El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser loses Texas Democratic Party endorsement

Following his tie-breaking vote to kill a proposal to make abortion investigations a low-level priority for city police, El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser has lost the Texas Democratic Party 2020 endorsement.

In a letter to the mayor sent last week, Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa expressed “deep disappointment” over the mayor’s decision to “refuse to direct the law enforcement authorities in the city of El Paso to not prosecute, arrest or investigate women in (El Paso) who exercise their constitutional right to make decisions regarding bodily autonomy.”

Hinojosa, who became party chair in 2012, defeated two challengers this weekend and was reelected chairman during the party's state convention in Dallas.

Hinojosa told Leeser in the letter that "I would have hoped that you would have understood that a woman should never fear that there are criminal consequences" when it comes to making reproductive rights decisions.

“I was wrong and that pains me, especially because, when asked, I agreed to provide you with my endorsement in your election for mayor of El Paso two years ago," he said. "I must now rescind my endorsement.”

The endorsement was issued during Leeser's campaign against former Mayor Dee Margo. It was featured in a full-page advertisement published on Leeser's behalf a few days before the Dec. 12, 2020 mayoral runoff election.

In a brief statement, Leeser stated he stood by his vote and asserted that the endorsement did not require him to vote a certain way on city matters. El Paso City Council elections are nonpartisan.

“The office of the mayor is a non-partisan office and I was sworn to represent 100 (percent) of our constituents, not any particular group,” Leeser said in the statement. “Chairman Hinojosa did not reach out to me to discuss this issue. While it is always nice to receive an endorsement, an endorsement should not obligate any individual to vote a particular way. El Paso is bound by federal and Texas law and my vote reflected that.”

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'I no longer support your tenure as mayor of El Paso'

Leeser joined four other council members in voting down the law enforcement measure, which came in response to a Texas law that allowed citizens to report women seeking or acquiring an abortion – such a directive took on even more priority for Democrats following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning the longstanding Roe v. Wade ruling.

Former El Paso County Democratic Party Chair Dora Oaxaca, who petitioned the state party to rescind Leeser’s endorsement, was part of the packed crowd that was on hand the day the council voted down the proposal.

“I think the reaction that I had, along with the other young women that were there, was beyond shocked,” Oaxaca said. “We were outraged because I don’t think a man should inject his personal feelings into casting a policy-making decision.”

Leeser’s actions fundamentally diverged from the Democratic Party platform and she praised Hinojosa’s decision to rescind his endorsement, she said.

“(Leeser’s vote) contradicts completely the belief system, the values, the platform that we hold as a priority for women’s rights under the Democratic Party,” Oaxaca said. “(Chair Hinojosa) acted accordingly and I am very grateful to him. To me, he did what needed to be done with what was within his jurisdiction as the chair.”

Hinojosa acknowledged that the party's actions now will not impact Leeser's current term as mayor "and perhaps many will think it is meaningless.

"But, to me, it is important that you know that, given the decision that you made on this critical and fundamental issue regarding a woman’s freedom, I no longer support your tenure as mayor of El Paso.”

A December 2020 political ad for Leeser, in part, stated: "The Texas Democratic Party proudly endorses Oscar Leeser to return as the next mayor of El Paso. Former Mayor Leeser has spent a lifetime of serve fighting so that every single person has a fair shot to get ahead."

Hinojosa said in the letter rescinding the endorsement that Lesser was not did required to express his personal opinion on the issue of a woman's "constitutional right to get an abortion."

"... you were asked as the mayor of El Paso to direct law enforcement personnel in the city to not prosecute women who decided, for what ever reason, to get an abortion, and you refused."

More:El Paso's state lawmakers say abortion, guns among key issues at next legislative session

Among those who voted with the mayor earlier this month was Northeast city Rep. Joe Molinar, who noted that such issues are more complicated than many appreciate.

“To me, everything is not always black and white,” Molinar said. “I stand by my vote.”

As for Hinojosa’s letter, Molinar simply noted that the Texas Democratic Party chair is “entitled to his opinion” and if he believes Leeser’s endorsement should be rescinded, “so be it.”

While the abortion issue may be far from settled — already there is talk that the issue may come up again in future council meetings — Oaxaca said the party’s move will send a clear message to future political candidates.

“Chair Hinojosa’s letter removing his endorsement of Mayor Leeser… sends a strong message to career politicians seeking the Democratic Party endorsement or seeking to run as Democrats,” Oaxaca said. “They are now on notice that they will be held accountable for following the principles of the Democratic Party.”

Adam Powell may be reached at APowell@elpasotimes.com and @apowell_journo on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser loses Texas Democratic Party endorsement