Tag Archives: Election 2016

When is Texas going to file that voter ID appeal?

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Lone Star Project would like to know. Last week, Texas AG Ken Paxton made a big show in the press by announcing that he would file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the ruling of the 5th … Continue reading →

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Another Voting Rights Act violation alleged

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From Friday: Today, a coalition of 10 groups sent a letter to Carlos Casco, Secretary of State of Texas, requesting that his office take immediate steps to comply with the federal Voting Rights Act of 1985 (VRA) and the Texas … Continue reading →

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Three more candidates announce campaigns for open HISD Trustee seat

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox, candidate number 1: Victoria Bryant, an entrepreneur and businesswoman, announced her candidacy today, August 15, for Houston ISD Trustee in District VII. The position is up for election this November with the resignation of Harvin Moore, one … Continue reading →

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What can we do to increase the odds of a downballot Democratic victory?

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday, I raised the possibility of downballot Democrats winning statewide races if 1) polling in the Trump/Clinton matchup remained at or below the six point spread in the recent PPP poll and 2) Democrats did a better job voting all … Continue reading →

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Getting ready for the new voter ID universe

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a scramble. With roughly two months before early voting starts, Texas election officials are facing the difficult task of training thousands of poll workers and educating the public about court-ordered changes to a voter ID law – all while … Continue reading →

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It’s not crazy to think that a downballot Democrat could win statewide this year

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll get to that headline in a minute. I’ve got some reading to sort through first. We’ll start with the most pessimistic, or perhaps the least blue-sky, story of how things are likely to go. Arizona. Georgia. Utah. Indiana. Is … Continue reading →

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Who watches the election watchers?

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

What could possibly go wrong with this? In 2012, Greg Abbott caused a stir when he issued this warning to international election observers: Don’t set foot inside Texas polling places. Abbott, then the attorney general, was worried the Organization for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Voter registration numbers keep increasing

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Always good news, though it’s hard to say anything definitive. County elections officials across Texas are reporting a spike in registered voters this election cycle, with one county now exceeding one million registered voters for the first time ever. Earlier … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Optimism for the future

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

WIRED does what it has never done before. For nearly a quarter of a century, this organization has championed a specific way of thinking about tomorrow. If it’s true, as the writer William Gibson once had it, that the future … Continue reading →

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More on the latest voting rights lawsuit ruling

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Coverage from the Chron: In contrast to the discourse over the voter ID law, it’s not clear there are many political stakes over the law [Judge Robert] Pitman tossed out Friday. There are enough Hispanic and Latino voters in every … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The early work continues

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron continues its way-early rollout of general election endorsements by giving their blessing to four Justice of the Peace candidates. Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 1: Eric William Carter The Democratic candidate Eric William Carter, 33, is … Continue reading →

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Laredo plastic bag ban overturned

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. The Fourth Court of Appeals on Wednesday sided with merchants and free-market groups who argued that Laredo’s ban on single-use bags is illegal because it is pre-empted by state law regulating solid waste disposal. The 2-1 ruling overturned a … Continue reading →

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Evan McMullin to sue for ballot access in Texas

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

You know, that guy who recently turned up as the latest NeverTrump dreamboat? He wants on the ballot in Texas. Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin, an ex-CIA officer and congressional policy wonk who launched his campaign last week to offer … Continue reading →

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Texas to appeal voter ID ruling to SCOTUS

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sure, whatever. Texas plans to file an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court challenging a lower court decision that found the state’s voter ID law discriminates against minorities. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office said Tuesday it will appeal the ruling … Continue reading →

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PPP: Trump 44, Clinton 38

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We knew this poll was coming, and it confirms what we have been seeing elsewhere. PPP’s new Texas poll finds a relatively tight race, at least on the curve of recent Presidential election results in the state. Donald Trump leads … Continue reading →

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Strange HISD referendum to be on the ballot

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This will be weird. Because of the state’s byzantine financing system, HISD will have to either send almost $162 million in local taxpayers’ money to the state or stand by to see some of the district’s most valuable properties assigned … Continue reading →

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Texas loses another voting rights lawsuit

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge Friday blocked Texas from enforcing a state law that limits the availability of interpreters in polling places, ruling that it violates protections guaranteed by the U.S. Voting Rights Act. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert … Continue reading →

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Anne Sung will run for HISD

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From Facebook: I am running for HISD School Board-Position 7 in November 2016 and I invite you to join me in my campaign. As a proud graduate of TH Rogers and Bellaire High School, I know how important a high … Continue reading →

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Still considering the possibility that Hillary could win Texas

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Josh Barro looks at recent national poll numbers and contemplates the possibilities. If things get just a little bit worse for Trump nationally, he could start losing a lot of states we normally think of as very safe for Republicans … Continue reading →

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Beatty’s memo

Posted on August 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the Trib: Texas Democrats are being told they have their “greatest opportunities in a generation” this November with Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee and majorities of voters viewing corruption as a major problem in state government. Austin-based … Continue reading →

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KTVT/Dixie Strategies poll: Trump 46, Clinton 35

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s poll #3 for Texas. Most national presidential polls have put Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in front of GOP nominee Donald Trump by as much as 15 percentage points. But the latest KTVT-CBS 11/Dixie Strategies Poll shows that the Lone … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Still not wasting any time

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes a Civil Court endorsement, way ahead of when they normally do this sort of thing. Harris County Civil Court at Law 1 doesn’t handle the big-money issues that are bread and butter for white-shoe law firms. But … Continue reading →

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Heights alcohol rule change petitions verified

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The item will be on the ballot, pending Council approval. City Secretary Anna Russell confirmed that the Houston Heights Beverage Coalition gathered 1,759 valid signatures for its petition submitted last month, 248 more than required by law. The Houston City … Continue reading →

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Voter ID changes approved

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We’re all set. Texas’ voter ID law, cast as the strictest in the nation, will be substantially watered down during November’s election after a federal judge Wednesday approved a deal that allows those lacking required identification to cast a ballot … Continue reading →

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Did Steve Radack really say that?

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently so. Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack recently said some people want to get flooded so they can cash in, and he’s not backing down from his comments. Radack says this was one minute of a 90-minute community meeting in … Continue reading →

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Once more on HD146

Posted on August 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Christopher Hooks from the Observer was at Saturday’s festivities, and he files his report. And on Saturday, 24 precinct chairs met in a small room full of folding chairs at the Sunnyside Multi-Service Center in south Houston to pick Miles’ … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: P for Trump

Posted on August 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Better to be P’ed off than P’ed on, as they say. Land Commissioner George P. Bush, who has not endorsed Donald Trump, is now asking Texas Republicans to support the party’s presidential nominee. Addressing state GOP activists Saturday, Bush said … Continue reading →

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Sid Miller joins Team Trump

Posted on August 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Awesome. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said Friday he is working with GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign to help lead an agriculture team. In an interview with KFYO’s Chad Hasty, Miller described the effort, likely to be announced next … Continue reading →

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Thierry wins HD146 nomination

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Our long strange trip is finally over. Democratic party precinct chairs chose their replacement Saturday morning for a vacant spot on the party’s November ballot. Attorney Shawn Thierry secured the nomination for House District 146, a seat left empty after … Continue reading →

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Appeals court blocks litigation against payday lenders

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Lousy. The Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio derailed a class action lawsuit aimed at keeping payday lenders from using the state’s criminal justice system as de facto collection agencies. The suit filed by 1,400 plaintiffs argued that Cash … Continue reading →

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HD146 nomination process is today

Posted on August 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

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 →

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Harvin Moore to resign as HISD Trustee

Posted on August 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Best wishes. Harvin Moore, one of the Houston school board’s longest-serving members, said Thursday that he is resigning his seat. Moore, who has served on the board since late 2003, has asked the board to call an election for November, … Continue reading →

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Harris County sued over disabled voting access

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to be interesting. Harris County, which includes Houston, has violated the Americans with Disabilities Act because many of its polling places are inaccessible to voters with disabilities, a new lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice alleges. … Continue reading →

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HD120 special election runoff decided

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

For completists only. Independent Laura Thompson has won the special election runoff to temporarily fill the Texas House seat of former state Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio. Thompson, a freelance writer, will be the first independent to serve in … Continue reading →

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