During the final day of the 2026 Texas Republican Party convention in Houston, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility’s Destin Sensky sat down with Jace Yarbrough, the Republican nominee for Texas’ 32nd Congressional District. Yarbrough used the conversation to outline what he sees as three urgent threats to ordinary Texans: predatory gambling, immigration‑related fraud, and a cost‑of‑living crisis that is crushing home‑ownership dreams.
Government‑backed gambling harms families
Yarbrough called the expansion of casino and sports‑betting operations a classic case of government preference for favored industries. He explained that operators are not seeking market permission; they are asking lawmakers for a state‑granted carve‑out from Texas’ longstanding gambling prohibition. The Texas Anti‑Predatory Gambling Alliance (TAPGA), which Yarbrough supports, defines “predatory gambling” as corporate interests teaming with government to exploit citizens.
According to Yarbrough, legalization brings hidden costs: increased law‑enforcement expenses, regulatory overhead, and social‑service burdens for addiction and poverty. He warned that promised economic gains often fail to materialize, while local businesses are crowded out by large gambling enterprises.
Immigration programs and H‑1B visas create unfair market distortions
Turning to immigration, Yarbrough highlighted fraud in visa programs and the H‑1B system. He said foreign investors and companies receiving preferential treatment are driving up home prices, pushing the average age of first‑time homebuyers to 40. He described the H‑1B process as a government‑backed labor pipeline that forces workers to stay employed or face deportation within 60 days, giving corporations a cheap, compliant workforce.
Yarbrough argued that these preferences undermine a truly free market and hurt American workers. He called the current system “wrong” and urged reforms that prioritize American citizens for housing and employment opportunities.
Affordability and the rise of vices among young Texans
The candidate also noted a cultural shift among younger Texans. He said the “American project is failing” as marriage rates decline and a flood of dopamine‑inducing vices—online gambling, pornography, nicotine, processed foods—replace meaningful activities. Yarbrough warned that a “huge industry” is targeting young men with a “consumer‑for‑life” model reminiscent of Big Tobacco.
He praised citizen journalists and activists for exposing waste, fraud, and abuse, and urged Republicans to adopt a “happy warrior” mindset—taking the fight to the left rather than retreating into restraint.
Policy recommendations from the Trump administration
When asked what the federal government can do, Yarbrough rejected the notion that these problems are simply free‑market outcomes. He cited the Trump administration’s America‑First agenda as a model for confronting predatory practices, emphasizing that government should stop granting special privileges and let true market forces operate.
He also referenced the “DOGE effort”—a Trump‑era initiative targeting egregious waste—suggesting that Republicans pick out the most abusive programs and eliminate them one by one. While acknowledging that such steps won’t close multi‑trillion‑dollar deficits alone, Yarbrough said they are essential for restoring fiscal responsibility.
Looking ahead in District 32
Yarbrough concluded by urging voters to ask who the government is favoring and who is left paying the bill. He framed the upcoming election as a chance for Texans to support candidates who will defend families, protect the free market, and uphold an America‑First vision at home and abroad.
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, a non‑partisan educational nonprofit, funded the interview. The organization invites readers to donate and subscribe to its free weekly “Fiscal Note” newsletter.
Original reporting: Texans for Fiscal Responsibility — read the source article.
