Tag Archives: Election 2018

Who wants to protect our voting systems from hackers?

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

You would hope the answer to that question would be “everyone”, but that’s not the world we currently live in. A bipartisan group of 21 state attorneys general are demanding Congress’ assistance in protecting the 2018 election. Writing to Rep. … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

July 2018 finance reports: Harris County candidates

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s take a look at where we stand with the candidates for county office. January report info is here. On we go: County Judge Ed Emmett Lina Hidalgo Commissioner, Precinct 2 Jack Morman Adrian Garcia Commissioner, Precinct 4 Jack Cagle … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

The STEM candidates

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

If there was ever a year for scientists to run for office, this was it. Across the country, hundreds of candidates with academic or professional experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics have left their businesses and laboratories to compete … Continue reading →

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Beto mostly accepts Cruz’s debate terms

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like we’re on. Beto O’Rourke, the Democratic nominee in Texas’ U.S. Senate race, is accepting Republican incumbent Ted Cruz’s proposal to debate five times over the next three months, though O’Rourke also is suggesting a few changes to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | 32 Comments

Checking in on SD19

Posted on July 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Election Day is Tuesday. Long before the seat opened up here in Texas Senate District 19, state Rep. Roland Gutierrez was traveling the massive district, making friends as far west as Big Bend National Park’s Brewster County in anticipation of … Continue reading →

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Paxton joins the wimp brigade

Posted on July 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Seems fitting. Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a TV interview that he would be “happy to debate anybody on the issues” as he seeks re-election this fall, but he is now backing off that offer by refusing to debate … Continue reading →

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

Republicans and Independents

Posted on July 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Something to ponder. The good news for President Trump in the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll — half of which was conducted before and the day of the Helsinki presser with Putin, half of which was conducted afterward — … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Council discusses firefighter pay parity proposal

Posted on July 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It will cost some money if it passes. Houston Fire Chief Sam Peña said Thursday that his firefighters deserve raises, but he would be hard-pressed to maintain his department budget without reducing his ranks if voters approve a measure granting … Continue reading →

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

Don’t expect any other debates

Posted on July 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Cowardice + lack of incentive = avoiding engagement. Land Commissioner George P. Bush (son of Jeb and nephew to George W.) has no plans to go one-on-one with his challenger, Miguel Suazo — at least, not as of Tuesday, July 24. … Continue reading →

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

What’s the deal with that Civiqs poll?

Posted on July 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, Markos at Daily Kos posted this: I didn’t want to believe Politico’s, “Beto-mania sweeps Texas.” But a look at our Civiqs Texas data (which we poll for our own use, not for any client), and holy shit, it’s … Continue reading →

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

Cruz proposes five debates

Posted on July 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

All on Fridays, but at least he’s offering something. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has challenged Democratic opponent Beto O’Rourke to five topical debates before Election Day, about three months after O’Rourke challenged Cruz to six. Cruz strategist Jeff Roe … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments

On campaigning for the flood bond

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

This is good, but I don’t know if it will be enough. The Harris County Flood Control District’s summer barnstorming tour of county watersheds to seek public input on its $2.5 billion flood bond proposal is getting officials exactly what … Continue reading →

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And now we’re going to fight about when elections can be

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I have thoughts about this. School districts and other local governments are intentionally holding elections at odd times this summer to drive down turnout in hopes it will help them win voter approval for tax increases and bond issues, state … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dan Patrick is a wimp

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, you’re such a big tough meanie, Danno. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick does not intend to debate his Democratic challenger, Mike Collier, before Election Day, according to Patrick’s campaign. “It’s no secret Lt. Governor Patrick relishes debates, but since his … Continue reading →

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

Sen. Garcia announces her resignation

Posted on July 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Not quite what I was expecting, but it will do. Moments ago I submitted a letter to @GregAbbott_TX informing him of my intent to resign from #txlege on 1/2/19. It’s been an unbelievable honor to fight for the people of … Continue reading →

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

Business groups file brief opposing Paxton’s anti-DACA lawsuit

Posted on July 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

This is good. A federal lawsuit by Texas officials earlier this year seeking to order the end of the federal immigration program called the Deferred Act for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, will have “immediate, irreparable injury” to Texas businesses and … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Fundraising: 2018 vs the rest of the decade

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

When I posted about the Q2 Congressional finance reports, I said I would try to put the totals in some more context at a later time. This is where I do that. Take a look at this table: Dist 2012 … Continue reading →

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Kinder Institute profiles Lisa Seger

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure what prompted them to pay attention to this particular race, but Lisa Seger is a good subject for such a profile. In November, Seger will become the first Democratic candidate to challenge Republican Cecil Bell of Magnolia for … Continue reading →

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

No quorum for very special Council meeting

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Close, but no cigar. A handful of city council members who organized a rare special meeting to push for a Houston firefighters petition seeking pay “parity” with police to appear on the November ballot fell short of a quorum Friday … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

The rising cost of losing

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Womp womp. The price of losing keeps going up for Republican Kathaleen Wall. Four months after losing her campaign for Congress, the Houston Republican had to put yet another $150,000 of her own money into her campaign to pay for … Continue reading →

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Debating dates

Posted on July 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We know what the best answer is. What the most likely answer is, I have no idea. The back-and-forth over when and where the two major candidates for Texas governor will debate continued Wednesday, with Democratic nominee Lupe Valdez announcing … Continue reading →

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

Two views of Democratic fundraising

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Positive: For the first time in a generation, there is a Democrat running for Congress in every single district in the state. Most of those candidates vying to unseat Republicans will likely lose. Many are running in districts where President … Continue reading →

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

July 2018 campaign finance reports: Congress

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

So we know that Texas Democratic Congressional challengers really crushed it in Q2, and that’s on top of three strong quarters before that. How good was it? Let’s quantify. Here are the July 2017 finance reports, here are the October … Continue reading →

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

A very special Council meeting

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Who knew there was such a thing? In a rare maneuver that sidesteps Mayor Sylvester Turner’s authority, five city council members have called a special meeting this week, hoping to force the issue of Houston firefighters’ push for a referendum … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dems keep posting very strong finance reports

Posted on July 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. There are few bigger warning signs for a member of Congress that their re-election may be in doubt than when a challenger outraises them. In Texas, it just happened to seven incumbents, all Republicans. Since last week, when U.S. … Continue reading →

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

Early voting in SD19 special election has begun

Posted on July 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The summer of elections continues apace. Monday marks the start of early voting in the July 31 special election to fill the seat for Texas Senate District 19. It’s been less than one month since Gov. Greg Abbott called a special … Continue reading →

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Monday “day before reports start showing up” campaign finance roundup

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good things keep happening to MJ Hegar. EMILY’s List, a powerful organization that backs female Democratic candidates who support abortion rights, is putting its support behind Hegar, an Air Force veteran who has shot to national prominence in recent weeks … Continue reading →

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

Debating debates

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We have an agreement for a debate (mostly) between Greg Abbott and Lupe Valdez. Incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott agreed Wednesday to participate in a televised statewide debate with Democratic challenger Lupe Valdez, the first in the general election runup. … Continue reading →

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

Kulkarni reports $234K raised in Q2

Posted on July 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From the Inbox: Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress, Sri Preston Kulkarni, raised over $400,000 in receipts to date for his campaign to unseat incumbent Pete Olson (R-TX). This is the largest total ever for a Democratic candidate for the current … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Republican reactions to Beto’s fundraising

Posted on July 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The interesting bits of this story: El Paso Democrat Beto O’Rourke, the underdog challenger to Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, recently burnished his grass-roots credentials by completing a tour of all 254 counties in Texas. Now O’Rourke has proven his fundraising chops as … Continue reading →

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

Trump trade war troubles

Posted on July 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. There’s a Chinese proverb: Sow melons, reap melons. Sow beans, reap beans. In other words, expect tit for tat. President Donald Trump — and by extension many of the nation’s farmers — … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | 41 Comments

We are going to get some Congressional polling soon

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Nate Cohn on Twitter: Well we’ve been working pretty hard over here in Upshot land for the last few months, but I think we’ll have at least one thing to show for it fairly soon: results from a test of … Continue reading →

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

Everyone is giving money in the Senate race

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a marquee attraction. Abby Tannenbaum has never been to Texas. But that hasn’t stopped the 23-year-old digital strategist from Florida from sending $2 a month for the past year to help fuel the campaign of El Paso Congressman Beto … Continue reading →

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

Gravis: Cruz 51, O’Rourke 42

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a new poll of four statewide races in Texas, for which there may or may not be any news coverage. The executive summary: Gravis Marketing, a nonpartisan research firm, conducted a random survey of 602 likely voters across Texas. … Continue reading →

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