Category Archives: Election 2004

Looks like the success of Ben Chandler‘s online fundraising via BlogAds has already spawned the inevitable successors. So far, Georgai’s John Barrow and Texas’ Morris Meyer are running ads on blogs, and I’m sure they won’t be the last ones … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Teen prodigy Stephen Yellin gives his view of the 2004 House races in Texas. He’s a bit more optimistic than I am, but it’s always nice to get an outside perspective. I will say this – if Ralph Hall actually … Continue reading → Continue reading →

A couple of big elections coming up on Tuesday. Over in Kentucky, Congressional candidate Ben Chandler has hit a small jackpot by running blog ads. “We’re raising [considerable] money off the blogs,” said Chandler spokesman Jason Sauer. “It’s been really … Continue reading → Continue reading →

From John Williams’s column today: Two Democratic Houston state representatives with re-election races are getting help from Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick. Tonight, Craddick is scheduled to be the “special guest” at a fund-raising reception for Ron Wilson and Harold … Continue reading → Continue reading →

It’s just never a good thing for a reelection campaign when a former stripper files a lawsuit against you in which she alleges “emotional and physical pain during a 17-year affair”. Which is what happened to State Sen. Mario Gallegos … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This story about a possible cutback in funds for the Port of Houston, contains the bones of what I think should be the main strategy of each endangered Democratic Congressional incumbent here. Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Beaumont, said a major concern … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I received an email today from the campaign of Morris Meyer, who is running against the objectively pro-pollution Rep. Joe Barton in the 6th CD. He’s got an uphill battle ahead of him to say the least, but he does … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The special runoff election for the two vacant State Senate seats has been set for February 17. Republican candidate Kevin Eltife, who trailed Democrat Paul Sadler by about three percentage points in the open election to replace the retiring Bill … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Got the following in an email tip. Looks to me like his Democratic colleagues in Washington are doing what they can to help out Rep. Chris Bell in the primary: Texas redistricting has proven a major distraction for most incumbent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I think the race in CD 02 will be the hottest one locally, at least after the primaries. Rep. Nick Lampson surely won’t go quietly, and he did represent a fair amount of the newly-drawn district. If former judge/huckster Ted … Continue reading → Continue reading →

If you’re wondering what kind of message some of the redistricted Democratic Congressional incumbents might try on their new, more Republican constituents, Charlie Stenholm provides a glimpse. I have always attempted to do what I believed was right for the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

There were two special elections in Texas yesterday, both to fill State Senate seats, and both of them will require runoffs to pick winners. In the SD 1 race to replace the retiring Bill Ratliff, Democrat Paul Sadler held a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

There are two State Senate seats to be filled by a special election on Tuesday, as replacements for Teel Bivins and Bill Ratliff will be chosen. Bivins will surely be replaced by another Republican (though there is a credible Democrat … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This article on President Bush’s immigration reform proposal and its possible effects on Hispanic voters contains good news and bad news for both major parties. Many political analysts who watched the president unveil his immigration reform package said it was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Greg has you covered for the local and state races on the slate for 2004 (here and here). I have just a few things to add to his as always thorough analysis. First, there’s Harris County, which demographics and political … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As of today, there are no Democratic candidates on the ballot for any statewide office in 2004. Well, there’s one, anyway. AUSTIN — No Democratic candidate has yet filed to run for statewide office in Texas in 2004, but party … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As expected, the GOP will be putting up some challengers to Democrats who participated in the legislative boycotts during the last session. Here’s the scoop from San Antonio. A group of GOP newcomers has targeted incumbent Democratic state legislators, thinking … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The ever-so-shrill, I-liked-him-so-much-better-when-he-stuck-with-economics Paul Krugman has a few suggestions for the press on how to cover the 2004 elections. • Don’t talk about clothes. • Actually look at the candidates’ policy proposals. • Beware of personal anecdotes. • Look at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Byron is helping to lead the charge to give support to State Rep. Paul Sadler, who is running in a special election on January 20 to replace the retiring Bill Ratliff. Sadler is the only Democrat on the ballot, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Kos highlights a couple of upcoming special elections, all of which involve open Congressional seats vacated by Republicans. One of these in particular, the South Dakota seat abandoned by convicted manslaughterer Bill Janklow, is a good pickup opportunity for Democrats, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Richard Morrison’s website now has my interview linked from his news page. There are a couple of other articles about him and his campaign, but something in this story caught my eye. “We’ll be mounting an aggressive re-election campaign as … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I had the chance recently to sit down with Richard Morrison, who will be running against Tom DeLay in the 22nd Congressional District if the old map remains in place. I have a good feeling about him as a person … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The candidate filing season, that is. The period started yesterday and runs through January 2. Democratic U.S. Rep. Martin Frost of Arlington filed to run in the district he has represented for 25 years. Frost said he was confident a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I think many things of Tom DeLay, but I’ve never thought he was stupid. I have to say, though, I can’t understand what he’s thinking with this idea. It is being billed as the perfect place for celebrations during the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’d like to join with Byron and Greg in announcing the candidacy of Richard Morrison for the 22nd Congressional District. Richard will be taking on Tom DeLay in 2004, and he could surely use your support. I hope to have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

On Thursday, the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project kicked off a big voter registration drive. The voter project, founded in San Antonio in 1974, bills itself as a national nonpartisan, nonprofit group that mobilizes Latinos to vote. “We have invited … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Awhile back I wrote about how there would be opportunities available for Democrats to make a pitch to Libertarian voters in the next election (here and here). Today Jim Henley points me to this article by W. James Antle III … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Jerry Springer has decided not to run for Senate in 2004. “As long as I’m doing that show, my message, no matter how sincere and no matter how heartfelt, does not get through to the people I need to reach,” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

One of the interesting possibilities resulting from the House “fruitcake” flap last week involving Ways and Means Committee Chair Bill Thomas (see here for some background) is that it just might give the national Democratic Party a platform on which … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Jerry Springer will file papers today to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by George Voinovich. He’ll announce in the next 30 days or so if he actually is running. I hope he does run. I was quite … Continue reading → Continue reading →

There’s a great interview with potential Senate candidate Jerry Springer up on the Political State Report. I especially urge partisan Democrats to read what he has to say. I daresay you’ll like it. I know I did. Continue reading →

I’ve mentioned before that Jerry Springer is considering a run for George Voinovich’s Ohio Senate seat. Now, via O-Dub, I see that he’s not only still considering it, he’s got a blog to help him explore the issue. Hot damn! … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Daily Kos has rolled out a new way to affect politics at the national level, an online donation system called ePatriots. In just a few hours, it’s already raised $20,000. I’ll be making my donation soon. Great job, Kos! Continue reading →

If we do not hang together, then we will surely hang separately. — Benjamin Franklin I suppose I ought to join in with pretty much everyone else and comment on Kevin Drum’s piece about extremism versus moderation. There’s already been … Continue reading → Continue reading →