Tag Archives: Governor

Once again with Wendy and the odds

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Ross Ramsey in The Trib has his turn with the “what office should Sen. Wendy Davis run for?” question. Abbott, the Republican attorney general, is his party’s favored candidate at the moment, in spite of the presence of Tom Pauken, … Continue reading →

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We’ll always have Kinky

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Like cicadas on a four-year cycle, he keeps coming back. Kinky Friedman doesn’t know if he’s ready to jump back into Texas politics. But the cigar-chewing humorist and musician — known for the black attire and cowboy hats he normally … Continue reading →

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What it takes to win statewide

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Via Ed Kilgore comes this analysis that tries to paint an especially bleak picture for Texas Democrats in 2014. First of all, Democrats have yet to win more than 44 percent of the total vote in any recent statewide election … Continue reading →

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From the “Wooing Latino Voters: You’re Doing It Wrong” department

Posted on July 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Greg Abbott visits McAllen and gives the locals his best reason why they should vote for him. Gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott called for unity between Republican candidates and Hispanics in McAllen on Monday, with the promise of being in South … Continue reading →

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How about Wendy for Lite Guv?

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Robert Miller makes a pretty good case. Governor General Abbott appears unbeatable by Democrat or Republican. Sen. Davis, as a Harvard-trained lawyer, could run for the open office of Texas Attorney General. However, that does not appear to be a … Continue reading →

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Davis raises $1 million, BGTX raises $1.1 million

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Considering she had only two weeks to do it, that’s not too shabby. State Sen. Wendy Davis, the new star of the Texas Democratic Party, raised nearly $1 million in the final two weeks of June, much of it from … Continue reading →

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Abbott’s mushy launch

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

For a guy who’s supposed to be The Chosen One to succeed Rick Perry, Greg Abbott’s formal campaign launch has been remarkably substance-free. With his wife and daughter standing near, Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott kicked off his campaign for … Continue reading →

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Greg Abbott has a very special announcement to make

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

He’s ready to accept your coronation as king the next Governor of Texas. Attorney General Greg Abbott is tipping his hand ever so much more slightly about his San Antonio appearance Sunday, with his campaign re-branding it from a meet-and-greet … Continue reading →

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Rick Perry will be with us for a long time

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Though we finally have an official end date for the reign of Rick Perry, it will be years before we fully purge him from our system. The strong lieutenant governor legend gelled during Bill Hobby’s tenure from 1973 to 1991. … Continue reading →

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No “divine right of succession”

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I wish you well with that argument, Tom. For those who are already declaring that Attorney General Greg Abbott will be Gov. Rick Perry’s successor, former Texas Workforce Commissioner Tom Pauken has a clear message. “This idea that there’s a … Continue reading →

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Perry will not run for re-election

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

There’s your big announcement. Gov. Rick Perry announced Monday that he will not run for re-election next year, creating the first open race for Texas governor since 1990 and making Attorney General Greg Abbott the instant favorite to replace him. … Continue reading →

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Rick Perry has exciting news to announce!

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

What could it possibly be? Rick Perry is inviting close friends and supporters to an event next Monday in San Antonio where he is expected to announce if he plans to seek an unprecedented fourth full term as Texas governor, … Continue reading →

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Some cold water for the Wendy for Governor bandwagon

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Courtesy of PPP: PPP’s new Texas poll finds that Wendy Davis made a good impression on voters in the state last week- but that Rick Perry has also enhanced his political standing considerably over the last five months, making him … Continue reading →

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What are the odds for Wendy?

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

After a week of Democratic energy and exhilaration like we haven’t seen in a long time here thanks to the Wendy Davis filibuster, there are a lot of people who’d like to see Sen. Davis run for Governor. No doubt … Continue reading →

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What the future may hold for Wendy Davis

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Patricia Kilday Hart has her take on the Wendy Davis phenomenon, including the reaction of some Republicans to it. For both proponents and opponents of SB 5, the legislation that would have banned abortions past 20 weeks of pregnancy and … Continue reading →

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Smitherman says he’s in for Attorney General

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman is running for the 2014 Republican nomination for Attorney General, he confirmed to the Tribune. Public announcements via social media are planned for Monday. Smitherman told the Tribune he hopes to continue the … Continue reading →

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A woman for the Governor’s Mansion

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Annie’s List sent out the following email last week: We’ve had it with Rick Perry.  First he added insulting anti-choice legislation to the Special Session agenda while ignoring funding for our schools. Then he did the unthinkable–vetoing the Texas Lilly … Continue reading →

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Perry still leads Abbott in UT/TT poll

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I remain unconvinced that Greg Abbott is a sure thing to be the GOP nominee for Governor next year. Only 25 percent of Texas voters — Republicans and Democrats — are ready to give Perry another term, saying they would … Continue reading →

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So where are the jobs he’s been trying to poach?

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

There’s an obvious question to ask about this story, but I don’t see it being asked. After a couple of high profile job-poaching trips to California and Illinois, Gov. Rick Perry is planning a new raid — this time on … Continue reading →

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Trying to read the Rick Perry tea leaves

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The National Journal takes a crack at it. Conventional wisdom holds that the longest continuously-serving governor in the country is done after almost 15 years on the job. But the CW might be changing: Maybe Perry wants another shot. This … Continue reading →

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Abbott is gearing up for Governor

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I have two things to say about this. Gov. Rick Perry hasn’t yet said whether he’s running for re-election — but Attorney General Greg Abbott doesn’t appear to be waiting for him to make up his mind. Abbott is collecting … Continue reading →

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Medicaid expansion is now double secret illegal

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. In a surprise turn in the House on Monday evening, a bill to reform Medicaid long-term and acute care services became a vehicle for the GOP’s platform against Medicaid expansion. “Many of us are very weary of Medicaid expansion,” … Continue reading →

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From the “Simple Answers To Simple Questions” department

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Is Rick Perry the next Comeback Kid? Americans love a comeback story. Tiger Woods has clawed himself back on top of the pro golf tour after a nasty scandal involving nightclub waitresses, lingerie models and his wife swinging a 9-iron … Continue reading →

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Davis says she’s not running for Governor next year

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

So much for that. State Sen. Wendy Davis, who has emerged as one of the most visible Democrats in the Capitol this session, says she has no plans to run for governor in 2014, but will seek another term representing … Continue reading →

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The politics of refusing Medicaid expansion

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Ron Brownstein posits that by his stubborn and increasingly isolated resistance to Medicaid expansion, including via the Arkansas option, Rick Perry is putting Republicans in electoral danger in Texas. Brownstein runs through the economic arguments and touches on the legislative … Continue reading →

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Pauken for Governor

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We have our first official non-fringe candidate for Governor next year. Saying he hoped to reunite the “Reagan coalition of social and economic conservatives,” former Texas Workforce Commissioner Tom Pauken confirmed to the Tribune that he will file to run … Continue reading →

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Trib poll shows Perry leading Abbott

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Make of this what you will. Gov. Rick Perry would defeat Attorney General Greg Abbott by a nearly 3-to-1 margin if a Republican gubernatorial primary were held today, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Such a contest … Continue reading →

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Gubernatorial speculation: Mike Villarreal and Bill White

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

A few days back, BOR had a post about who was on deck for 2014, and the first two candidates they speculated about for Governor were two I had not talked about here before, State Rep. Mike Villarreal and 2010 … Continue reading →

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PPP polls Texas

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Texas voters- even Republicans- have had enough of Rick Perry. PPP’s newest poll finds that only 31% of voters think Perry should seek reelection next year, compared to 62% who think it’s … Continue reading →

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Until there’s something to talk about we’ll talk about the talk

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I have two things to say about this. Attorney General Greg Abbott doesn’t want to talk about whether he is running for governor, but he is in overdrive on all the issues that make him a leading contender for the … Continue reading →

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How about Ellis 2014?

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Michael Hurta makes an observation. The only Democratic legislator in Texas who is not up for reelection in 2014 yet also has seven figures in his campaign bank account is Rodney Ellis. Will we hear any Ellis for Governor rumors … Continue reading →

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Optimism abounds at inauguration time

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Inauguration time is always a good time to be optimistic. Texas Democrats haven’t had a lot to cheer about in recent years. As San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro is quick to remind you, the political score in Texas is 29-0. … Continue reading →

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When, Wendy?

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

When will Sen. Wendy Davis run for statewide office? Fortified by a convincing re-election victory, state Sen. Wendy Davis is resuming her role as a fierce critic of Republican-led education cuts as she enters her third regular session of the … Continue reading →

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Abbott’s millions

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

If there’s one thing Attorney General Greg Abbott is good at, it’s accumulating money. Fueling growing speculation of a bid for the Texas Governor’s Mansion, Attorney General Greg Abbott reported Tuesday he has amassed a campaign war chest of $18 … Continue reading →

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