The 38 men and women elected to serve as electors representing the State of Texas are pledged to vote the will of the state in the upcoming Electoral College election.
Despite reports that Texas electors are being “pressured” by some to cast their vote for Hillary Clinton, it is extremely likely that all 38 Texas votes will be cast for Donald J. Trump and Mike Pence for President and Vice-President of the United States.
Electors are selected by the delegates to the Republican and Democratic state party conventions in the summer leading up to a presidential convention. Following their election, Republican electors agree to sign an affidavit committing to vote for the party’s nominee if that nominee carries the statewide vote for president/vice-president.
“All of the electors signed the affidavit,” Republican Party of Texas spokesman Michael Joyce told Breitbart Texas via an email response. He said the electors cast their votes individually for the nominee during a December meeting of the Texas caucus in the Texas House of Representatives Chamber.
An Elector who does not vote for the nominee they are pledged to support is referred to as a “faithless Elector.”
Breitbart Texas reached out to the Texas Attorney General’s office for clarification if there is any legal consequence to an elector not honoring the affidavit and acting as a “faithless Elector.”
“They are bound by affidavit to vote for the candidate who won the state,” Texas AG Spokesman Marc Rylander responded. “There is no state law that binds them in this process; however, the electors are long-term party activists who historically hold the line.”
Rylander said it is extremely unlikely that Texas’ 38 electors would split their vote. “Since only Republican electors are eligible to vote, since Donald Trump won Texas, it would be unlikely a vote would split.”
One party official who wished to remain anonymous told Breitbart Texas that a “faithless Elector” would become a political pariah.
At least one Texas Elector is being pressured to cast a vote for Hillary Clinton, according to an NBCDFW report. Alex Kim was elected by the delegation for the 24th Congressional District at the state’s Republican convention last summer.
“At first everyone was kinda enchanted by it,” Kim told the Dallas NBC affiliate. “Now all the electors are starting to get beaten down. There are some electors who have been threatened with harm or with death.”
“When people ask me to vote for Hillary Clinton, there’s no way,” he explained. “I reject the Democratic Party principles and I reject Hillary Clinton.”
Kim said he responds to those asking him to change in vote by following the example set by Texas legend Davy Crockett.
“You may all go to hell, and I shall go to Texas,” Kim stated.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.
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