A crisis is brewing within the Texas Republican Party, as former state House Speaker Dade Phelan expressed deep concerns about the party’s direction and voter engagement ahead of the upcoming elections. Addressing reporters in Dallas, Phelan stated that Republican candidates across the state are “freaking out” over the party’s current trajectory.

Phelan, who played a pivotal role in the passage of some of Texas’s most conservative legislation during his two terms as Speaker, condemned the national Republican Party for failing to resonate with a shifting electorate. He pinpointed recent controversies, particularly surrounding the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton, as exacerbating fractures within the party.

In his remarks, reported by Texas Monthly, Phelan lamented that while the party pours over $330 million into advertising efforts focused on issues like transgender participation in sports, such topics are simply not compelling to most voters. “No one cares about the few dozen transgender people in sports,” he said, “They just want cheap gas.”

Phelan, who attended the recent Texas-Oklahoma football game—a prime event for Republican fundraising—was struck by the palpable anxiety among party members. “It’s real. People are freaking out. You see it in their faces,” he observed, pointing out a level of concern he had never witnessed before.

The former Speaker further analyzed the shifting demographics in Texas, noting a decline in support among Hispanic voters. He remarked, “They were with us last cycle, and they’re not with us this cycle. We’re just not paying attention to the issues that matter.”

Criticism of the party’s messaging strategy has reached a boiling point. Phelan argued that advertisements spending up to $100 million have failed to “move the needle” in the Senate race, highlighting a disconnect between Republican priorities and voter concerns.

“When they hear stuff about boys in girls’ sports, they don’t even know what you’re talking about,” he explained, noting that for many swing voters, these issues are far removed from their everyday realities.

Phelan’s frustrations don’t stop at national messaging. He warned that local Republicans are also lagging. He assessed that as many as ten Republican-held House seats could be at risk in this election cycle, a stark indication of the party’s declining grip on suburban voters.

“People say eight Republican seats are at risk. I could see ten,” he stated, acknowledging the difficulty in rallying support in key areas like Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and San Antonio. “You can’t spend enough money to keep up,” he declared.

With looming elections, Phelan criticized his party’s reluctance to address pressing concerns such as healthcare costs. “Texas is becoming a battleground state,” he warned, indicating that voters are increasingly focused on issues that directly impact their lives rather than ideological battles from years past.

Even as he declines to support Ken Paxton, facing his own political challenges, Phelan remains firm in his commitment to the Republican Party, albeit with caveats. He noted that while he has never voted for a Democrat, he cannot bring himself to support Paxton, citing concerns over his integrity.

“There’s not a world in which I can vote for a Ken Paxton,” Phelan stated bluntly, emphasizing the need for a change in leadership that reflects the evolving priorities of the electorate.

This internal strife within the Texas GOP mirrors a larger national trend, where many traditional Republican strongholds are grappling with shifting demographics and voter expectations. As the party gears up for critical elections, the pressing question remains whether it can adapt in time to retain its influence.

Phelan’s insights serve as a stark warning for Texas Republicans: failing to listen to constituents could have dire consequences. With the electorate evolving and critical issues at stake, there is a fine line between maintaining party ideals and addressing the urgent needs of everyday voters.

The stakes are high as Texas Republicans prepare for what could be a pivotal election cycle. Whether they can recalibrate their message and reclaim the trust of voters remains to be seen, but the countdown to the polls has begun.