Experts in the News

Texas’ new voting restrictions are now law, and the fight has moved to the federal courts. Political science fellow Mark Jones explored how the cases could pan out on the Texas Standard.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is facing reelection next year, is "trapped" when it comes to adopting or allowing coronavirus restrictions, said political science fellow Mark Jones. "He realizes that if he were to adopt a more California- or New York state-style policy, there will be considerable blowback from the right wing of the Republican Party."

"Trump’s endorsement took a relatively equal playing field ... and tipped it decidedly toward [Susan] Wright," said fellow Mark P. Jones on the Congressional District 6 special election runoff between Wright and Texas state Rep. Jake Ellzey.

Gov. Greg Abbott vowed last week to build a border wall, a move critics call absurd and political science fellow Mark Jones called “political theater.” "In theory if Gov. Abbott wants to build a big wall somewhere near the U.S.-Mexico border, he can do so. But there will be issues of eminent domain and taking land, funding that wall and then actually constructing it. If it’s not part of a broader immigration system that’s coordinated with the federal government, it’s likely to not be very effective. Can you imagine if you put a big 20 mile wall in one place, there's holes around it, so people just go around it. I think really this is much more political theater than anything else."

"I would suspect that we will see an election integrity bill pass, but some of the most egregious parts of it will be removed," political science fellow Mark Jones stated. "Both sides are engaged in hyperbole here."