TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - East Texas Republicans responded to the midterm election of Democrats to major political offices in Texas and the Democrats' new majority in the state House of Representatives, and discussed what that means for policies regarding the protection of East Texas water resources.

State Rep. Cole Hefner, whose district covers Rains, Wood, Camp, Upshur and the northern portion of Smith County, said that the midterm outcome was a surprise to everyone and that Republicans need to come together to represent the people who elected them.

Hefner said that water is not a partisan issue and that he is optimistic that policy decisions can still be passed to protect and manage water resources in East Texas."We have to make our case that this is important, that we manage this resource responsibly and protect it for generations to come. And I think, like I said, it's not really a partisan issue... [it's] a Texas issue that we will be talking through that and communicating that with our colleagues and hopefully being successful in getting the bill through the process."State Rep. Cody Harris, whose district covers Anderson, Cherokee, Henderson, Navarro and the eastern portion of Henderson County, is the chair of the Natural Resources Committee in the House until January.