Category Archives: Election 2014

Endorsement watch: Ogg for DA

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle endorses a change in thew Harris County DA’s office. Houston has changed since the hang ’em high days of Holmes’ tenure. Our region has grown more diverse, our mentality more mature. While some may look back with nostalgia, … Continue reading →

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A thought about the stealth campaign

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Forrest Wilder writes about the un-campaigns being run by most statewide Republicans. But now comes a new twist: the art of the non-campaign. The candidate who doesn’t even bother to put on a show, doesn’t even pretend to reach the … Continue reading →

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Dan Patrick loves the poor folks

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

He says so himself, so it must be true. State Sen. Dan Patrick told a wealthy Houston business group Thursday that he would advocate for the poor and people of color if elected lieutenant governor in November, at one point … Continue reading →

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Abbott and the Latino vote

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I have four things to say about this. When Lily Benitez pulled into her driveway in the Donesta neighborhood here Saturday morning, she was surprised to see Greg Abbott coming toward her. It wasn’t just because he’s the attorney general … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Kim Bohannon Hoesl

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote. … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Civil courts, part 1

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

In the first round of judicial endorsements, Democratic candidates did very well, getting the nod from the Chron in five of six races. In their first review of civil court races, it was the reverse as the Chron stayed with … Continue reading →

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Interview with Susan Criss

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

My second legislative candidate interview is with one of my favorite people in politics, Susan Criss, who is running to succeed Rep. Craig Eiland in HD23. Criss is a longtime District Court judge in Galveston County, who survived the 2010 … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: One for Steve Brown

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Express News makes a nice call. In this year’s contest, Democrat Steve Brown is the best candidate. A former party chairman of Fort Bend County, Brown has not worked in the oil-and-gas industry and can bring a much-needed outsider’s … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Sherri Cothrun

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote. … Continue reading →

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Pushing absentee voting

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see how this goes. Texas Democrats, armed with better data and a reinvigorated ground game, have launched an aggressive campaign to turn out voters in November who have spurned them by wide margins for decades: the elderly. The state … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The clerks

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Two more endorsements from the Chron, one of which may be the least enthusiastic endorsement they’ve ever given. District Clerk: Chris Daniel The Harris County district clerk’s office runs behind the scenes in our judicial system. It maintains records for … Continue reading →

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Interview with Rita Lucido

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

We come now to legislative interviews. While I’ve done a lot of these in years past, my schedule this year just didn’t allow for that. I’ve only got two interviews with legislative candidates to share with you, but both are … Continue reading →

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Davis at TribFest

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Wendy Davis expands on some debate topics and other campaign issues at the Texas Tribune’s TribFest. If elected governor, state Sen. Wendy Davis would consider using “executive action” to expand the state’s Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act in … Continue reading →

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Dan Patrick sightings

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I doubt that the Chron’s calling out of Dan Patrick had anything to do with him appearing in public, in the daylight, where there might be people that don’t vote Republican, but it was good timing anyway. Now that Patrick … Continue reading →

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Debate night

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Nothing like a 6 PM on a Friday debate that people don’t know how to find on their cable service. Democrat Wendy Davis went on the offensive against Republican Greg Abbott on issue after issue Friday in their first debate … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Statesman for Collier

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman continues its early work on endorsements with a solid recommendation for Democratic Comptroller candidate Mike Collier. The deplorable revenue forecast issued ahead of the 2011 legislative session by the current comptroller, Republican Susan Combs, who’s retiring from politics, … Continue reading →

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Greg Abbott is not an advocate for people with disabilities

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Didn’t think this was in question, but let’s review the facts again. “I really strongly believe, and I think most people who are advocates for people with disabilities believe, that a disability is neither a barrier nor an advantage in … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Family courts

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle gets in the endorsement game by getting started on the long list of judicial races that will be on your 2014 ballot, and it’s a big helping of good news for the Democratic slate of Family Court nominees, … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: James Horwitz

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote. … Continue reading →

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Interview with Melissa Noriega

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

We round out the county races this year with the Harris County Department of Education, a seven-member board that handles federal grants and provides various programs for the many independent school districts in Harris County. It’s hard to believe, but … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Farrah Martinez

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote. … Continue reading →

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Interview with Debra Kerner

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

We round out the county races this year with the Harris County Department of Education, a seven-member board that handles federal grants and provides various programs for the many independent school districts in Harris County. It’s hard to believe, but … Continue reading →

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On polls and turnout

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

So as you know, the latest YouGov poll came out on Friday, and it was ugly for Wendy Davis, showing an 18-point lead for Greg Abbott. PDiddie was despondent, EoW was trying to keep the faith, and Texpatriate was somewhere … Continue reading →

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The run and hide strategy

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Where’s Danno? Texas voters [were] treated to a peculiar sight Friday evening: a one-candidate debate. Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, [answered] questions in a Spanish-language television event without Republican rival Dan Patrick. He’ll be meeting … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: First of many for Sam Houston

Posted on September 13, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman gets an early start on endorsement season. A famous name can be a mixed blessing in politics. Sam Houston, the Democratic candidate for Texas attorney general, has persuaded us that he is more than just a name, and … Continue reading →

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Davis’ internal poll

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I had been wondering if Wendy Davis was going to release one of these. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Wendy Davis is trailing Republican opponent Greg Abbott by single digits for the first time this year in her campaign’s internal polling, according … Continue reading →

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Abbott files complaint with Ethics Commission over Davis book tour

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. The campaign manager for GOP gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott filed an ethics complaint on Thursday alleging that the book tour of Abbott’s Democratic opponent, state Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth, represents a conversion of political contributions into personal … Continue reading →

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Abbott’s health care small ball

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Is that all there is? Increased funding for preventive care and luring medical professionals to Texas are at the center of gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott’s health care plan, unveiled at St. Joseph’s Women’s Medical Center here on Wednesday. The Republican … Continue reading →

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Perry wins SD28 special election

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

That would be Charles Perry, the current incumbent in HD83. State Rep. Charles Perry on Tuesday night won the special election for Senate District 28, besting a crowded field to avoid a runoff for the seat in West Texas. With … Continue reading →

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Interview with Judith Snively

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

As I said on Monday, once you get past the District Attorney race, there’s not a lot of high-profile electoral action in Harris County this year, but as we know not being high profile doesn’t make your race any less … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Harold Landreneau

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote. … Continue reading →

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Abbott claims Davis’ book tour constitutes an illegal campaign contribution

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I guess he has to do something to distract from what’s actually in Sen. Davis’ book. Republican gubernatorial nominee Greg Abbott asked the Texas Ethics Commission on Monday to rule whether opponent Wendy Davis’ book deal and tour crosses the … Continue reading →

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Interview with David Rosen

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Once you get past the District Attorney race, there’s not a lot of high-profile electoral action in Harris County this year. County Judge Ed Emmett has no Democratic challenger, and while there are things happening at the legislative level most … Continue reading →

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Davis’ abortion disclosure

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I agree with PDiddie that this is the big story of the weekend, and likely most of the upcoming week, too. State Sen. Wendy Davis, the Democratic candidate for governor, reveals in her new book that she terminated two pregnancies … Continue reading →

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