Thread by @TexasTribune

1/ Breaking: Sen. José Rodríguez, the chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, is now a “no” vote on Texas Secretary of State David Whitley, the embattled election official who has overseen a controversial voter citizenship review. #txlege bit.ly/2V6kIz2

2/ In January, Texas loudly announced that counties should check on the citizenship of 95,000 registered voters.

Then, Texas quietly told counties that many of the voters flagged for citizenship review don't belong on that list. bit.ly/2V6kIz2 #txlege

3/ Opposition has mounted against Whitley ever since.

Today especially has been a bad day for him. bit.ly/2V6kIz2 #txlege

4/ For the second time, the Senate Nominations Committee met this week to approve the governor’s appointees.

And for the second time, the Republican-dominated committee did not call a vote on David Whitley. bit.ly/2V6kIz2 #txlege

5/ In a letter Thursday, some three dozen organizations called on the Senate’s minority party to reject Whitley. bit.ly/2V6kIz2

6/ Now, he's gained a significant and new public adversary: the leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus. #txlege bit.ly/2V6kIz2

7/ "Only in extreme circumstances would I not defer to the Governor's choices. In this case, however, the damage has been done. Many Texans mistakenly believe evidence of voter fraud has been found. Many now fear to vote, even though they are eligible." bit.ly/2V6kIz2

8/ Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are expected to back Whitley’s nomination, but that may not be enough to push him through.

And they don't sound all that enthused. bit.ly/2V6kIz2

9/ State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, the Houston Republican who chairs the Senate’s GOP caucus and often whips votes for party priorities, said recently “the governor’s office is directly responsible” for shepherding the nomination through the Senate. bit.ly/2V6kIz2

10/10 And Sen. Jane Nelson, another key GOP voice, told the Dallas Morning News this week that “I don’t know” if Whitley will be the next secretary of state.

“I think we would have voted on him if he was going to be.” bit.ly/2V6kIz2