Rick Perry jokes being a RINO is ‘sexy’ while campaigning for Texas House speaker

Rick Perry kind of thinks the term “RINO” — Republican in name only, that is — is “sexy.” The former Texas governor, stumping for House Speaker Dade Phelan in his Southeast Texas district last week, made light of recent accusations that he, Phelan and several other Republicans are actually RINOs. “I think it’s kind of sexy, frankly,” Perry told a crowd of roughly 400 people, putting his hand on his head to mimic a rhino’s horn. “When you think about it … it’s one of the baddest boys on the block, right?” Attendees laughed in response — but then the former governor, who also served as energy secretary under former President Donald Trump, turned serious. “Dade Phelan is no more a RINO than Rick Perry,” he said.

Most Republicans bristle at the smear that is increasingly being weaponized against elected members of the state’s deeply divided GOP. Perry jokingly embraced it as he makes campaign stops across the state this election cycle to boost several House Republicans facing difficult reelection campaigns because of their votes to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton last year. Phelan, the Beaumont Republican who has led the lower chamber through two sessions, is Paxton’s No. 1 target. Early voting started Tuesday for the March 5 primary. Perry also has campaigned for state Rep. Jacey Jetton of Richmond, appeared in video ads supporting Rep. Stan Gerdes of Lockhart and endorsed Rep. Jeff Leach of Plano, among others. Perry has tried to present himself as a voice of reason during an especially tense primary season. Separately, Gov. Greg Abbott also is targeting some Republicans because they oppose his priority private school voucher plan. Perry supports private school vouchers.