The Honorable Greg Abbott
Governor of Texas
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711
Dear Governor Abbott:
At a time when so many Americans have lost trust in our elections—and, for that matter, have lost hope for the future of America—Texas serves as a beacon of light. We, the undersigned leaders of organizations across the nation, thank you for your leadership at this critical juncture.
We are particularly grateful to you for making election reform an emergency item in 87th Texas Legislature. Know of our support for those reforms moving forward, particularly as you weather the hollow threats of “woke” corporations who know virtually nothing about Texas election law.
We do have a specific request for you. Though the legislation moving through the Texas House and Texas Senate would represent good progress toward ensuring fair and transparent elections in Texas, the two omnibus elections bills—HB6 and SB7—both fail to include a crucial provision: voter verification for mail-in ballots, as Georgia recently passed. Even with the good provisions in those bills, not closing that loophole would leave Texas open to massive fraud via mail-in ballots. This is particularly concerning, considering usage of mail-ballots in your state has increased fivefold since 2012, to nearly 10% of all ballots cast in 2020. If that growth continues, and if that loophole remains, all the election reforms passed by the Legislature this year will be for naught.
The good news is that the public is on your side. A recent poll, conducted by WPA Intelligence for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, shows that four out of five Texans believe voting in person and by mail should have the same voter identification requirements. Securing that reform will go a long way toward minimizing the threat of fraud—and toward restoring Texans’ confidence in future elections.
We will continue to advocate for these reforms, so know that you can count on us to amplify Texas’ progress, should they be enacted. Again, Governor Abbott, we thank you for your leadership when all eyes truly are on Texas.
Sincerely,
The Honorable Edwin Meese III Attorney General President Ronald Reagan (1985-1988) |
Alfred S. Regnery Chairman, Conservative Action Project President, Republic Book Publishers |
Thomas Fitton President Judicial Watch, Inc. |
Kevin Roberts CEO Texas Public Policy Foundation |
L. Brent Bozell, III Founder and President Media Research Center |
Kelly J. Shackelford, Esq. Chairman, CNP Action, Inc. President and CEO, First Liberty Institute |
The Honorable Jim DeMint Chairman, Conservative Partnership Institute Member, US Senate (SC 2005-2013) |
The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell Chairman Constitutional Congress, Inc. |
Cleta Mitchell, Esq. Senior Legal Fellow, CPI Chairman, Election Protection Initiative, FreedomWorks |
The Honorable Bob McEwen U.S. House of Representatives Former Member, Ohio |
Jenny Beth Martin Chairman Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund |
The Honorable Tony Perkins President Family Research Council |
The Honorable David McIntosh President Club for Growth |
Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin (Ret.) Executive Vice President Family Research Council |
The Honorable Russ Vought Director Office of Management and Budget (2020-2021) |
The Honorable Paul S. Teller, Ph.D. Executive Director Advancing American Freedom |
Myron Ebell Director, Center for Energy and Environment Competitive Enterprise Institute |
Thomas E. McClusky President March for Life Action |
The Honorable Becky Norton Dunlop White House Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1981-1985) |
The Honorable Morton C. Blackwell President The Leadership Institute |
Mary Vought Executive Director Senate Conservatives Fund |
Scott T. Parkinson VP for Government Affairs Club for Growth |
William L. Walton President Council for National Policy |
The Honorable Donald Paul Hodel U.S. Secretary of Energy (1982-1985) U.S. Secretary of Interior (1985-1989) |
Ed Corrigan Vice Chairman, Conservative Action Project President & CEO, Conservative Partnership Institute |
Marjorie Dannenfelser President Susan B. Anthony List |
Frank Cannon Founding President American Principles Project |
The Honorable Ken Cuccinelli National Chairman Election Transparency Initiative |
Bob Carlstrom President AMAC Action |
Mike Davis Founder and President Article III Project (A3P) |
Dr. Jerry A. Johnson President (2013-2019) National Religious Broadcasters |
The Honorable James C. Miller III Budget Director for President Reagan, 1985-1988 |
Trent England Executive Director Save Our States |
Charles J. Cooper Assistant Attorney General, President Reagan (1985-1988) Cooper & Kirk, PLLC |
Richard Manning President Americans for Limited Government |
Tom DeWeese President American Policy Center |
J. Christian Adams President Public Interest Legal Foundation |
Ambassador Henry F. Cooper President Reagan’s Chief Nuclear and Space Negotiator Former SDI Director |
Carrie Lukas President Independent Women’s Forum |
Heather R. Higgins CEO Independent Women’s Voice |
Lori Roman President ACRU Action Fund |
Jim Martin Founder/Chairman 60 Plus Association |
Sheryl Kaufman Texas Resident, Board Member Americans for Limited Government |
The Honorable Gary L. Bauer President American Values |
The Honorable Scott Walker President Young America’s Foundation |
Dr. Rick Scarborough President, Recover America Now National Pastor Advisor, The Jonathan Project |
Floyd Brown Chairman The Western Journal |
Joel Anand Samy Co-Host, America’s Roundtable Radio Co-Founder, International Leaders Summit |
The Honorable Stephen Stockman U.S. House of Representatives Former Member, Texas |
Clare Lopez Founder/President Lopez Liberty LLC Lopez Liberty LLC |
Mat Staver Founder and Chairman Liberty Counsel |
Karen England Executive Director Capitol Resource Institute |
The Honorable Mike Hill Former Member Florida State House |
Matthew Tyrmand Principal Matthew Tyrmand LLC |
C. Preston Noell III President Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. |
Martha Boneta President Vote America First |
Kielle C. Horton President The Lindsey Foundation |
Darrel W. Johnson President Attic Corp |
Saulius “Saul” Anuzis President 60 Plus Association |
Seton Motley President Less Government |
Elaine Donnelly President Center for Military Readiness |
Rob Chambers Vice President AFA Action |
Sandy Rios Director of Governmental Affairs AFA |
Linda L. Bean Founder Bean Maine Lobster |
Kay R. Daly President Coalition for a Fair Judiciary |
E.W. Jackson Sr. President STAND Foundation, Inc. |
Eleanor Nicholas Retired President Gospel First Ministries |
Richard Norman Founder and President The Richard Norman Company |
Mario Navarro da Costa Director, Washington Bureau Tradition, Family, Property |
Fr. Frank Pavone National Director Priests for Life |
Ralph A. Rebandt II Candidate for Michigan Governor 2022 Ralph Rebandt for Governor |
Nancy Schulze Founder, President RCW Speakers |
William W. Pascoe, III Tea Party Patriots Action |
Bill Shaker CEO Washington Marketing Group |
Glenn P. Story Co-founder Patriot Mobile |
The Honorable Diana Denman President The Reagan Legacy Forum |
Khadine Ritter Chairman Eagle Forum of Ohio |
Ron Pearson Executive Director Conservative Victory Fund |
Randy M. Long Founder Long Business Advisors, LLC |
Lee Beaman CEO Beaman Ventures |
Amapola Hansberger Founder and President Legal Immigrants for America |
Kevin Freeman Founder NSIC Institute |
Dr. Richard Rounsavelle Trustee MRC |
Robert K. Fischer Meeting Coordinator Conservatives of Faith |
The Honorable Peter J. Thomas Chairman The Conservative Caucus |
Chad Connelly President Faith Wins |
Jack Park Conservative Activist and Donor Law Offices of Jack Park |
Mark Bloom Business Owner Ole Podner LLC |
Terrence Scanlon Chairman 1985-89; Commissioner 1983-85 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
David Haas President Morrison Inc |
Andresen Blom President Hawaiian Values |
Don L. Woodsmall Principal Arromid, LLC |
Paavo Ensio Chairman Universal Minerals Group |
Art Ally President Timothy Partners, Ltd. |
Gary Marx President The Concord Fund |
Rebecca Hagelin CEO United in Purpose |