Cornyn Looses Top Republican Supporter to Democrate Noriega
Just another nail in the coffin of Senator do nothing for Texas Cornyn. Democratic challenger Rick Noriega has just gained the largest supporter of Cornyn and the Republican Party. Texas republicans are turning their backs on the Cornyn and taking a stand for what’s right.
From Capital Annex:
- One of the top Hispanic Republicans in the nation says he cannot support U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the next election because of the position Texas’ junior senator has taken on immigration reform.
- Houston businessman Massey Villarreal told the Guardian he would instead back Democrat Rick Noriega, a state representative from Houston. Noriega is exploring a campaign for the U.S. Senate.
- “I have decided to support Rick Noriega for U.S. Senate as a Democrat. I just don’t think John Cornyn hears my community,” Villarreal said.
- “I know he (Cornyn) supports some issues that affect my community but immigration reform is one of the defining positions in my community. I have got to support what is good for my community. At the end of the day, regardless of party, we have to come home to our community, where we grew up in the grassroots.”
- A native of Corpus Christi, Villarreal is one of the top Hispanic Republicans in the country. Named one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the United States by Hispanic Business Magazine in 2002, Villarreal served as chairman of the board of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly for four terms.
- In 2000, Massey was named national Hispanic vice-chairman of the Bush/Cheney for President Campaign and deputy vice-chairman of the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia in 2000. He also served on the national steering committee for the Viva Bush Campaign.
- Villarreal has been given state appointments, with then-Gov. George W. Bush naming him to the Texas State University System board and Gov. Rick Perry asking him to head up the Texas Department of Economic Development.
- His company is Precision Task Group, a Houston-based systems integration firm.
- This shows just what kind of appeal Rick Noriega has to Texans of all types. Clearly, not only Noriega’s immigration stance but the fact he actually served on the U.S.-Mexico border are resonating with a lot of people.
