Gov. rescinded his endorsement of state Rep. on Tuesday after the Sugar Land Republican said he was facing primary challengers because they are 鈥淎sian.鈥�
鈥淩epresentative Miller鈥檚 comments are inappropriate and out of touch with the values of the Republican Party. In light of Rep. Miller鈥檚 comments, the governor is withdrawing his endorsement,鈥� Abbott spokesman John Wittman told The Texas Tribune.
Abbott endorsed Miller for another term on Oct. 15, calling him a 鈥渟trong, principled conservative who has represented the people of Fort Bend County with integrity.鈥� The governor has backed all but a few House Republicans for reelection at this point.
By late Tuesday morning, a page featuring Abbott鈥檚 endorsement of Miller had disappeared from the governor鈥檚 campaign website.
In an interview with , Miller said that two of his Republican opponents 鈥� former Fort Bend GOP Chairman Jacey Jetton and Houston Fire Department analyst Leonard Chan 鈥� likely joined the race because they're Asian in a district with a sizable Asian population.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a Korean. He has decided because, because he is an Asian that my district might need an Asian to win. And that鈥檚 kind of racist in my mind, but anyway, that's not necessary, at least not yet,鈥� Miller said of Jetton.
Chan 鈥渏umped in probably for the same reason,鈥� Miller told the Chronicle. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know, I never met the guy. I have no idea who he is. He has not been around Republican channels at all, but he鈥檚 an Asian.鈥�
Miller鈥檚 district includes most of Fort Bend County, one of America鈥檚 : 20% of its residents are Asian, 20% are black, 24% are Hispanic and 34% are white. Hillary Clinton in 2016. According to the latest Census estimates, the citizen voting-age population for Asians in Miller鈥檚 district grew from 22% in 2010 to 24% in 2015.
In separate interviews with the Tribune, both Chan and Jetton said they were disappointed by Miller鈥檚 comments.
鈥淚鈥檝e stood by why I'm running and I鈥檝e never run as an Asian or a Korean or anything other than another conservative Texan wanting to do good for the state,鈥� Jetton said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know where he decided to come up with these comments, but it鈥檚 unfortunate.鈥�
Chan, who previously interned for NATO Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchinson and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, said he was 鈥渃aught off guard鈥� by Miller鈥檚 comments.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about qualifications, merit and ideas,鈥� Chan said. 鈥淵ou shouldn鈥檛 treat each demographic group as a group to try and capture at the ballot box.鈥�
Both Chan and Jetton said Miller hasn鈥檛 reached out to apologize for his remarks.
Miller鈥檚 comments could hurt Republicans, who are often critical of so-called identity politics, said Anthony Nguyen, the president of the Texas Asian Republican Assembly.
鈥淯sually that鈥檚 something that Democrats say. 鈥極h, vote for me because I鈥檓 a woman. Vote for me because I鈥檓 black. Vote for me because I鈥檓 some identity that they subscribe,鈥欌�� Nguyen said.
鈥淐onservatives typically don鈥檛 like to do that, but if that鈥檚 how [Miller is] seeing it, then I guess everybody has their own opinions,鈥� he said.
Miller hasn鈥檛 faced a primary challenger since 2012, but faced three challenges this year from Chan, Jetton and insurance agent Matt Morgan. Miller was not immediately available for comment on Abbott鈥檚 statement, but previously told the Tribune he was in Dallas for a 鈥渟pecial event honoring our work for foster children.鈥�
Democrats are also targeting the seat after Miller won reelection last year by nearly 5 points and Beto O鈥橰ourke, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, carried it by 2 points. Four Democrats have filed for the seat in 2020: Lawrence Allen Jr., a member of the State Board of Education; L. Sarah DeMerchant, the 2018 nominee against Miller; Rish Oberoi, a development consultant; and Suleman Lalani, a physician.
鈥淭exas Republicans again are showing off their true colors,鈥� said Abhi Rahman, a spokesman for the Texas Democratic Party. 鈥淔rom Dennis Bonnen to Rick Miller to the dirty tricks seen in the leaked Texas GOP playbook, voters are getting a firsthand look at what Texas Republicans look like behind closed doors and out in the open.鈥�
The Texas Tribune provided this story.
