Tag Archives: Tom DeLay

The state of the state redistricting lawsuits

A good update, and a reminder that not all of the action is in federal court. In two cases heard [December 14 and 15], a group of mostly Democratic, Hispanic lawmakers from both chambers challenged the legality of when and … Continue reading

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What a Democratic House means for redistricting

Rick Casey makes a point about what a Democratic-majority State House will and won’t be able to do in 2021, in particular with redistricting. I would put the Democrats’ chances of taking back the State House of Representatives as better … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ridiculous Hotze lawsuit now in district court

We are all dumber by the mere existence of this. The Texas Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Harris County’s stay-at-home order, though the legal fight is set to continue in state district court. The Wednesday … Continue reading

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Don’t count the other Jerry Garcia out yet

But do count his votes, because they are legally required to be countable. Reversing itself from a day earlier, the Harris County Democratic Party on Thursday said a constable candidate who was accused by another candidate with the same name … Continue reading

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We’re not going to get an independent redistricting commission

Nice to think about, but the set of circumstances that might lead to it are exceedingly narrow. Most of the seven states that have independent commissions adopted them by a citizens’ initiative. Since Texas doesn’t have that option, the only … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2020, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

DMN profile of Chris Bell

The Dallas Morning News did a series of profiles of Democratic Senate candidates during the Christmas break. They’re worth reading, especially since polls show many of us don’t know these candidates all that well. I’m going to post about each … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

No Rocket

What a world we live in. Pitching great Roger Clemens didn’t shy away from many battles in his major league career, but politics is something he’s not willing to take on. Clemens had been encouraged to run as a Republican … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Marchant joins the exodus

The line at the door keeps growing. U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant will not seek reelection in 2020, two sources confirmed to The Texas Tribune late Sunday. He is the fourth member of the Texas delegation to announce his retirement in … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Rep. Mike Conaway to retire

We will have at least three new members of Congress from Texas in 2021. Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas will not seek reelection in 2020, according to multiple GOP sources, becoming the fifth Republican to announce their retirement over the … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

There sure was a lot of money spent on Congressional races in Texas

If we’re lucky, it will be the start of a trend. Never has Texas seen as much money spent on Congressional campaigns as it did in 2018. New campaign finance data shows that the state didn’t just beat its old … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on There sure was a lot of money spent on Congressional races in Texas

Someone other than me notices CD24

The closest race no one was paying attention to. Last week’s midterm elections showed that the Texas electorate is changing dramatically, and even Republicans who survived found themselves with surprisingly close calls after coasting to reelection for years. One U.S. … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Republican Party sues to get Farenthold off the ballot

Now here‘s something you don’t see every day. The Texas GOP is suing the Texas secretary of state to keep embattled U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold off the 2018 primary ballot — one day after the Corpus Christi Republican announced he … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Rep. Ted Poe to retire

We’re verging on a mass exodus here. U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, announced Tuesday evening that he will retire from Congress. “Thanks to the good Lord, I’m in good health, but it’s time for the next step,” Poe said in … Continue reading

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Rick Perry will join “Dancing With The Stars”

Make your own Tom DeLay joke. Mine is in the embedded image. Former Gov. Rick Perry is joining the new season of “Dancing With the Stars.” Texas’ longest-serving governor will be a contestant in the 23rd season of the dance … Continue reading

Posted in TV and movies | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

HD146 nomination process is today

You know the drill. Twenty-seven southwest Houston precinct chairs are set to tap a replacement for Democratic state Rep. Borris Miles on Saturday, the third time in less than two months many of them have convened to fill a hole … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Paxton moves to dismiss the charges against him

To be expected. [Ken] Paxton’s legal team announced late Monday it had filed six motions to quash the three indictments against him, citing problems with the grand jury process. They also raised other objections to the case in four pretrial … Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A further look into anti-HERO financing

Regular commenter Mainstream has been investigating the complex money trail of the various anti-HERO factions and documenting it in the comments for the 8 day finance reports: Pro- and anti-HERO post. I’m putting his two most recent entries here to … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Neugebauer to step down in CD19

At least one Congressional seat will have a new person sitting in it next year. U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, announced Thursday that he would not seek re-election in 2016. Neugebauer, who has represented his West Texas district in Congress … Continue reading

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Paxton reindicted

On the same charges, with slightly different wording. After re-filing indictments against Attorney General Ken Paxton in his securities fraud case, two special prosecutors are pushing back against criticism from Paxton’s attorney, who says the recent action shows that they … Continue reading

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How will we miss Ken Paxton if he doesn’t go away?

Despite his arrest and indictment, Ken paxton might stick around for awhile. Using Texas history as a measure, Ken Paxton’s indictment on securities fraud charges may mean he will have to navigate rough political waters if he stays in office … Continue reading

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DeLay gets off

Sure is nice to have friends in high places. Siding with a decision made a year ago by a lower appeals court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday refused to reinstate money-laundering convictions against former U.S. House Majority … Continue reading

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Abbott’s voter registration persecution

Now this is what a partisan witch hunt looks like. On an overcast Monday afternoon, officers in bulletproof vests swept into a house on Houston’s north side. The armed deputies and agents served a search warrant. They carted away computers, … Continue reading

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

More about TPJ

The Chron profiles Texans for Public Justice, the group that filed the complaint that led to Rick Perry’s indictments. [Craig] McDonald’s Texans for Public Justice, which operates out of a small office west of the University of Texas-Austin campus and … Continue reading

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More on the Perry indictment

Just some more thoughts and links relating to the big story that turned a relatively quiet Friday into one of the busiest news day of the year so far. Let’s start with a reality check from Harold Cook. First of … Continue reading

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DeLay gets his day before the CCA

Looks like he might have had a pretty good day, too. Oral arguments in Tom DeLay’s decadelong legal fight with the Travis County District Attorney’s office heated up Wednesday as Republican judges on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals questioned … Continue reading

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Today’s the day for Tom DeLay at the CCA

Apologies for the excessive alliteration. I got on a roll and couldn’t stop. DeLay’s appellate lawyer, Brian Wice of Houston, and Travis County prosecutor Holly Taylor will argue Wednesday before the state’s highest criminal court in Austin over whether the … Continue reading

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TPJ files amicus brief in DeLay appeal

It’s almost time for Tom DeLay to go to court again. A government-watchdog group on Tuesday petitioned the state’s highest criminal court to reinstate the money-laundering and conspiracy convictions of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom Delay, moving to join … Continue reading

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How can we miss you if you won’t go away?

Denise Pratt is a gift that keeps on giving. Denise Pratt may not be gone just yet. Two days after announcing her immediate resignation as presiding judge of the 311th family District Court – and the suspension of her re-election … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

CCA to review dismissal of DeLay conviction

The criminal justice system isn’t done with Tom DeLay just yet. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday agreed to review whether a lower court correctly decided last fall to toss out the prison sentence handed to former House … Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Fjetland files for Senate

Texas Democrats will have a contested primary for the right to run against Sen. John Cornyn next year. Michael Fjetland, a previous GOP House candidate, has filed as a Democrat to run for the Senate seat held by Texas Sen. … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

DeLay wants to sue

Whatever you say, dude. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, reveling in victory Thursday against Texas prosecutors in a money-laundering case, said his political career is over but he’s eager to return to the courthouse. If he can find a … Continue reading

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DeLay gets off

Bummer. Former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay’s political money laundering conviction was overturned by the state’s 3rd Court of Appeals on Thursday. “Based on the totality of the evidence, we conclude that the evidence presented does not support a conclusion that … Continue reading

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More leftover campaign cash

The Chron writes about a subject I’ve covered before. Former Rep. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs of Houston used leftover campaign funds to buy a life membership in the National Rifle Association. Former Rep. Martin Frost of Dallas paid a $6,000 Federal Election … Continue reading

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Can you believe it’s been ten years?

Ten years (and one week) ago, four defeated Democratic candidates for the State House filed a lawsuit against the Texas Association of Business, claiming that TAB funneled illegal corporate contributions into state legislative races in the 2002 election. As you … Continue reading

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