Earlier today, over forty state and local officials from Texas officially added their support to expanding the Supreme Court. The idea of adding four seats to the nation’s highest court has gained steam after a series of unpopular rulings, most notably the overruling of Roe v. Wade.
In a statement via Demand Justice, the Texas officials affirmed their commitment to expanding the Supreme Court. “This Court has become part and parcel of the Republican Party’s agenda to maintain minority control at all costs, having been installed in plainly anti-democratic ways, and consistently ruling to further entrench the GOP’s minority power.”
“A solution exists that would immediately restore balance to the Court. That solution is to add four seats to the Supreme Court in order to ensure a Court that properly balances the interests of everyday Americans against those of corporations and the Republican Party. Moreover, adding four seats would ensure that the Supreme Court is more reflective of the people it purports to represent. And of course, adding four seats could be accomplished by a simple act of Congress with a simple majority vote.”
Supreme Court expansion is supported by several Texas members of Congress including Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee and Veronica Escobar, who was arrested outside of the Court last year. Freshmen Reps. Greg Casar and Jasmine Crockett also support reforming the Supreme Court.
Here is the full list of Texas officials who signed on to expand the Supreme Court:
State Representatives:
Rep. Rhetta Bowers
Rep. Liz Campos
Rep. Christian Manuel Hayes
Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins
Rep. Jessica Gonzalez
Rep. Jarvis Johnson
Rep. Jolanda Jones
Rep. Armando Martinez
Rep. Christina Morales
Rep. Penny Morales Shaw
Rep. Ana Marie Ramos
Rep. Ron Reynolds
Rep. Ramon Romero Jr.
Rep. Jon Rosenthal
Rep. Carl Sherman
Rep. Shawn Thierry
Rep. Armando Walle
Rep. Gene Wu
Other elected officials:
Austin City Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes
Austin City Councilmember Jose Velasquez
Beaumont Councilmember Audwin Samuel
Carrollton City Councilmember Richard Fleming
Cedar Hill Mayor Steve Mason
Corpus Christi City Councilmember Jim Klein
Dallas City Councilmember Casey Thomas
DeSoto City Councilmember Kay Brown-Patrick
DeSoto City Councilmember Leticia Hughes
El Paso County Commissioner David Stout
Everman City Councilmember Johnny Allen
Fort Bend Commissioner Grady Prestage
Fort Worth City Councilmember (former) Kelly Allen-Gray
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis
Harris County Treasurer Dylan Osborne
Houston Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum
Houston Independent School District Board First Vice President Myrna Guidry, Esq.
Lancaster City Councilmember Keithsha Wheaton
Missouri City Councilmember Jeff Boney
Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie
Port Arthur Councilmember Donald Frank Sr.
Port Arthur Councilmember Thomas Kinlaw, III
Port Arthur Councilmember Kenneth Marks
Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Brooks
Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon Mercado
Waco City Councilmember Andrea Barfield
A longtime writer and journalist, Jessica was thrilled to join the Texas Signal where she could utilize her unique perspective on politics and culture. As the Features and Opinion Editor, she is responsible for coordinating editorials and segments from diverse authors. She is also the host of the podcast the Tex Mix, as well as the co-host for the weekly SignalCast. Jessica attended Harvard College, is a onetime fitness blogger, and has now transitioned to recreational runner (for which her joints are thankful).
