Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has withdrawn his endorsement of Republican state House candidate David Flores after footage of the candidate’s February DWI arrest began circulating online.
Flores is running against Texas Democratic Rep. Mary Ann Perez in House District 144, which includes parts of Pasadena and eastern Harris County. The district represents a potential Republican pickup after voting for Donald Trump in 2024.
According to the Houston Chronicle, police stopped Flores for speeding on February 14. Authorities said his blood-alcohol level was 0.11%. Flores pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving while intoxicated in June and received probation.
The arrest footage appears to show Flores mentioning his political connections while speaking with officers. He claimed Abbott had endorsed him and described Republican state Rep. Briscoe Cain as a “good buddy.” Flores could also allegedly be heard using a racial slur.
Abbott’s campaign withdrew its endorsement after the footage became public, saying there was no place for that language or behavior.
Texans React
Texas political reporter Scott Braddock highlighted the controversy in an X post, writing, “That whole ‘turning Harris County red’ thing isn’t going great, huh?”
Ordinary users reacting beneath coverage of the scandal were not especially sympathetic. One person simply responded, “Bahahahaaaaa!!!”
Another asked why Abbott hadn’t withdrawn his support from another controversial political figure: “But not Bo French?” Former Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson raised the same issue, questioning whether Flores’ drinking was what separated his situation from French’s.
Perez said politicians should not treat public office as a shield against accountability. Her statement emphasized that candidates asking for voters’ trust must accept responsibility and meet the standards they demand of others.
For Abbott, the controversy comes as Republicans invest heavily in Harris County races. Instead of helping turn the region red, Flores’ arrest video has handed Texas Democrats a ready-made argument about judgment, accountability, and the candidates Republicans choose to support.
