People in the gallery hold signs over the House chamber floor during a legislative session Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
  1. Wisconsin Senate candidate Eric Hovde’s issues with elderly people

On April 5, Wisconsin Senate candidate Eric Hovde voiced his displeasure with nursing home residents voting during an appearance on “The Guy Benson Show.” Hovde candidly and falsely asserted that “almost nobody in a nursing home is in a point to vote.”

In wake of Hovde’s nursing home comments, it came to light through a New York Times report that not only did Hovde’s company Sunwest Bank foreclose on a nursing home in California, but the company is also being sued for wrongful death and elder abuse by a child of one of the facility’s patients.

The lawsuit reportedly stems from a series of falls suffered by the patient, who was 94 years old and suffering from dementia at the time. Hovde’s spokesperson claimed that the lawsuit has no basis, while the woman says that her mother died because of the nursing home not using proper precautions and procedure because of the foreclosure.

A recent Marquette University Law School poll also suggested Hovde is trailing his opponent Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D) by double digits in the category of voters over the age of 60, despite Republican candidates typically do well in this demographic.

  1. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) says lock up 15% of America

During an event called Fighting for Our Future on April 10, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) asserted that all crime in America is only conducted by 15% of the population. Therefore, according to Patrick, we should lock up 15% of Americans to stop crime from happening, which would be nearly 50 million people.

The 74-year-old Patrick has served as Texas’ lieutenant governor since 2015, and he plans to seek a fourth term in 2026.

  1. Minnesota state Sen. Glenn Gruenhagen (R) says sexual education turns boys into predators

During a debate on a bill to change education policy, Minnesota state Sen. Glenn Gruenhagen (R-Glencoe) contended that sexual education will turn young boys into “human sexual predators.”

Gruenhagen also falsely stated that sexual education courses contain pornography that creates addiction for children.

In addition to bizarre beliefs about sex ed, Gruenhagen is vehemently opposed to gay marriage. He is on record calling homosexuality “unhealthy.” Gruenhagen also supports a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage, and he supports conversion therapy.

  1. Oklahoma state Sen. Shane Jett (R) endorses beating disabled children

While debating a bill to restrict corporal punishment in schools against disabled children, Oklahoma state Sen. Shane Jett (R-Shawnee) opposed the bill on the grounds that every child should be physically punished in accordance with the Bible.

Jett also contended that the bill followed a “communist” agenda because it creates a “protected class” of children that can’t be physically beaten.

Jett was a legislator in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2004-2010 before running a failed campaign for the state’s fifth Congressional District seat in 2014. In 2020, Jett was elected to the Oklahoma Senate after winning 75% of the vote in his general election. Since joining the Senate, Jett had proposed bills opposing Critical Race Theory, social-emotional learning and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

  1. Tennessee GOP votes to arm teachers with firearms

Just a year after the devastating mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn., the Republican-controlled Tennessee state Legislature approved a bill to allow teachers to carry firearms on school property.

After the bill passed on party lines, the Tennessee House of Representatives descended into chaos with protesters in the gallery chanting “blood on your hands” to the GOP leaders.

The bill was signed into law by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) last Friday, who said the legislation will keep children safe.

Although teachers are required to get permission from several authorities and complete a background check if they choose to carry a gun, opponents of the bill are concerned about putting more guns inside of schools. Parents are also not entitled to know which teachers in the school are equipped with firearms.

Firearms have been the leading cause of death for children in the United States for several years.