State Representative John Bucy III

Greg Abbott tried to kick me out of office for breaking quorum.

Today, the Texas Supreme Court told him that’s not allowed.

I will never let the governor bully me out of doing what’s right for Texas. When democracy is on the line, I will always fight back.

James Broadnax was just executed by the people of Texas even though another man confessed to the killings and DNA evidence makes it clear he was not the shooter. The crime was heinous. This ex*****on was too.

There was never any evidence James was the shooter other than a confession made to the press without a lawyer present, while high on hallucinogenics, and with the false hope that doing so would spare his cousin, Demarius Cummings, who had a violent criminal record, from the death penalty.

Cummings has since admitted that he planned the robbery, he obtained the gun, and he shot the two victims. DNA evidence from the murder weapon and one of the victims corroborates this new confession. But the courts, the district attorney, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, and the Governor all refused to fully review this new evidence before allowing the ex*****on to proceed.

James Broadnax participated in a robbery and deserved to be punished for that. He did not deserve to be executed for a crime he did not commit.

Broadnax used his final statement to ask for the families to forgive him and say:

“But no matter what you think of me, Texas got it wrong.”

Texas is going to execute James Broadnax next week for a murder someone else confessed to.

DNA found on the murder weapon belonged solely to his co-defendant, Demarius Cummings, not James. But James was tried and convicted as the principal actor.

Now, a sworn confession from Cummings, stating he was the shooter, corroborates that clear-cut physical evidence and casts grave doubt on the fairness of James’ sentence.

James received a biased, racially charged trial, with all prospective black jurors struck from consideration before one was restored because the judge was concerned about the optics. In fact, an original juror submitted a letter stating that she would not have sentenced James to death in light of this confession.

James Broadnax committed a robbery and should be punished for that. He should not be executed for a shooting he did not commit. The people of Texas deserve fair justice for all. To execute James would be the opposite of that.

I am calling on the Board of Pardons and Paroles and the State of Texas to intervene, stay this ex*****on, and make the punishment fit the crime.

I was honored to receive the Catalyst Award from The Arc of the Capital Area for our work last session supporting Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

This recognition belongs to the advocates and families who showed up and made change possible.

Grateful to be in this fight with you, and we’re not done yet.

The $1 billion investment from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation towards a new UT Austin medical center is a major win for North Austin.

The groundbreaking research and innovative medical care produced by this campus will redefine the future of our community.

This is how we build a stronger, healthier Texas.