will depend a lot on what happens in the presidential race.

Lozano’s re-election bid as a Republican will be watched as a bellwether for Hispanics in the Republican Party in the primary election, and then as a gauge of Republicans’ chances in Hispanic-majority South Texas in the general election.