Tag Archives: Congress

Interview with Letitia Plummer

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I did not do interviews in all of the contested Democratic primaries this year. There were just too many of them, with too many candidates, for me to be able to get to them all in the … Continue reading →

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Nine for CD27

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

And they’re off. Nine candidates have filed for the June 30 special election to finish former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold’s term, according to the secretary of state’s office. The deadline was 5 p.m. Friday. As expected, the group includes the … Continue reading →

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The case against expediting the CD27 special election

Posted on April 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Erica Greider does not approve of Greg Abbott’s actions in CD27. All things considered, then, I find it hard to believe that Abbott’s decision was motivated by his altruistic concern for the Texans who live in this district. What disturbs … Continue reading →

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Abbott wants to send Farenthold a bill for the CD27 special election

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck with that. Gov. Greg Abbott is demanding that former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold “cover all costs” of the special election to fill his seat using the $84,000 the Corpus Christi Republican used to settle a sexual harassment claim … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS hears the redistricting arguments

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s in their hands now. Much of the argument concerned the issue of whether the case was properly before the justices at all. Last year, a three-judge panel of the Federal District Court for the Western District of Texas, in … Continue reading →

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Special election set in CD27

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. Gov. Greg Abbott has called a June 30 special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi. The candidate filing deadline is Friday, and early voting will run from June 13-26, according to the governor’s … Continue reading →

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Today is Texas redistricting day at SCOTUS

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron sets the table. The nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court will take their seats Tuesday morning to hear a case that could remake the political map of Texas. Hidden in the legalese of “interlocutory injunctions” and “statutory … Continue reading →

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CD07 candidate forum

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Happening tomorrow, at the Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Road, Houston, Texas 77055, from 6:15 to 8:45. My guess, as this is the way these things tend to go, is that there will be some mix-and-mingle time with the … Continue reading →

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April 2018 campaign finance reports: Congress

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here are the Q2 finance reports, here are the Q3 finance reports, here are the January 2018 finance reports, and here’s the FEC summary page for Democratic Congressional candidates in Texas. Let’s get to it. Todd Litton – CD02 Lori … Continue reading →

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Abbott does want a special election in CD27

Posted on April 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Well all righty then. Gov. Greg Abbott wants to hold a special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, as soon as possible.That’s according to a letter he sent Thursday to Attorney General Ken Paxton, seeking guidance on whether … Continue reading →

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An article about Congressional race in Texas that doesn’t mention CD07

Posted on April 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Who knew that was even legal? Several of the most truly competitive House races in the country are in Texas, which could wind up providing Democrats three or more of the 24 flipped seats that they need for control of … Continue reading →

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Are Texas Republicans really worried about Trump for November?

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I mean, I guess they are. They’ve seen what has happened around the country, in other elections and other red places. I don’t know how worried they are, or how worried they should be. This is a Red State where … Continue reading →

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Someone needs to sue Blake Farenthold

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

That’s my response to this. Four months after U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold promised to repay an $84,000 sexual harassment settlement funded by taxpayers — and 11 days after the Republican resigned his Corpus Christi seat — he has yet to … Continue reading →

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The math on redistricting

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not just that Republicans drew themselves a favorable map. It’s that they drew a durable favorable map. Thanks to those very effective Republican redistricting maps, Texas Democrats would have to improve their statewide election results by more than 10 … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of CD07 runoff

Posted on April 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t know how much there is here we didn’t already know, but this is the marquee local runoff, so it gets the attention. On paper, there is little to separate attorney Lizzie Pannill Fletcher and writer-activist Laura Moser, the two … Continue reading →

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Cruz’s lesser fundraising haul

Posted on April 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not that little, Ted. Really. When U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke announced his latest fundraising haul earlier this month – a stunning $6.7 million – it was widely expected to surpass what his rival, Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, brought … Continue reading →

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Stockman convicted

Posted on April 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Turn out the lights, the party’s over. Former U.S. Congressman Steve Stockman — a political maverick once viewed as a champion of right-wing causes — was taken into federal custody Thursday after a jury convicted him of masterminding a wide-ranging … Continue reading →

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Stockman trial: Off to the jury

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Please return a verdict. The defense team for former U.S. Congressman Steve Stockman told jurors Monday the ex- GOP lawmaker did not plot a massive fraud scheme, but said the government should have targeted two wealthy conservative donors for making … Continue reading →

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Farenthold resigns

Posted on April 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

So long, Ducky. U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, resigned on Friday. The decision marks the capstone of a tumultuous few months for the four-term congressman, who has been dogged by sexual harassment allegations and an ongoing ethics investigation. “While … Continue reading →

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Stockman trial update: Defense rests

Posted on April 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

And we’re done. The defense rested its case Thursday in ex-GOP congressman Steve Stockman’s federal campaign fraud trial, after calling only two witnesses who together testified for less than an hour. The former Republican lawmaker from Clear Lake told the … Continue reading →

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It’s going to be redistricting time for Texas at SCOTUS soon

Posted on April 6, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an update. In their latest brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, the voting and minority rights groups challenging Texas’ political maps painted Republican state lawmakers as “opportunistically inconsistent in their treatment of appearance versus reality.” Pointing to the lawmakers’ … Continue reading →

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The CD02 primary runoff

Posted on April 6, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, yeah, that’s happening. Kevin Roberts already overcame a $6 million onslaught from self-funding multimillionaire Kathaleen Wall to keep his hopes of winning a seat in Congress alive. Now the Republican’s challenge is beating retired Navy SEAL Dan Crenshaw, a … Continue reading →

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Stockman trial update: The prosecution abides

Posted on April 5, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From Monday: The second of two key government witnesses took the stand late Monday in Houston in the federal fraud trial of former U.S. Congressman Steve Stockman, telling jurors his main duty on the ex-lawmaker’s staff was to “just do … Continue reading →

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Beto’s big haul

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, raised over $6.7 million for his U.S. Senate bid in the first quarter of 2018, according to his campaign, a staggering number that poses a new category of threat to Republican incumbent Ted … Continue reading →

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Who are you calling lazy?

Posted on April 2, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

This makes me laugh. On paper, Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas) appears to be a shoo-in for reelection. He‘s served nine terms in what’s been a GOP stronghold for decades, hasn’t had a serious challenger in years and sits on one … Continue reading →

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Stockman trial update: Tanning salons and dolphin boat rides

Posted on April 1, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I love this trial so much. It’s the gift that keeps on giving, about the grifter we all deserve. Former U.S. Congressman Steve Stockman spent $450,000 in charitable funds from an East Coast philanthropist on personal expenses including dolphin boat … Continue reading →

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Everybody should be counted

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The 2020 Census has big challenges, especially in Texas. But even two years out from the 2020 count, local officials, demographers, community organizers and advocates say they are worried the census could be particularly tough to carry out in Texas … Continue reading →

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The prosecution keeps piling on Steve Stockman

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From Monday: A fundraising director who quit and returned most of his salary after four days as an employee of ex-U.S. Congressman Steve Stockman characterized the work environment as “horrific” for Washington, D.C., interns, according to his testimony in the … Continue reading →

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The DCCC elsewhere in Texas

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’m OK with this. The U.S. House Democratic campaign arm may well be at war with another Texas Democrat. Lillian Salerno, a Democratic House candidate in the Dallas-based 32nd Congressional District, pushed out a fiery news release on Thursday afternoon … Continue reading →

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Scenes from the March For Our Lives

Posted on March 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From Houston: Nearly 15,000 descended Saturday morning on downtown Houston for the city’s March For Our Lives, advocating for greater gun control in light of last month’s Florida school shooting. A mix of children and adults gathered in Houston’s Tranquility … Continue reading →

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The Stockman trial gets weird

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I mean, with Steve Stockman you have to expect some weird crap, but I didn’t see this coming. The American Phoenix Foundation — a now-defunct conservative activist groupknown for attempting undercover stings of lawmakers and lobbyists — planted an intern in … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of CD07 runoff

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Democrats looking for a ray of hope in Houston’s Republican-leaning Seventh Congressional District have their sights locked on an apparent upset victory in a conservative Pennsylvania district that President Donald Trump won … Continue reading →

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Stockman trial update

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From Tuesday: “This case is the story of how the defendant over the course of four years exploited the trust and charity of others to pull off a massive scam,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Heberle, of the Justice Department’s public … Continue reading →

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Steve Stockman’s trial has begun

Posted on March 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Hope you have your popcorn ready. A year after he was charged with running a wide-ranging scheme to divert charitable donations to pay for campaign and personal expenses, former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman is scheduled to begin a month-long trial … Continue reading →

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