Texas Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt, now a vocal critic of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, once played a role in approving such initiatives at a major health center.
Wesley Hunt served on the board of the Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from January 2019 to March 2021. During his tenure, he participated in votes that greenlit contracts and funding tied to DEI and gender-focused programs, as well as the hiring of individuals aligned with progressive causes. Records also show his involvement in meetings where partnerships for a jail diversion program, linked to a Soros-backed prosecutor, were approved, alongside concerns about high reoffense rates among participants.
Critics point to a disconnect between Hunt’s past actions and his current stance, sparking debate over consistency in political principles. While his campaign defends his record as a pushback against progressive overreach, questions linger about the decisions made under his watch. Let’s dig into the details and separate fact from spin.
Starting in 2019, Hunt was part of a board that unanimously passed contracts with groups like Justice System Partners (JSP), which received $151,000 in October 2019 for evaluating the jail diversion program. JSP’s own materials argue that systemic racism pervades the justice system, pushing for equity-focused reforms. This raises eyebrows given Hunt’s later rejection of such frameworks, according to the Daily Caller.
Another approval under Hunt’s tenure was a $40,000 amendment in 2019 for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Greater Houston to train staff for the same program. NAMI’s resources at the time promoted concepts like "Unlearning and Transforming Racism," linking to content critical of phrases like "All Lives Matter." For many, this signals a troubling alignment with ideological agendas.
In February 2020, Hunt was present when the board voted to add Gabriel Cazares, described in a Q&A with Equality Texas as "a queer, disabled Latinx," to an advisory council. Cazares’s background included advocacy for equity across multiple identity groups, which some see as embedding progressive priorities into public health roles. The optics here aren’t great for a conservative champion.
The Harris Center’s jail diversion program, overseen by Hunt, partnered with Kim Ogg, a district attorney backed by significant Soros funding in 2016. This initiative allowed over 6,000 offenders to avoid jail before formal charges, often with minimal oversight. Reports indicate a staggering 47% reoffense rate by 2019, with some individuals cycling through over 20 times.
One harrowing case involved a woman arrested in 2020 for drug possession, who, despite being deemed unfit for trial due to severe mental health issues, was permitted to visit her newborn. She was later charged with violently assaulting the child. Stories like this fuel arguments that the program prioritizes ideology over public safety.
Hunt’s campaign pushes back hard on the narrative, insisting he was a lone voice of reason. "During his short time on the board, Wesley Hunt was one of the only voices pushing back," a spokesman told the Daily Caller News Foundation. But with records showing unanimous votes when he was present, that claim feels like a tough sell.
Adding to the scrutiny, Hunt reportedly missed over 70% of board meetings between January 2019 and October 2020, per the Lone Star Project. Even in his absence, policies like a two-year Cultural Competency and Diversity Plan moved forward, embedding diversity training into the center’s operations. Some wonder if his sporadic attendance limited his ability to influence outcomes.
Fast forward to his time in Congress, elected in 2023 for Texas’ 38th district, and Hunt has flipped the script, blasting DEI as "discriminatory" and cheering its removal from institutions like the University of Texas in 2024. It’s a stark contrast to the votes he didn’t oppose on the Harris Center board. The pivot feels convenient to skeptics.
His campaign doubles down, framing his past as a learning moment. "That wasn’t an endorsement. It was a warning sign," the spokesman added. Yet, for constituents valuing consistency, these explanations might not fully bridge the gap.
The Harris Center’s partnerships with groups like Montrose Counseling, an LGBTQ+-focused organization listed as a key stakeholder in the 2021-22 budget, further complicate the narrative. Montrose has publicly opposed bans on certain medical procedures for minors, a hot-button issue for conservatives. This connection amplifies concerns about ideological creep in public health.
Ultimately, Hunt’s story isn’t just about one politician—it’s a microcosm of the broader tension between past actions and present rhetoric in today’s polarized landscape. While his current anti-DEI stance resonates with many on the right, the paper trail from his board days suggests a more nuanced history. Voters deserve clarity on where principle ends, and politics begins.
