Former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus confirmed this week that he cast his 2020 presidential vote for Democrat Joe Biden.
Straus told The Texas Tribune’s Evan Smith in a podcast this week that he voted for Biden last year. Straus, a San Antonio Republican, told Smith he was concerned about former President Donald Trump’s tone, leading him to cast a ballot for the Democratic ticket.
“I think character matters and I was really alarmed at the rhetoric and the behavior of our nation’s leader,” Straus said. “I think he was hurting our reputation abroad and I don’t think he was really ever qualified to be president.”
Straus led the Texas House from 2009 until 2019, handing off the reigns to his successor, Dennis Bonnen at the start of the 86th Legislative Session. Straus has now been rumored as a possible candidate for office in a future statewide election, but has not confirmed his plans, one way or another.