The mask, it seems, fit quite loosely.
Campaigning this year, Texas Democrats meticulously crafted an image of moderation, promising a pivot to the center. The Democrat candidate for governor, in particular, declared the "culture wars" to be definitively "over," assuring voters that the party's sole focus would be on pragmatic issues like "affordability" for the middle class. A new era of common sense was supposedly dawning, with Democrats turning away from divisive social issues to tackle economic concerns.
They pinky-swore. They vowed a new commitment to the everyday Texan. Then, the election results came in: Democrats seized a majority in the Texas House, and, shockingly, swept all statewide offices, including the governorship. And just like that, the "common sense" veneer shattered. Because, of course, it did.
Texas law allows legislators and legislators-elect to pre-file bills for the upcoming legislative session, enabling them to hit the ground running when the new legislature convenes on January 12, 2027. This past Monday marked the first pre-filing day – and the first opportunity for Texans to truly see what the newly empowered Democrat-led Texas House, along with their allies in the Texas Senate, intend to do.
The short answer is stark: They despise guns, they idolize all things transgender, they are eager to facilitate the "transition" of children, they advocate for more illegal immigration, they demand vastly expanded abortion access, and they crave a much larger welfare state. So much for "no more culture wars" and "common-sense solutions for the middle class."
Consider HB 126, pre-filed by Representative Donna Howard, an Austin Democrat. A deep dive into the bill reveals a comprehensive list of existing state laws it proposes to repeal. Erin Reed, a self-proclaimed transgender activist and journalist, has helpfully outlined precisely which protections HB 126 aims to dismantle:
The abortion ban repeals in the bill are sweeping….It also targets provisions that have restricted trans youth care. The bill would repeal Subchapter X of Chapter 161, the core of SB 14, the 2023 law that bars doctors from providing puberty blockers and hormone therapy as well as surgical care to transgender youth. It would also repeal the Medicaid exclusion from SB 14.
This is the Democrat agenda, Day One: Eradicate all abortion restrictions and fully restore—with taxpayer funding—transgender medical and surgical procedures for minors. This is the new, post-culture war, common-sense era a Texas Democrat will prioritize. As Reed triumphantly concludes, this bill "would signal that Democrats are willing to make transgender youth care and the repeal of anti-trans provisions part of their messaging." And she is absolutely correct.
The assault on fundamental rights doesn't stop there. On Monday alone, the NRA identified 35 anti-gun bills pre-filed for the next legislative session. Among the most radical is SB 80, introduced by Laredo Democrat Senator Judith Zaffirini, which seeks to implement a statewide ban on so-called "assault weapons." This familiar tactic targets any "semiautomatic centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine," layering on additional conditions such as "a folding or telescoping stock" or "a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the firearm" to criminalize common firearms owned by law-abiding citizens.
Seven other bills aim to restrict firearm ownership for adults under the age of 21. One particularly aggressive example, HB 173, introduced by El Paso Democrat Representative Joe Moody, would criminalize anyone who "intentionally or knowingly sells, rents, leases, or gives" a semiautomatic rifle "that is capable of accepting a detachable magazine and that has a caliber greater than .22" to an adult below that age. Because infringing on the Second Amendment rights of young adults is apparently a "common-sense" priority.
The march to the left continues with SB 125, introduced by San Antonio Democrat Senator José Menéndez, which proposes to repeal the state's ban on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices and programs in higher education. This move would re-enshrine the divisive, woke ideologies that Texas wisely rejected, pushing critical race theory and identity politics back into the heart of academic institutions.
The list goes on: plans for Medicaid expansion and the repeal of the vital Texas law requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE, effectively allowing them to terminate crucial agreements that protect our border and communities. These are the "common-sense centrists" Texas Democrats were just weeks ago, right up until the morning of November 4. Texans, and indeed all Americans, should consider this blatant reversal a stark preview of the national political environment we can expect in the coming year.
A staggering 1,262 bills were pre-filed on Monday alone, and pre-filing in the Texas legislature will continue right up through the start of the January session. The battle lines are drawn, and the true agenda of the radical left is now undeniable, laid bare for all to see. It is a direct assault on American values, individual liberties, and the common sense that defines our nation.
