Tag Archives: Election 2018

Judicial Q&A: Gus Saper

Posted on January 2, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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Thoughts going into primary season

Posted on January 1, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

So primary season is officially open, with candidates pretty much everywhere. I’ve been busy doing interviews and will cover as many Democratic races as I can, but won’t get to them all. I may double back in the runoffs, we’ll … Continue reading →

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Dallas Observer Q&A with CD32 candidate Lillian Salerno

Posted on January 1, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Once more to the Dallas Observer’s Q&A machine. Earlier this month, you spoke at an anti-monopoly conference in Washington about your experiences in the health care industry. Why is it so hard for innovative products to get into the health … Continue reading →

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The Nation on Our Revolution in Texas

Posted on December 31, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a feature story in The Nation from before the holidays about Our Revolution, one of the many grassroots groups that have become prominent post-Trump to organize and get better people elected. The focus of this story is on what … Continue reading →

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Another look at Congressional odds

Posted on December 29, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I was browsing around Facebook and came across a link to this 2018 midterm forecast from The Crosstab, whose proprietor also works at Decision Desk. As such, it is basically a December update to the November Decision Desk forecast, which … Continue reading →

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Filing roundup: Other Congressional races, part 2

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

See part 1 here, and the spreadsheet with all the Democratic Congressional filings here. These are the races that are objectively most likely to produce a flip, so there are fewer of them. Let’s dive right in. CD06 So long, … Continue reading →

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Chron profile of Justin Nelson

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Hope he earns a lot of coverage in 2018, it sure would help. Justin Nelson stood with his wife around the island in their kitchen and had one final gut check about campaigning to become Texas’ next attorney general: Were … Continue reading →

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Filing roundup: Other Congressional races, part 1

Posted on December 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We already knew this, but just a reminder there’s at least one Democratic candidate in all 36 Congressional districts in Texas. In deep-red Texas, Republicans will have to fight for every congressional seat in next year’s midterm elections. For the … Continue reading →

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The state of play in the suburbs

Posted on December 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This NYT article about Congressional districts being targeted by Democrats in 2018 is about pickup opportunities in the suburbs, and they lead with a familiar example. As she sat with a glass of sauvignon blanc waiting for a women-focused Democratic … Continue reading →

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A third PPP Congressional poll in Texas

Posted on December 26, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a Public Policy Polling Twitter thread of interest. I’ve highlighted the specific relevant tweets. The generic ballot polling certainly looks great for Democrats, but how is that playing out at the district level? We've polled 36 GOP held Congressional … Continue reading →

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Diana Davila sues over ballot rejection

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

There’s one of these every cycle. Diana Davila said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in state district court that her application to run for justice of the peace Precinct 6, Place 2 in the March primary election was inappropriately rejected … Continue reading →

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The Republican primary for Ag Commissioner is now about barbecue

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Because of course it is. “Barbecue might be America’s most political food,” wrote the New Yorker earlier this year. The claim certainly applies to the 2018 race for Texas Agriculture Commissioner. Instead of farming or ranching issues, it’s Sid Miller’s recent history on barbecue … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS to consider Texas redistricting case in January

Posted on December 23, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Batten down the hatches. The U.S. Supreme Court will meet Jan. 5 to consider whether to take up a case on how Texas draws its congressional and statehouse maps. In a 5-4 decision split along ideological lines in September, the … Continue reading →

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More on Mark Phariss

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I figured it was just a matter of time before someone wrote a feature story about Mark Phariss’ candidacy for State Senate. The man who sued Texas to overturn the state’s ban on gay marriage will run for Senate as … Continue reading →

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CCA to review Paxton prosecutors pay case

Posted on December 21, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The state’s highest criminal court agreed Wednesday to take a closer look at prosecutors’ long-running fight to get paid for their handling of the securities fraud case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The move by the state’s Court … Continue reading →

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Filing roundup: Outside Harris County

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A look at who filed for what on the Democratic side in the counties around Harris. These are all predominantly Republican counties, some more than others, so the Democrats are almost all challengers. On the flip side, there are many … Continue reading →

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New Dallas County Sheriff chosen

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Lupe Valdez’s designated successor. Chief Deputy Marian Brown, former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez’s third in command, will serve as interim sheriff until voters elect a new one in November. Valdez is stepping down to run for governor. Brown, … Continue reading →

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Filing roundup: State Senate

Posted on December 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

In 2014, Democrats contested five of the eleven Republican-held State Senate seats on the ballot, plus the seat that was vacated by Wendy Davis, which was won by Republican Konni Burton. This year, Democrats have candidates in eleven of these … Continue reading →

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Early polling on the AG race

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It looks sexy, but keep your salt handy. The 2018 election for the job of the state’s top lawyer could be a tight race if voters go to the polls knowing about Attorney General Ken Paxton’s criminal indictment, according to … Continue reading →

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Republican Party sues to get Farenthold off the ballot

Posted on December 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Now here‘s something you don’t see every day. The Texas GOP is suing the Texas secretary of state to keep embattled U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold off the 2018 primary ballot — one day after the Corpus Christi Republican announced he … Continue reading →

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You can’t legislate from jail

Posted on December 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the Ron Reynolds story. There’s a chance state Rep. Ron Reynolds could be sentenced to serve a year in jail next year. If that happens, he wouldn’t have to resign, according to state officials. The Houston-area Democrat recently lost … Continue reading →

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From Alabama to Texas

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here are two numbers from Sen.-elect Doug Jones’ victory over garbage human Roy Moore: 92.0% and 49.3%. Jones received 92.0% of the total vote that Hillary Clinton received in Alabama in 2016. Moore received 49.3% of Donald Trump’s vote total. … Continue reading →

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Farenthold changes course

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Sort of. U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, will retire from Congress after finishing his current term, a source close to the congressman told The Tribune Thursday morning. Farenthold soon confirmed the decision in an emotional video posted on Facebook.The … Continue reading →

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The statewide lineups

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the statewide lineup for Democrats. I’ll add in some notes afterwards. U. S. Senator Beto O’Rourke U. S. Senator Edward Kimbrough U. S. Senator Sema Hernandez Governor Adrian Ocegueda Governor Andrew White Governor Cedric Davis, Sr. Governor Demetria Smith … Continue reading →

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The Harris County slates

Posted on December 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s talk about the filings for Harris County. The SOS filings page is still the best source of information, but they don’t provide shareable links, so in the name of ease and convenience I copied the Democratic filing information for … Continue reading →

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A look at past primaries

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I think we can all agree that the 2018 Democratic primary season is already unlike anything we’ve seen in recent memory. And since I like putting expressions like that into numbers, I thought I’d try to do it here. First, … Continue reading →

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Filing news: Jerry’s back

Posted on December 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Former Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson would like his office back, please. Patterson, who was first elected as the state’s land commissioner in 2003, wants to head the agency that manages state-owned lands and the Alamo. He gave up the job to … Continue reading →

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Filing news: Two for County Judge

Posted on December 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Yet another contested primary. At this point it’s easier to identify the uncontested races than the contested ones. There will be a contested March Democratic primary election for Harris County’s top administrative position as the race for county judge now … Continue reading →

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Farenthold draws a crowd of opponents

Posted on December 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Bring ’em on. Bech Bruun, chairman of the Texas Water Development Board, resigned Thursday from that position ahead of an anticipated bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi. “Serving as the Chairman of the Texas Water Development Board … Continue reading →

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That sexual harassment day of reckoning in Texas politics has begun

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Daily Beast follows up its initial reporting about the secret sexual predators of Texas politics with a story that names names. Two names, in particular. Rather than excerpt at length, allow me to quote the Texas Monthly Daily Post … Continue reading →

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Andrew White is in

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

And now there are eight. Andrew White, the son of late Gov. Mark White, made it official Thursday morning: He is running for governor, joining the crowded Democratic primary with four days to go before the filing deadline. White, 45, … Continue reading →

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Filing news: Lupe Valdez is in for Governor

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here she comes. Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez announced Wednesday morning that she is running for governor, giving Texas Democrats a serious candidate for the top job with five days until the candidate filing deadline for the 2018 primaries. “Like … Continue reading →

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Filing news: Adrian Garcia is in for County Commissioner

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia announced his candidacy for Harris County Commissioner, Precinct Two, citing his experience in bringing people together around smart government, transparency, and delivering results for taxpayers. “We all know that sometimes government … Continue reading →

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Filing news: Jeffrey Payne and a whole lot of Congressional candidates

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

And then there were six Democratic candidates for Governor. Signing paperwork and presenting a $3,500 check, [Dallas businessman Jeffrey] Payne became the sixth Democrat to file for the state’s top office. In addition to Payne, the list currently includes Houston … Continue reading →

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