Category Archives: The making of the President

Dem debate will be at TSU

Posted on July 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We have a location. Texas Southern University will host the third Democratic primary debate, scheduled for Sept. 12 and 13. The agreement between TSU and ABC News was announced on the network’s “This Week” show on Sunday morning. “As the … Continue reading →

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Next Dem debate will be in Houston

Posted on July 11, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. The third debate in the Democratic presidential primary will be in Houston, party officials announced late Tuesday. The event, sponsored by ABC News and Univision, is scheduled for Sept. 12 and 13. “Texas is a battleground state, period,” Texas … Continue reading →

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You want to be President, you’ve got to come to Houston

Posted on July 7, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

And so they are. No Democratic candidate for president has won Texas in over 40 years, and yet the flow of Democratic contenders coming through the state, and Houston specifically, has been unusually strong in 2019. Just since March, 14 … Continue reading →

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Biden talks big about Texas

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

And other states, too. Democratic front-runner Joe Biden said Monday he plans to campaign during the general election and win in South Carolina, Georgia and Texas, states that have consistently supported Republicans for about four decades. “We plan on campaigning … Continue reading →

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UT/Trib: So this is what a swing state looks like

Posted on June 18, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This is not the poll I’m looking for, but it still tells us something. Half of the registered voters in Texas would vote to reelect President Donald Trump, but half of them would not, according to the latest University of … Continue reading →

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Still ridiculously early poll: Biden leads Trump by four

Posted on June 7, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Encouraging, but the usual caveats apply. President Donald Trump is locked in too-close-to-call races with any one of seven top Democratic challengers in the 2020 presidential race in Texas, where former Vice President Joseph Biden has 48 percent to President … Continue reading →

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Beto’s first day haul

Posted on March 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

He’s still got it. Beto O’Rourke raised $6.1 million for his presidential campaign in his first 24 hours as a candidate, beating every other 2020 Democrat who has disclosed first-day figures, according to his campaign. The haul surpasses that of … Continue reading →

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Beto is in for President

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Ready or not, here he comes. After months of intense speculation, Beto O’Rourke is entering the presidential race Thursday, marking an extraordinary rise from little-known El Paso congressman a few years ago to potentially formidable White House contender. “Amy and … Continue reading →

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No DNC for Houston

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Alas. Democratic National Committee officials announced Monday that the party’s 2020 convention would take place in Milwaukee. The announcement is a setback for Houston, which was a final contender to host the convention. Miami was also on the short list. … Continue reading →

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Ridiculously early UT/TT poll: “Not Trump” leads

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll take it. A slight majority of Texas voters would choose someone other than Donald Trump in a presidential race held right now, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. While 45 percent said they would “definitely vote … Continue reading →

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Ridiculously early Quinnipiac poll: Trump has a small lead

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Consider this to be for entertainment purposes only. In a very early look at possible 2020 presidential matchups in Texas, President Donald Trump is essentially tied with former Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders or former U.S. Rep. … Continue reading →

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2020 DNC update

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Houston remains in the running, but who knows how this will go. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez is choosing among Houston, Miami and Milwaukee. In recent weeks, some Democrats have privately suggested Milwaukee would get the nod, and a … Continue reading →

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We’ll know soon enough if Beto is running for President

Posted on February 9, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Thanks, Oprah. Beto O’Rourke said Tuesday he will decide whether to run for president by the end of the month, signaling his closely watched deliberations over a 2020 run are entering their final stages. The former Democratic congressman from El … Continue reading →

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Julian Castro makes it official

Posted on January 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Here he comes. The former U.S. housing secretary and San Antonio mayor made the long-anticipated announcement at Plaza Guadalupe, near where he grew up on the city’s West Side. It came a month after Castro formed an exploratory committee, a … Continue reading →

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Beto v Julian?

Posted on December 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It could happen. The presidential race could force Texas Democrats to choose between two of their brightest rising stars, in El Paso’s O’Rourke, 46, and San Antonio’s Julián Castro, 44. Castro, like O’Rourke, has never won a statewide race in … Continue reading →

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Julian Castro takes his first step forward

Posted on December 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Towards the Presidency. Julián Castro is taking another step toward a 2020 presidential campaign. The former U.S. housing secretary and San Antonio mayor announced Wednesday that he has formed an exploratory committee to consider a bid and will make an … Continue reading →

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Why not both?

Posted on December 1, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

RG Ratcliffe argues that Beto doesn’t need to choose between running for President and running for Senate. Why doesn’t Beto run for both the presidency AND the U.S. Senate? Beto could do it under a provision known as the LBJ … Continue reading →

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The case against Beto (and Julian) for President

Posted on November 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From Chris Hooks: Democrats, taking advantage of the president’s unpopularity, stand a chance of winning control of more state legislatures in 2020 and building the foundations of their party, just as Republicans did in 2010. It’s a great opportunity, and … Continue reading →

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Houston on the short list for the 2020 DNC

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

One in three shot at it. Democratic Party officials have culled the list of potential host cities for the 2020 Democratic National Convention from eight to four, and Houston is still in the mix, Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday. The … Continue reading →

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Houston submits its DNC 2020 bid

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Houston, recognized for its record of successfully hosting mega-events, today submitted an official bid to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention. The bid document of about 600 pages shows how Houston’s convention infrastructure and its people put … Continue reading →

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Council passes resolution to support 2020 DNC

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. Houston bolstered its bid for the 2020 Democratic National Convention on Wednesday as City Council affirmed the city’s safety and logistics services will be marshalled sufficiently to support the gathering if Houston is chosen as the host city. Houston … Continue reading →

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Houston in the running for 2020 DNC

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Seems like there’s a few more places bidding for this one. Eight cities are in consideration to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention as the party prepares for a presidential contest that is expected to include an unusually large number … Continue reading →

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No GOP convention for San Antonio

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Wise decision. The city of San Antonio will not submit a bid to host the 2020 Republican National Convention, a decision announced after council members met Thursday in closed session to discuss the matter. The cost of pursuing the event … Continue reading →

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San Antonio and the 2020 Republican convention

Posted on May 1, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Beware. The campaign manager for President Donald Trump wants San Antonio to host the 2020 Republican National Convention and has taken to Twitter to voice his frustration at the city’s lack of response to bid for the event. San Antonio … Continue reading →

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Julian 2020 still in the works

Posted on February 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

He says he’s still thinking about it, but I’m guessing it’s a “yes unless something unexpected happens” situation. In an interview this week, former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro gave the strongest indication yet that he’s interested in running for … Continue reading →

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Julian 2020?

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

He has raised the possibility. Texas Democrat Julian Castro confirmed Sunday he is seriously considering running for president in 2020 and former state Sen. Wendy Davis left open the possibility she will take another run at running for governor in … Continue reading →

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Our electors can continue to be faithless

Posted on June 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

So much for that. The momentum seemed to be there. After Donald Trump easily defeated Hillary Clinton in Texas, two of the state’s 38 Electoral College members cast ballots for someone other than the Republican nominee — a less-than-flattering moment … Continue reading →

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The other “faithless elector” speaks up

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Bill Greene, political science professor at South Texas College, and the other Texas member of the Electoral College who did not cast a vote for Dear Leader Trump. Greene, who has kept a low profile since the vote, explained … Continue reading →

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Two “faithless electors”

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, Donald Trump got thirty-six of Texas’ 38 electoral votes. All but two of Texas’ 38 electors voted Monday to officially put Donald Trump in the White House, with one elector casting a ballot for Ohio Gov. John … Continue reading →

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You can’t stop the faithless electors

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

So says Carolyn Shapiro, associate professor at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she is co-director of the Institute on the Supreme Court of the United States. Earlier this week, in a New York Times op-ed, Texas presidential elector Chris … Continue reading →

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No faithless electors!

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Dan Patrick has had enough of this nonsense. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Wednesday that a Texas Republican elector’s decision not to vote for Donald Trump may lead state legislators to pass a law requiring electors to support the winner … Continue reading →

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Another non-Trump elector

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know if this is becoming a thing, but it is interesting. I am a Republican presidential elector, one of the 538 people asked to choose officially the president of the United States. Since the election, people have asked … Continue reading →

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Dropping out of Electoral College

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I have some respect for this. A Texas Republican elector is resigning over the election of Donald Trump, saying he cannot “in good conscience” vote for the incoming president. The elector, Art Sisneros of Dayton, detailed his decision in a … Continue reading →

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Sid and Donald, BFFs

Posted on November 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Birds of a feather. At a rally Sunday in Las Vegas, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump paused his usual meditation on the latest polls to direct his crowd’s attention to a “great guy on television today.” “His name was Sid … Continue reading →

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