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The only two Republican senators to vote for articles of impeachment against Attorney General Ken Paxton — Robert Nichols of Jacksonville and Kelly Hancock of North Richland Hills — are different brands of Texas conservative.
According to their voting records this past legislative session, Nichols is one of the least conservative Republicans in the state Senate, while only three senators had a more conservative voting history than Hancock, a Texas Tribune analysis found.
However, Saturday brought about a surprising unity as they both defied their party in the Senate and cast their votes in favor of all 13 impeachment articles that would result in Paxton’s removal from office.
Hancock emphasized that his votes were given with careful consideration.
Hancock stated that he had a constitutional duty to uncover the truth by considering the facts presented through witness testimonies and all evidence submitted. He asserted that his vote on each article was a result of fulfilling this responsibility.
In a statement released on Monday, Nichols finally spoke up, expressing his belief in the credibility of the witness testimony and evidence presented. He also commended the whistleblowers who testified, acknowledging their outstanding bravery in reporting the witnessed violations of the law.
Nichols stated that the collective testimony of the individuals, along with the entirety of the evidence put forth by the House Board of Managers, convinced him with undeniable certainty that the Attorney General’s conduct was in violation of Texas law and his sworn duty. Nichols emphasized that his obligation was to impartially render a verdict solely based on the evidence presented, without any influence from political motives or doubts. He affirmed his commitment to consistently vote in favor of what he believes to be just and righteous.
However, according to seasoned Texas politicians, the votes cast by these two lawmakers did not come as a complete surprise.
“They’re principled individuals, and they weren’t going to be bullied,” former state Sen. Kel Seliger told The Texas Tribune.
Bill Miller, a seasoned Austin lobbyist, expressed his lack of surprise when Nichols deviated from his party and voted to convict, as he had always anticipated Nichols to do so.
According to Miller, once he has decided on something, there is no point in discussing alternative viewpoints with him. He simply has that kind of personality.
Nichols, who secured his position representing East Texas after being elected in 2006, has consistently maintained a strong presence in his district. In the previous year, he triumphed in the reelection race with an impressive 80% of the vote and encountered no opposition during the primary. The only instance when he faced a primary opponent was back in 2012, wherein he defeated the Tea Party-inspired candidate by a significant margin of 50 percentage points.
Hancock, who hails from the Fort Worth suburbs, held office in the Texas House from 2007 to 2013 before transitioning to the Senate. In his most recent reelection campaign, he encountered no primary opposition and emerged victorious in the general election, securing 60% of the total votes cast.
There is no public information available regarding the reelection plans of Nichols and Hancock who are set to face the next election in 2026.
Miller revealed that it is widely known that Nichols has no intention of seeking reelection, despite the fact that the senator has not made a public statement regarding this matter.
He stated that elected officials who are not seeking approval from voters again experience a distinct sense of freedom.
Nichols has broken from his party before on a variety of issues.
He was the first Republican to say he would vote for a rape exception to the state’s new abortion law. He wouldn’t go along with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s attempts to make it harder for the minority party to break quorum after Democrats left Texas for Washington, D.C. to prevent legislation from passing. And he was the only Republican in the Senate who voted against Senate Bill 8, Patrick’s bill to create education savings accounts that parents could use to pay for private school.
According to political experts, Nichols has successfully avoided the typical pushback faced by Republicans who defy their party in the Texas Senate.
Earlier this year, Mark Owens, a political scientist and former professor at the University of Texas at Tyler, stated that there is currently a lack of focus on this matter. Owens also mentioned that the substantial number of years he has served contribute to his influence, making him an influential figure.
Hancock has also pushed back against political trends in his party, though he paid a price.
Hancock declined to support Patrick’s initiative in 2021, which aimed to compel energy companies to reimburse $16 billion incurred from electricity charges during the statewide power outages in February of that same year.
Hancock agreed with House leaders and Gov. Greg Abbott who feared the move would create chaos within global energy markets.
Hancock was relieved of his leadership role in the Senate Business and Commerce Committee by Patrick, who then assigned him the responsibility of overseeing the Veterans and Border Security Committee, a position of lesser influence. Additionally, border security was excluded from the jurisdiction of that committee, a decision widely interpreted as a disciplinary measure against Hancock.
“[He] experienced unjustifiable mistreatment,” Seliger said. “Consequently, he possesses a unique understanding of the consequences that arise from challenging the popular opinion.”
Seliger, a moderate Republican hailing from Amarillo, has experienced firsthand the consequences of incurring the anger of an enraged Patrick. In 2017, Seliger voted against two bills that were considered top priorities by the lieutenant governor, resulting in Patrick’s wrath being directed towards him. Subsequently, during the following session, Seliger was stripped of his position as the chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee. In 2021, when the districts were redrawn, Seliger’s home base saw a decline in population while Midland, the residence of one of his primary challengers, witnessed an increase. As a result, Seliger opted not to seek reelection after the 2021 session.
According to Seliger, the two lawmakers should anticipate facing a negative response.
He stated that there would be resistance and allegations of being RINOs and other negative, thoughtless comments. However, he emphasized that adhering to one’s principles means making decisions based on what one believes is right, irrespective of such criticisms.
Social media was flooded with responses following Paxton’s acquittal, and amidst this, photos of the two lawmakers were shared by far-right conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan.
“Joining the #TxLege Senate Democrat caucus as honorary members are Kelly Hancock and Robert Nichols,” he wrote. “The ‘R’ next to their names stands for ‘reprobate.’”
Following the votes on Saturday, Hancock hastily left the Capitol, having switched his attire from a suit to a white golf shirt, in order to visit his recently born grandchild.
When questioned about his votes, Hancock stated that he didn’t take sides but chose not to provide any additional comments.
Monday marked the initial occasion when Nichols addressed the trial.
However, the Senate, including him, may soon reconvene at the Capitol as Abbott is anticipated to convene a special session for the purpose of enacting school voucher legislation. This is yet another matter where Nichols has diverged from the party leadership.
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