Tag Archives: judicial races

Judicial Q&A: Michael Galligan

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Michael Galligan

Judicial Q&A: Natalia Oakes

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Natalia Oakes

Judicial Q&A: Jim Peacock

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Jim Peacock

Endorsement watch: Two more benches

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Bench One: Judge, 313th Judicial District: Natalia Oakes Natalia Oakes, 66, earns our support in this primary contest against a qualified opponent, John Stephen Liles. Although Liles has spent nearly twice as long as a member of the bar, Oakes … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Two more benches

Judicial Q&A: Linda Dunson

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Linda Dunson

Endorsement watch: 14th Court of Appeals

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

More judicial races. We have a long way to go with these. Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 3: Jerry Zimmerer This primary race presents voters with a choice between two candidates who each offer different strengths. Jerry Zimmerer, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: 14th Court of Appeals

Judicial Q&A: Tracy Good

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

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

Judicial Q&A: Audrie Lawton

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Judicial Q&A: Lucia Bates

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Lucia Bates

Endorsement watch: Fast out of the gate

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Another thing that has no doubt been affected by the tons of candidates running for office this year: The Chron’s endorsement process, which got off to a necessarily early start yesterday as they recommended candidates in a couple of open-seat … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Fast out of the gate

Judicial Q&A: Margaret Poissant

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Margaret Poissant

Judicial Q&A: Brennen Dunn

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

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

Judicial Q&A: Charles Collins

Posted on January 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Charles Collins

Judicial Q&A: Michele Chimene

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Michele Chimene

Judicial Q&A: Stanley Santire

Posted on January 8, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Stanley Santire

Judicial Q&A: Kathy Vossler

Posted on January 5, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Kathy Vossler

Judicial Q&A: Armen Merjanian

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Armen Merjanian

Record number of LGBT candidates running this year

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

OutSmart does the math. A record 40 openly LGBTQ people will run for public office in Texas in 2018, according to an extensive review by OutSmart. That’s roughly twice as many as in any previous election cycle in the state’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Judicial Q&A: Gus Saper

Posted on January 2, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Gus Saper

Filing news: A few tidbits while we wait for the dust to clear

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, yesterday was the filing deadline for the primaries. Lots of things happen at the last minute, and the SOS filings page isn’t always a hundred percent up to date, so I’m hesitant to make final pronouncements about … Continue reading →

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

Filing news: Lupe Valdez is in for Governor

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here she comes. Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez announced Wednesday morning that she is running for governor, giving Texas Democrats a serious candidate for the top job with five days until the candidate filing deadline for the 2018 primaries. “Like … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Filing news: Lupe Valdez is in for Governor

Five out of six ain’t bad

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Five Democratic candidates for six statewide judicial positions, all from Harris County. Four state district and county-level judges from Harris County and a Houston civil-litigation lawyer filed for seats on the Texas Supreme Court and the state Court of Criminal … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A couple of race updates

Posted on September 26, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The county slate is one step closer to being filled out for 2018, as Josh Wallenstein has announced his intent to run for the HCDE At Large Position 3 Trustee seat that Diane Trautman is giving up to challenge Stan … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

RK Sandill for State Supreme Court

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Very good news, from the inbox: The Supreme Court of Texas is elected to serve all of the nearly 28 million residents of our great state. Yet, after more than two decades of one-party rule, today’s Court is increasingly out … Continue reading →

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

Houston city employees file their own lawsuit (again) on spousal benefits

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A shame it’s had to come to this, but this is where we are. On Thursday, three married couples from Houston filed a lawsuit in federal court aimed at forcing the city to preserve health coverage and other benefits for … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Houston city employees file their own lawsuit (again) on spousal benefits

Here come the LGBT candidates

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Keep your eyes on these folks. At least four Houstonians are among the numerous LGBTQ Texans eyeing campaigns in 2018 and 2019. One of the Houston candidates has formally announced, and three others are strongly considering runs. “People are fed … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018, Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

June CEC meeting candidate update report

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The June County Executive Committee meeting for the Harris County Democratic Party was a few days ago. There was some official business to take care of, mostly swearing in new precinct chairs, but in addition to the good crowd in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

We have a candidate in CD02

Posted on June 22, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Todd Litton, the first declared Democratic candidate of which I am aware for CD02, which is entirely within Harris County and which is held by Rep. Ted Poe, who has been there since 2004. I don’t know much about … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Matt Rinaldi holds a swing seat

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Just something to keep in mind. State Rep. Matt Rinaldi’s scuffle Monday with Hispanic lawmakers is already putting a bright spotlight on his House district — and whether he can hold on to it in 2018. Rinaldi, an Irving Republican, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Judge Jordan deserves to have his position in the bail lawsuit represented

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I have problems with this. The only Harris County judge to fight the county’s defense of its controversial bail system has been notified he will not get his own lawyer to appeal the high-profile federal lawsuit that has divided county … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Judge Jordan deserves to have his position in the bail lawsuit represented

Harris County bail system ruled unconstitutional

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Damn right. A federal judge in Houston Friday issued a scathing denouncement of Harris County’s cash bail system, saying it is fundamentally unfair to detain indigent people arrested for low-level offenses simply because they can’t afford to pay bail. In … Continue reading →

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

Two unsatisfying articles about the 2016 Democratic sweep in Harris County

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Democratic sweep in Harris County has drawn some national attention, as writers from the left and right try to analyze what happened here last year and why Hillary Clinton carried the county by such a large margin. Unfortunately, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Precinct analysis: Dallas county elections

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

One more look at Dallas County, this time with the county-level judicial races. I like to use these partly because they’re a pretty good proxy for partisan preference, and partly because they provide a straight up two-party comparison, which is … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Precinct analysis: Dallas county elections

Is the end near for straight-ticket voting?

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It could be. Partisan efficiency experts might love the time-saving charms of straight-ticket voting, but a number of the state’s top elected officials are ready to outlaw the practice. Straight-ticket, or one-punch, voting allows people to cast a ballot for … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments