I haven’t felt this good about an Election Day since 1992, when I cheered on Bill Clinton in my living room with some friends. I’ve finished my Chron blogging for the evening, and despite the statewide shutout again, there’s more good news than I can shake a stick at:
– Dems win the US House easily, and are in a position to take the Senate.
– Not a single incumbent Dem in the State House, State Senate, or US House is losing or has lost. Four Dems are leading or have beaten incumbent Republicans in the State House, plus of course Lampson in the US House.
– As I type this, there’s still hopes of one or more Dem wins in Harris County.
– Races where we were thought to be endangered weren’t close. Consider:
Mark Homer
Chuck Hopson, considered our most vulnerable incumbent.
Jim McReynolds
Robby Cook, who turned out to be our most endangered incumbent, but who still hung on.
Solomon Ortiz, holding onto Vilma Luna’s seat
Yvonne Gonzales Toureilles
Mark Strama
David Farabee, who won in the most hostile district in the state in 2004.
Joe Heflin, on the verge of holding onto a seat (Pete Laney’s) that everyone, myself included, thought was a goner. All hail the mighty Parent PAC!
David Leibowitz
Joe Farias, holding back one of KBH’s former staffers.
Joaquin Castro, who only appeared on the “May be in trouble” radar a week or two ago.
Scott Hochberg, who knows how to win in low-turnout areas.
Hubert Vo, who has once and for all driven a stake through Talmadge Helfin’s cold, soulless heart.
– Races where we weren’t supposed to be competitive were. Consider:
HD52, unopposed in 2004
HD59 lost by a 64-36 margin in 2004.
HD96, lost by a 60-40 margin in 2004.
HD108, lost by a 62.5-37.5 margin in 2004.
HD114, unopposed in 2004.
HD127, lost by a 70-30 margin in 2004.
HD129, unopposed but a 67-33 GOP district in 2004.
You get the idea. I’ll have more to say tomorrow when I’m coherent again, but for now, savor it. Despite plenty of adversity, Texas Dems did a hell of a job tonight. I’m very, very happy.
Thank you for noting Sherrie Matula’s race, HD-129. I am so proud of her! Over 42% of the vote!
We did good. Now let’s work to build a stronger state party (and get more 50-state strategy lovin’ from the national party) and 2010 will have a much better result!
or how about if you voted for HanK Gilbert or Bill Moody but not Chris Bell. Even further down the ballot than Hathcox and did even better than Perry. Those numbers are truley astonishing.
CLD
How about further down like Jim Sharp?