Most Liberal Republican Senator Not Seeking Re-election

Sen. Robert Nichols was highlighted heavily in media for his liberal record.

Following intense scrutiny by The Dallas Express and a survey highlighting his liberal ideology, Texas State Senator Robert Nichols announced yesterday that he would not seek re-election for SD3.

According to a recent ideological ranking from The Texas Tribune, Nichols ranked as the least conservative of his republican colleagues right behind Senator Angela Paxton.

TexasTribune.org

Days before announcing he would not seek re-election, the Dallas Express published multiple articles highlighting Nichols' voting record, labeling him 'The Texas Senate’s Top RINO.'"

The Dallas Express:

Sen. Robert Nichols (R–Jacksonville) has once again claimed the title of least “conservative” Republican in the Texas Senate, according to a new ideological ranking published by Rice University’s Baker Institute and featured in The Texas Tribune.

Regarding SB 19, a bill authored by Sen. Mayes Middleton to prohibit taxpayer-funded lobbying, Nichols introduced an amendment that effectively undermined it.

Nichols introduced a key amendment that significantly watered down the bill. According to Texas Policy Research, Nichols’ amendment:

-Exempted nonprofit associations (like TASB) from the prohibition

-Allowed taxpayer funds to continue supporting those associations

-Permitted full-time non-registered association staff to lobby lawmakers

The amendment passed 15–13, with Nichols siding with every Senate Democrat and several moderate Republicans. SB 19 ultimately passed—in name only.

Responses on X to Nichols' announcement were mostly from those celebrating his decision not to seek re-election:

Senate District 3 now has two candidates for the position; Rep. Trent Ashby and State Republican Executive Committee member Rhonda Ward.