Commentary: Lone Star state’s biggest political losers in 2021

In many respects the Lone Star state lost big-time in 2021. The Houston Astros lost the World Series. Austin’s first major professional soccer team lost most of its games. And in deference to my daughter I won’t discuss University of Texas football.

Last February, millions of Texans lost power and water when a winter storm froze power plants and fuel-supply equipment and nearly collapsed the state’s electric grid. More than 200 people died. One study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas estimated the storm cost the Texas economy as much as $130 billion. Another study estimated $195 billion.

Meanwhile, about 75,000 Texans have died of COVID-19, nearly 50,000 of them in 2021. Many deaths were preventable, as state officials, led by Gov. Greg Abbott, fought mask and vaccine mandates that would have reduced COVID-19’s spread. While we can’t pin the sports losses on state leaders, there’s good chance that billions of dollars and thousands of lives might have been saved had Abbott and others given priority to protecting citizens. To that end – and thanks to friends who offered suggestions – here are my selections for the state’s 2021 biggest political losers.

Receiving “horrible” mention are U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler; Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; and General Land Office Commissioner George P. Bush.

Gohmert, well-known for his foot-in-mouth disease, has been a leading proponent of Donald Trump’s big lie that voter fraud cost Trump the election. Gohmert defended Jan. 6 rioters at the U.S. Capitol and suggested that federal agents were behind the attack. He has denied reports that his office participated in planning meetings with protest organizers.

Patrick, who rivals Gohmert in saying stupid stuff, drew ridicule this year for suggesting unvaccinated African Americans were responsible for a COVID-19 surge. Patrick has played a key continuing role in dragging Texas dangerously to the extreme right, especially in 2021.

Bush took his credibility to a new low by groveling unsuccessfully for Trump’s endorsement for Texas attorney general, despite Trump’s verbal attacks on Bush’s father (Jeb) and uncle (George W.). His office also bungled federal funds this year for Hurricane Harvey relief by initially omitting funding for Houston and Harris County, Democratic strongholds that endured most of the damage from the 2017 hurricane. When criticized, Bush tried to blame the Biden administration, which had nothing to do with the funding allocation.

In third place is Sen. Ted Cruz, who faced well-deserved scorn when he fled to Cancun, Mexico, during the February killer freeze. Cruz, who became one of Trump’s biggest enablers, drew scorn again recently when he attacked Sesame Street’s Big Bird for promoting “propaganda” after the beloved kiddie character announced getting a COVID-19 vaccination to keep himself and others healthy.

Second place losers are those Texas legislators, nearly all Republicans, who voted for a bunch of repressive, meanspirited, scary, and some possibly unconstitutional, bills during the 2021 regular and special legislative sessions. These included legislation that will severely restrict abortion rights; suppress voting rights, especially for people of color; restrict transgender student athletes; make many political districts even more gerrymandered to favor state Republicans; and allow Texans to carry a gun without a permit. Meanwhile, they failed to pass meaningful reform of the electric system or to expand Medicaid, which would have made 1.5 million more Texans eligible for health coverage.