National support for the death penalty is at an all-time low, with younger adults from both major political parties increasingly opposing capital punishment. Yet in Texas’ execution chamber, the pace of lethal injections continues unabated. This persistence comes even as some condemned Texans—including Melissa Lucio and Robert Roberson—have had their high-profile executions halted with only days or hours to spare.
Recent outcry against the state’s death penalty has emerged from both sides of the political aisle. On the day of Roberson’s scheduled execution last year, a bipartisan group of legislators made the unprecedented move to subpoena him for a public hearing scheduled after he was supposed to have died. This successful effort helped forestall the execution so courts could review his claims of innocence. (On October 9 this year, Roberson’s execution was stayed by the state’s top criminal court, a week before his scheduled death.)
Nan Tolson, former chief spokesperson for Governor Greg Abbott, now leads the Texas chapter of the national network Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty. She sees the punishment as rife with problems—from political and faith perspectives to its ineffectiveness as a public safety tool.
Since founding Texas’ Lone Star State affiliate in 2023 as part of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Tolson and her organization have engaged with thousands of Republicans statewide. She describes creating a “safe space for conservatives to talk to like-minded people about the death penalty,” which has brought hundreds into the movement against capital punishment.
Tolson, 30, was recognized in 2024 with a “40 Under 40” fellowship by the Texas Federation of Republican Women for her activism. In mid-September, the Texas Observer spoke with her about the conservative argument against the death penalty, how Texas’ top Republicans think about the issue, and the powerful idea of redemption.
**Texas Observer (TO): You’re a notable young voice in Texas conservatism. Have you gotten pushback from other Republicans for your views on the death penalty?**
**Nan Tolson (NT):** I would say so. There’s pushback on all sides when it comes to the death penalty, which is something I was prepared for. It’s a controversial and emotional topic. But I’ve actually received more positive reception and curiosity from Republicans than opposition. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the number of people who are genuinely interested in what we’re doing and want to learn more, even if they don’t fully agree. The death penalty is an issue many people across political parties are on the fence about.
**TO: What made you realize you were firmly against it?**
**NT:** When I was a freshman at Baylor, we had a guest speaker named Shane Claiborne who came to chapel one morning and essentially laid out an elevator pitch on why Christians should oppose the death penalty. I had never heard that argument before. It totally changed my mind in that moment.
**TO: Have you noticed any change when high-profile cases like Melissa Lucio’s and Robert Roberson’s are in the news?**
**NT:** Definitely. We’ve seen a large number of Republicans supporting Robert Roberson. The Texas Young Republicans Federation signed onto a letter asking for a new trial. There are very prominent Republicans in the Legislature who support him. And when we speak to different conservative groups across Texas, often before we even mention his case, people ask, “What’s the status with Robert Roberson’s case? I can’t believe this is happening. This has made me question the death penalty.”
**TO: Would you say the execution of innocent people is a significant problem in Texas?**
**NT:** Absolutely. When we talk to conservatives who oppose or question the death penalty, the most common concern is wrongful executions. The data backs this up—there is strong evidence that Texas has executed at least seven innocent people. As conservatives, we recognize that the government will not get it right every time.
**TO: Why do you think opposition to the death penalty can be bipartisan, especially given the political divides on many criminal justice issues?**
**NT:** The death penalty is extremely fiscally irresponsible. It costs more to sentence someone to death and carry out the execution than to sentence them to life in prison without parole. It’s also an ineffective deterrent to violent crime—the evidence is inconclusive at best regarding whether it prevents homicides.
There’s also a strong pro-life argument. As a society, we can keep people safe while honoring the inherent dignity and worth of every life, including those on death row who have committed unspeakable acts.
**TO: Are there cases of Texans who have been executed, exonerated, or remain on death row that you think more people should know about?**
**NT:** Two come to mind that I’ve worked on over the last couple of years. One is Ramiro Gonzales. He was 100% guilty of the crime he committed as essentially a teenager and was on death row for several years. He was executed last year, but the person Texas executed was not the same person who committed the crime, because Gonzales had changed.
This is something we often see—people who commit crimes at a young age come into prison broken and messed up. But with structure, resources, and time, many transform. They express genuine remorse, apologize to victims’ families, and often embrace faith. It’s hard to see the State of Texas provide those tools but still say, “Your life is expendable; we’re going to execute you anyway.”
Another man, Ivan Cantu, executed last year out of the Dallas area, is believed by some to have been wrongfully executed.
**TO: You’ve worked at the Capitol with some of Texas’s highest-level Republicans. What did you learn about how the Republican Party thinks about these issues?**
**NT:** Republicans and conservatives, especially in Texas, pride themselves on being tough on crime. But we need to be willing to think outside the box, recognize what works, and acknowledge what doesn’t.
What stood out to me is the nuance in political beliefs—there is no single way to be a Republican or a conservative. That’s something positive that should be encouraged. Half of our work is showing conservatives that opposing the death penalty doesn’t mean you’re not a Republican or a conservative, or that you’re betraying your values. It means you’ve critically thought about an important issue and realized it doesn’t align with your principles.
**TO: Most Republicans nationwide support the death penalty, and former President Donald Trump has publicly pushed prosecutors to seek it. Do you feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle?**
**NT:** I do think it’s an uphill battle, but it’s not impossible. We’re not going to end the death penalty overnight—that’s never been the goal, nor would it be realistic. But educating conservatives and giving them a space to question the death penalty is realistic and impactful.
We don’t come out saying, “You’re wrong, and we need to end it tomorrow.” We approach this strategically, with empathy and understanding. There are victims of horrible crimes, and it’s natural to want justice or even revenge. We embrace that, but also recognize that the death penalty is not the right way to seek justice in a practical sense.
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*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.*
https://www.texasobserver.org/pro-life-anti-death-penalty/