GOP Politicians Who Oppose Mask, Vaccine Mandates Test Positive For COVID-19

KEY POINTS

Gov. Abbott had previously banned school districts from requiring masks
Sen. Jacque said he was hospitalized for pneumonia
Rep. Kidwell had sponsored a bill barring Gov. Cooper from requiring COVID-19 vaccination

Several Republican politicians who opposed mask and vaccine mandates have tested positive for COVID-19.

Gov. Greg Abbott, R-TX, tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Tuesday. The governor, who has been fully vaccinated against the virus, is not experiencing any symptoms, his office said in a statement.

"Governor Greg Abbott today tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The Governor has been testing daily, and today was the first positive test result," the statement read. "The Governor will isolate in the Governor's Mansion and continue to test daily. Governor Abbott is receiving Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment."

Abbott had previously issued an executive order banning school districts from imposing mask requirements. He also lifted COVID-19 restrictions, such as the mask mandate, in March despite opposition from the state’s public health officials.

The Texas Republican is now the latest in a group of GOP politicians who have been infected with the virus.

On Monday evening, Sen. Andre Jaque, R-WI, revealed that he and several family members had tested positive for COVID-19 last week. He also added that he had been hospitalized with pneumonia.

"I do not know when I contracted COVID, but some of my family and I did test positive for it at the end of last week after I came home from Madison," Sen. Jacque said in a text message to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Jacque had attended two committee hearings on Aug. 11 where he spoke without wearing a mask during at least one of the packed hearings.

Rep. Keith Kidwell, R-NC, on Tuesday also revealed that he and his wife, Viki, had tested positive for COVID-19. In a Facebook post updated Thursday, Kidwell called for prayers for his wife who was admitted to Beaufort Hospital.

"Thursday morning. They’ve been able to lower her oxygen a little. She was complaining about the food today, so I guess that means she’s improving. Please continue to pray for her," he posted, according to WITN.

Kidwell has been a vocal opponent of mask-wearing and COVID-19 vaccines. He had previously said he refused to wear a mask during a 2020 House floor debate. He has also sponsored a bill that would ban Gov. Roy Cooper, D-NC, from imposing vaccine mandates.