State Rep. Brian Harrison filed a bill that would allow the Texas Legislature to recall either of the two U.S. Senators representing the state if “they go rogue” midterm.
House Bill 1267 states that both of Texas’ senators could be recalled at any time by a simple majority in both chambers of the Texas Legislature. If the Legislature voted to recall a Senator, the seat would become vacant the same day.
Harrison said the bill will prevent senators from going rogue and would “ensure our U.S. Senators serve the best interest of the State of Texas.”
Texas is currently represented in the Senate by Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. Cruz was just re-elected for a third term after beating Democratic challenger Collin Allred by about nine percentage points.
Cornyn, on the other hand, will end his term in 2026 and during his time in the Senate has been serving the party’s leadership. However, state officials have had a growing discontent for him, specifically the right-wing of the state’s GOP. Cornyn has participated in online fights with Attorney General Ken Paxton and has been attacked by some state lawmakers.
With Harrison’s bill, the Legislature, which has moved further to the right in the recent elections, could coordinate to oust Senators who didn’t align with their views, even if voters decided to represent the state in Congress. In addition, it could give the Governor unprecedented power in controlling the Senators.
“Our founders intended U.S. Senators to represent the interests of the sovereign states and safeguard against federal overreach,” Harrison wrote in a statement. “Unfortunately, since the 17th Amendment, many have become beholden to DC special interests and complicit in the erosion of liberty and acceleration of America’s move to a post-constitutional era…”
“We must empower Texans to ensure our U.S. Senators serve the best interest of the State of Texas,” he added.
The social media post in which Harrison announced his bill received widespread attention, with some users supporting the measure, while critics said recalling a Senator would silence the voter’s will who chose to put that Senator in office.
While the bill was filed, it is uncertain whether it will pass next legislative session. On Tuesday, legislators filed thousands of bills ranging from many issues, but only a handful of them will reach the Governor’s desk next year.
