27 MAY 26 SITREP

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won the Senate runoff primary against incumbent John Cornyn in Texas, with the Associated Press projecting the result, marking what Paxton described as a historic victory while crediting grassroots supporters, Scott Pressler, Turning Point Action, and President Trump for the win.
• Bo French won the Republican primary for Texas Railroad Commissioner by running an unconventional campaign centered on immigration, deportations, the Islamification of Texas, DEI, LGBTQ issues, H1B fraud, and cultural change rather than focusing narrowly on the commission’s regulatory role over the Texas energy sector.
• French outlined plans to roll back regulations that took effect the previous July, arguing that the rules imposed by what he characterized as Obama- and Biden-era EPA-style mandates are driving up costs and red tape for an industry that employs over 500,000 people directly and roughly 2 million when including indirect jobs across the state.
• Texas produces almost half the oil and gas in the United States, and French argued that reducing regulations would lower the breakeven point for oil companies, keep workers employed, and help consumers at the pump during a period of high global oil prices and elevated gas prices.

• T.J. Harker, a former federal prosecutor and author, argued that Derek Chauvin is affirmatively innocent and did not cause George Floyd’s death, stating that the hold Chauvin used matched approved Minneapolis Police Department training materials.
• The prosecution’s theory relied on carotid artery compression as the cause of death after medical examiner Dr. Andrew Baker ruled out mechanical asphyxia, finding no bruising, no petechiae, and no damage to laryngeal structures, but the four lead prosecutors among over 25 total prosecutors reportedly did not realize until the fourth day of trial that compressing only one carotid artery could not obstruct blood flow to the brain.
• George Floyd’s toxicology report showed 11 nanograms per milliliter of fentanyl in his blood, and evidence presented at trial indicated he had ingested speedballs containing fentanyl and methamphetamine twice on May 25, 2020, with the second ingestion likely occurring as officers approached his vehicle, while partially chewed speedballs were later recovered from the squad car.
• Maurice Hall, the man identified as the source of the drugs, was subpoenaed by the defense but pleaded the 5th out of fear he could be prosecuted for George Floyd’s death under drug-induced homicide laws, and the prosecution refused to grant him immunity, preventing his testimony from reaching the jury.

• Kenny Cody, a teacher, civic leader, and Human Events columnist from Cosby, Tennessee, received a Truth Social endorsement from President Trump for his campaign for the Tennessee House District 11 seat, covering Cocke, Jefferson, and Hamblen Counties.
• Cody built his campaign around 3 priorities: strengthening public safety by fully funding law enforcement and volunteer fire departments in a region still recovering from Hurricane Helene, safeguarding families through defense of the 2nd Amendment and pro-life values, and cutting red tape and regulation for the small businesses that sustain the district’s economy.
• A constitutional amendment scheduled for the November ballot would permanently prohibit the Tennessee state government from ever enacting a state-level property tax, and Cody supported that measure alongside proposals to cap property taxes and eliminate the grocery tax.
• Cody emphasized that House District 11 delivered 85-to-15 victories for Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and cited endorsements and support from figures including Mayor Glenn Jacobs, while pledging to carry Trump conservatism and America First values to the Tennessee State Legislature at Cordell Hull in Nashville.