Tag Archives: Congress

SJL accused of retaliation against staffer

Posted on January 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Not good. Houston Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee, under fire from a former aide’s lawsuit alleging she was fired in connection with a sexual assault complaint, said Wednesday that she will step down temporarily as chairwoman of a key House Judiciary … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged CD18, Congress, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Damian Jones, lawsuit, rape, Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas | 6 Comments

What if he does it anyway?

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

That’s my question. Gov. Greg Abbott, the state’s two Republican U.S. senators and a bipartisan group of 20 U.S. House members released a letter stating their staunch opposition to raiding Texas’ hard-fought Harvey money. “Recent reports have indicated that your … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, National news | Tagged Bill Flores, border fence, Brian Babin, Congress, Dan Crenshaw, Donald Trump, Filemon Vela, Greg Abbott, Henry Cuellar, John Carter, John Cornyn, Kay Granger, Kenny Marchant, Kevin Brady, Lance Gooden, Lizzie FLetcher, Mike Conaway, Mike McCaul, Pete Olson, Randy Weber, Roger Williams, Senate, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sylvia Garcia, Ted Cruz, Texas, Vicente Gonzalez, Will Hurd | 2 Comments

Trying again to primary Cuellar

Posted on January 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck. It’s not going to be easy. A grass-roots Democratic group that helped power the upset victory of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has identified a Texas Democrat as its first target ahead of the 2020 congressional primaries — but … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged Adrian Garcia, Al Green, Beto O'Rourke, CD16, CD28, CD29, Chris Bell, Ciro Rodriguez, Congress, Craig Washington, Democratic primary, Election 1994, Election 1996, Election 2004, Election 2012, Election 2014, Election 2018, Election 2020, Gene Green, Greg Laughlin, Henry Cuellar, John Ratcliffe, Justice Democrats, Ralph Hall, Ron Paul, Sheila Jackson Lee, Silvestre Reyes, Texas | 1 Comment

2020 is starting early

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Example One: The calendar just turned to 2019, but the 2020 race for Congressional seats in Texas is already on. A few days after Christmas, San Antonio resident Liz Wahl, 33, a former cable television news anchor, filed papers in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged CD02, CD23, CD32, Colin Allred, Congress, Dan Crenshaw, Democratic primary, Election 2018, Election 2020, Elisa Cardnell, fundraising, Gina Ortiz Jones, Liz Wahl, Nancy Pelosi, NRCC, Texas, Todd Litton, Will Hurd | 2 Comments

The losers of 2018

Posted on December 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Allow me to point you to the Observer’s list of six Texas political players who lost power in 2018. I’d call it five-sixths of a good list, plus one entry I don’t quite understand. 3) Bexar County Democrats Want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Beto O'Rourke, Bexar County, Carlos Uresti, CD23, Congress, Election 2016, Election 2018, Election 2020, Gina Ortiz Jones, Governor, Greg Abbott, Joaquin Castro, Julian Castro, Pete Flores, Pete Gallego, President, runoff, SD19, Senate, special election, Texas, turnout, Will Hurd | Comments Off

From the “If at first you don’t succeed” department

Posted on December 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Three Dem Congressional candidates from 2018 may try again in 2020. Among the typically deep-red districts that came down to single digits were three races around Harris County. Incumbent Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, and Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, won by … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged CD02, CD10, CD22, Congress, Dan Crenshaw, Democratic primary, Election 2018, Election 2020, fundraising, Mike McCaul, Mike Siegel, Pete Olson, Sri Kulkarni, Texas, Todd Litton, turnout | 1 Comment

The Harris County GOP has not hit bottom yet

Posted on December 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I have four thing to say about this. Drubbed. Shellacked. Whooped. Walloped. Routed. However you want to describe November’s midterm election, it was disastrous for Harris County Republicans. They were swept from the remaining countywide posts they held — the other shoe … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Adrian Garcia, CD02, CD07, CD10, CD22, Commissioners Court, Congress, Constable, Dan Crenshaw, Election 2010, Election 2012, Election 2014, Election 2016, Election 2018, Election 2020, Election 2022, Election 2024, Harris County, HCDE, HD126, HD129, HD132, HD133, HD134, HD135, HD138, HD150, Jack Morman, Justice of the Peace, Lizzie FLetcher, Paul Simpson, redistricting, Republican Party, Steve Radack, straight ticket voting, Texas, The Lege, turnout, voter registration | 21 Comments

More Congressional retirement speculation

Posted on December 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From Roll Call: Life in the minority will be a new experience for most House Republicans next year. And many of them may not remember what happened the last time the GOP lost the House. After the 2006 Democratic wave, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged Beto O'Rourke, CD02, CD03, CD06, CD07, CD10, CD21, CD22, CD23, CD24, CD25, CD31, CD32, Congress, Election 2018, Election 2020, Kenny Marchant, Pete Olson, Texas | 2 Comments

Pete Sessions’ fine whine

Posted on December 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

There ain’t enough cheese in the entire state of Wisconsin to accompany this. Rep. Pete Sessions’ campaign might be over. But he isn’t over it. The Dallas Republican is still smoldering about the circumstances that led to his decisive loss … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018, General snarkiness | Tagged CD32, Colin Allred, Congress, Election 2018, Election 2020, Pete Sessions, Texas | 1 Comment

The Blake Farenthold Memorial Sexual Harassment Bill

Posted on December 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

That’s what this should be called. Less than a year after Corpus Christi Republican Blake Farenthold left Congress behind with an $84,000 settlement for sexual harassment, the House and Senate have agreed to make lawmakers pay their own misconduct judgments. … Continue reading →

Posted in National news, Scandalized! | Tagged Blake Farenthold, Congress, ethics, lawsuit, sexual harassment, Texas | 1 Comment

One Stockman aide sentenced

Posted on December 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

He cooperated. A federal judge Wednesday sentenced an ex-GOP congressional aide to prison for 18 months for helping former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman illegally pilfer $1.25 million in campaign funds from wealthy Republican political donors. Thomas Dodd, a 40-year-old Houstonian, … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged CD36, Congress, Steve Stockman, Texas | Comments Off

The changing tides in Central Texas

Posted on December 4, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From the Statesman: Six Democrats came within 5 points or fewer in six Texas races, including three districts in Central Texas where Republicans traditionally win easily. Democrats now hold 13 of 36 Texas congressional seats. “This is about persistence. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Beto O'Rourke, CD10, CD21, CD25, CD31, Congress, demography, Election 2014, Election 2016, Election 2018, Election 2020, Hillary Clinton, I-35, Joe Kopser, John Cornyn, Julie Oliver, Mike Siegel, MJ Hegar, Senate, Texas, The Lege, Travis County, turnout, Williamson County | 1 Comment

Who might be next to retire from Congress?

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We may see some more exits in the coming years, some voluntary and some not. Retirement talk is generally speculative until an incumbent makes an official announcement. But many Republican operatives bet that U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, the most senior … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018, Election 2020 | Tagged Beto O'Rourke, CD04, CD10, CD13, CD14, CD15, CD16, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD24, CD25, CD31, CD35, CD36, Congress, Democratic primary, Election 2012, Election 2018, Election 2020, Election 2022, Joaquin Castro, John Carter, John Ratcliffe, Kenny Marchant, Lloyd Doggett, Mac Thornberry, Mike McCaul, Pete Olson, Randy Neugebauer, Randy Weber, redistricting, Roger Williams, Ruben Hinojosa, Senate, Silvestre Reyes, Steve Stockman, Texas | 1 Comment

The next round of redistricting is going to be even more fun

Posted on December 2, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Close races do complicate things. Texas Republicans collected half of the votes statewide in congressional races this month. But even after Democrats flipped two districts, toppling GOP veterans in Dallas and Houston, Republicans will control 23 of the state’s 36 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Beto O'Rourke, CD02, CD06, CD07, CD10, CD23, CD24, CD31, CD32, Colin Allred, Congress, Election 2018, Election 2020, John Carter, John Culberson, Kenny Marchant, Legislative Redistricting Board, Lizzie FLetcher, Mike McCaul, Mike Siegel, MJ Hegar, Pete Sessions, redistricting, Ted Cruz, Texas, The Lege | 5 Comments

Someone other than me notices CD24

Posted on November 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The closest race no one was paying attention to. Last week’s midterm elections showed that the Texas electorate is changing dramatically, and even Republicans who survived found themselves with surprisingly close calls after coasting to reelection for years. One U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Beto O'Rourke, CD24, Congress, Donald Trump, Election 2016, Election 2018, fundraising, Jan McDowell, Kenny Marchant, redistricting, Texas, Tom DeLay | 2 Comments

On straight tickets and other votes

Posted on November 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I have and will continue to have more to say about straight ticket votes. Part of me is reluctant to talk about this stuff, because I feel like we’ve reached a point where straight ticket votes are seen as less … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Adam Milasincic, Adrian Garcia, Allison Sawyer, Andrea Duhon, CD02, CD07, Commissioners Court, Congress, Dan Crenshaw, Dwayne Bohac, Election 2018, Gary Elkins, Gina Calanni, Harris County, HCDE, HD126, HD132, HD134, HD135, HD138, Jack Cagle, Jack Morman, John Culberson, Jon Rosenthal, Josh Flynn, Lizzie FLetcher, Mike Schofield, Natali Hurtado, Penny Shaw, Sam Harless, Sarah Davis, straight ticket voting, Texas, The Lege, Todd Litton | 15 Comments

So you want to run for something in 2020

Posted on November 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

You’re an ambitious Democrat in Harris County. You saw what happened these last two elections, and you think it’s your time to step up and run for office. What are your options that don’t involved primarying a Democratic incumbent? 1. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged 14th Court of Appeals, CD02, CD10, CD22, Congress, Constable, Court of Criminal Appeals, Dan Crenshaw, Democratic primary, Don Sumners, Donna Bahorich, Election 2008, Election 2012, Election 2014, Election 2016, Election 2018, Election 2020, Election 2022, First Court of Appeals, Harris County, Harris County Attorney, HCDE, HD126, HD129, HD133, HD138, HD150, John Cornyn, judicial races, Justice of the Peace, Larry Taylor, Michael Wolfe, SBOE, SD11, Senate, Supreme Court, Texas, Todd Litton, Vince Ryan | 14 Comments

Yes, we’re already looking ahead to 2020

Posted on November 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Close races one year fuel speculation about the next. Much of the immediate speculation about 2020 in Texas has centered on O’Rourke, who was being discussed as a potential presidential candidate even before he reached the finish line in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged Beto O'Rourke, CD22, CD31, Congress, Democratic primary, Election 2018, Election 2020, fundraising, John Cornyn, Julian Castro, Kim Olson, MJ Hegar, President, Railroad Commission, SD19, Senate, Sri Kulkarni, Texas, The Lege | 1 Comment

Precinct analysis: The two key CDs

Posted on November 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I want to break out of my usual precinct analysis posts to focus on the two big Congressional districts that were held by Republicans going into this election and are entirely within Harris County, CD02 and CD07. CD07 Candidate Votes … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Barack Obama, Beto O'Rourke, CD02, CD07, Congress, Dan Crenshaw, demography, Donald Trump, Election 2012, Election 2014, Election 2016, Election 2018, Election 2020, Harris County, Hillary Clinton, James Cargas, John Culberson, Lizzie FLetcher, Mitt Romney, precinct analysis, President, Senate, Ted Cruz, Ted Poe, Texas, Todd Litton, turnout, voter registration | 1 Comment

Ortiz Jones concedes in CD23

Posted on November 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Thus endeth that race. Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones conceded Monday in her challenge to U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, ensuring a third term for Hurd in his perennial battleground district. “While we came up short this time, we ran a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Beto O'Rourke, Bexar County, CD23, Congress, Election 2018, Election 2020, Gina Ortiz Jones, Medina County, provisional ballots, Texas, Will Hurd | 8 Comments

Precinct analysis: Beto does Harris County

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

He won pretty much everywhere you looked. So let’s look at the numbers: Dist Cruz Beto Dike Cruz% Beto% Trump% Clint% ============================================================= CD02 132,390 129,160 2,047 50.22% 49.00% 52.38% 43.05% CD07 112,078 129,781 1,843 45.99% 53.25% 47.11% 48.47% CD08 17,552 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Beto O'Rourke, CD02, Commissioners Court, Congress, Donald Trump, Election 2016, Election 2018, Harris County, HD126, HD129, HD133, HD138, HD150, Hillary Clinton, precinct analysis, SBOE, Senate, Steve Radack, Ted Cruz, The Lege | 6 Comments

And now for some statewide whining about straight ticket voting

Posted on November 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I have four things to say about this. Straight-ticket voting will end before the 2020 elections, bringing Texas into line with the vast majority of states. But the change didn’t come early enough to save Emmett — or a host … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Beto O'Rourke, Congress, Dan Patrick, Ed Emmett, Election 2018, Election 2020, Harris County, Kelly Hancock, Ron Simmons, Senate, straight ticket voting, Texas, The Lege, turnout | 4 Comments

The Fort Bend blue wave

Posted on November 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s not forget that what happened in Harris County happened in Fort Bend, too. Across the state, the “blue wave” that had long been a dream of the Democratic Party faithful failed to materialize in Tuesday’s midterm elections, with Republicans … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Barack Obama, Beto O'Rourke, Brian Middleton, CD22, Commissioners Court, Congress, County Judge, demography, District Attorney, District Clerk, Donald Trump, Election 2008, Election 2016, Election 2018, Fort Bend County, HD26, HD28, KP George, Meghan Scoggins, Pete Olson, Sarah DeMerchant, Sri Kulkarni, Texas, The Lege, turnout | 8 Comments

How Lizzie Fletcher won

Posted on November 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Now, having flipped a seat controlled for the last 52 years by Republicans, [Rep.-elect Lizzie] Fletcher heads to Washington with a target on her back, but also a desire to legislate with … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Beto O'Rourke, CD07, Congress, DCCC, Democratic primary, Election 2008, Election 2016, Election 2018, Election 2020, John Culberson, Laura Moser, Lizzie FLetcher, Mike Skelly, Nick Lampson, Texas, turnout | 7 Comments

An update on the close races

Posted on November 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good news from Harris County. Fresh tallies of absentee and provisional ballots narrowed state Rep. Dwayne Bohac’s margin over Democrat Adam Milasincic to 47 votes, while incumbent Republican Mike Schofield of Katy trailed Democratic challenger Gina Calanni by 113 votes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged absentee ballots, Adam Milasincic, CD23, Collin County, Congress, Dallas County, Dwayne Bohac, Election 2018, Gina Calanni, Gina Ortiz Jones, Harris County, HD108, HD132, HD138, HD66, Joanna Cattanach, Matt Shaheen, Medina County, Mike Schofield, Morgan Meyer, provisional ballots, recount, Sharon Hirsch, Texas, The Lege, Will Hurd | Comments Off

Initial thoughts: Congress

Posted on November 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll be honest: I never felt particularly confident about winning CD07 or CD32. Not because Lizzie Fletcher and Colin Allred weren’t excellent candidates, or anything to do with the trends of the national environment or what have you. I just … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Beto O'Rourke, CD02, CD06, CD07, CD10, CD21, CD22, CD23, CD24, CD25, CD31, CD32, Colin Allred, Congress, Donald Trump, Election 2016, Election 2018, Election 2020, Gina Ortiz Jones, Hillary Clinton, Jan McDowell, Lizzie FLetcher, redistricting, Texas, turnout, Will Hurd | 6 Comments

Ortiz Jones requests more time for provisional ballots

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

She did not succeed, however. A Bexar County judge denied a request by Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones, who trails incumbent Republican Will Hurd by a few hundred votes in the race for the most competitive congressional district in Texas, to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged absentee ballots, Bexar County, CD23, Congress, Election 2018, Gina Ortiz Jones, provisional ballots, recount, Texas, Will Hurd | Comments Off

CD23 update

Posted on November 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Today is the last day to cure a provisional ballot. In the meantime, the counting goes on in the closest Texas Congressional race. Election officials in 29 Texas counties are furiously counting outstanding votes in the Congressional District 23 election, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged absentee ballots, Adam Milasincic, Bexar County, CD23, Congress, Department of Motor Vehicles, Dwayne Bohac, Election 2018, Gina Calanni, Gina Ortiz Jones, HD108, HD132, HD138, Joanna Cattanach, Mike Schofield, Morgan Meyer, provisional ballots, recount, Texas, The Lege, voter registration, Will Hurd | 1 Comment

Garcia officially resigns from the Senate

Posted on November 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We will finally get that special election to succeed her in SD06. State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, a Democrat elected to Congress earlier this week, announced Friday she is resigning from the Texas Senate, setting in motion a process to fill … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018, Election 2019 | Tagged Ana Hernandez, Carol Alvarado, CD29, Congress, Election 2018, Election 2019, Greg Abbott, HD143, HD145, runoff, SD06, Senate, special election, Sylvia Garcia, Texas, The Lege | 4 Comments

How many recounts might there be?

Posted on November 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

More than one, is my guess. On Wednesday, Dallas state Rep. Morgan Meyer, a Republican, tweeted that he was “honored and grateful” voters had decided to send him back to the Texas Legislature for another term in office. But his … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged absentee ballots, Adam Milasincic, CD23, Congress, Dwayne Bohac, Election 2018, Gina Calanni, Gina Ortiz Jones, HD108, HD132, HD138, HD66, Joanna Cattanach, Matt Shaheen, Mike Schofield, Morgan Meyer, provisional ballots, recount, Sharon Hirsch, Texas, The Lege, Will Hurd | 4 Comments

The CD23 race isn’t quite over yet

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I believe it is highly unlikely that the outcome in CD23 will change from the current close win for Rep. Will Hurd, but we are not done counting the votes just yet. The Texas congressional race between incumbent Republican Will … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged absentee ballots, Bexar County, CD23, Congress, El Paso, Election 2016, Election 2018, Gina Ortiz Jones, Maverick County, Medina County, Pete Gallego, polls, provisional ballots, recount, Texas, turnout, Val Verde County, Will Hurd | 1 Comment

Metro’s post-Culberson future

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

You might not be aware of this, but famously anti-Metro Congressman John Culberson lost his bid for re-election on Tuesday. What might that mean for Metro? In one of the more stunning defeats of incumbent Republicans on Tuesday night, Lizzie … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged BRT, budget, Carrin Patman, CD07, Commissioners Court, Congress, Election 2018, Election 2019, HGAC, Houston, John Culberson, light rail, Lizzie FLetcher, Metro, Richmond, University line, Uptown line | 5 Comments

Stockman gets ten years

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Fitting. Former Congressman Steve Stockman, a Tea Party stalwart who represented East Texas during two non-consecutive terms, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on Wednesday for his role in a wide-ranging scheme that included a spy operation aimed … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged Congress, FBI, Jason Posey, Steve Stockman, Texas | 6 Comments

From the “I may have spoken too soon” department

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

First, Will Hurd was declared the winner in CD23. But there were still a few precincts out, some in deep red Medina County and others in El Paso County. Hurd started the evening with a 6K early vote lead, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged CD23, Congress, Election 2018, Gina Calanni, Gina Ortiz Jones, HD132, Mike Schofield, recount, Secretary of State, Texas, The Lege, Will Hurd | 9 Comments

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