It was unclear how Texans, many of whom regard the decision on mask-wearing to be a matter of personal choice, would react to the order. Masks have been required in many
Democratic leaders largely praised the order. “Governor Abbott did the right thing in this instance,” said Armando Walle, a state representative from Houston, the Texas city hardest hit by the pandemic.
But a number of Republicans, already angered by Mr. Abbott’s move to once again close bars, were upset by the order and the possibility of fines. Some legislators complained that Mr. Abbott had made his decision behind closed doors and had not called the Legislature back into session.
“We need a special session now so legislators can pass laws, not Abbott,” State Representative Tony Tinderholt, a Republican from Arlington, wrote on Twitter.
The governor is in a tough spot,” said Reb Wayne, a Republican political consultant in Austin. “He’s trying to balance the public health and general welfare of the state versus some of the voices within his own political constituency who are not happy.”
He said pressure against imposing the face mask mandate came from what he described as the “libertarian” wing of the Republican Party, which has seen mask-wearing requirements as an assault on personal freedoms. “They were already clamoring prior to this order today,” he said. “He clearly did not do this lightly.”
Lina Hidalgo, the top executive in Harris County, which includes Houston, said in a statement that she welcomed the governor’s move. Ms. Hidalgo had attempted in April to adopt a general requirement for mask-wearing in her county — not just in businesses — that would be enforceable with a fine. But the governor had pre-empted her, and other local officials, from taking such actions.