2012 Democratic primary runoffs

All state results here. Best news of the night was Paul Sadler‘s easy win. Can we please raise some money for this guy?

Congressional results: James Cargas in CD07, Pete Gallego in CD23, Rose Meza Harrison in CD27, Marc Veasey in CD33, and Filemon Vela in CD34. I’m delighted that three quality members of the Texas Democratic legislative caucus will have a shot at serving in Congress next year. As for Filemon Vela, I’m still suspicious of the guy, but we’ll see how it goes.

In the Lege, Gene Wu had another strong showing in HD137, and I feel very good about his chances to win this Dem-favored-but-not-a-lock seat in November. Parent PAC didn’t have any skin in the runoffs, but Annie’s List did, and they went one for two, as Nicole Collier will succeed Veasey in HD95, but Tina Torres lost to Phillip Cortez for the nomination in HD117. That’s a critical race in November.

The biggest surprise of the night was also some good news, as Erica Lee romped to a huge win in the HCDE Position 6, Precinct 1 runoff. She won with close to 75% of the vote, so maybe, just maybe, that will be enough to convince anyone who might file another lawsuit that they’d be wasting their time. I truly hope this is the end of it, because this is by far the best possible outcome. Congrats to Erica Lee, to Alan Rosen in Constable Precinct 1, to Zerick Guinn in Constable Precinct 2, and to all the other winners last night. Onward to November, y’all.

UPDATE: Litigation is coming for the HCDE election.

The Department of Education has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to void the May primary and Tuesday’s runoff. Lee, Harris County and both political parties want to dismiss the case, which is ongoing.

Johnson said he had planned legal action on behalf of the 1,400 excluded voters whether he won the runoff or not.

“The whole point of this was to make sure the disenfranchised voters had a voice,” Johnson said.”

I guess it was too much to hope for otherwise.

UPDATE: When I went to bed last night, Zerick Guinn was leading by what I thought was a safe margin. Apparently, not safe enough as today Chris Diaz is shown as the winner by 3 votes. I smell a recount coming.

UPDATE: The plot thickens. Here’s the 10:12 PM update from the County Clerk website, which the last update I saw before I went to bed. See how Zerick Guinn has 2695 votes? Now here is the 12:43 AM update in which Guinn has mysteriously dropped to 2061 votes, which puts him behind Diaz and his 2064. How does that happen?

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8 Responses to 2012 Democratic primary runoffs

  1. Justin says:

    It appears Zerick Guinn lost.

  2. joshua bullard says:

    kuff-i am going on a week vacation from offthekuff.com-and i may never return,then again i may,who knows-hold down the fort charles ..

    and keep a light on for me..

    joshua ben bullard

  3. Mainstream says:

    I did not think Gene Wu’s victory with 695 votes in a district of more than 100,000 persons was at all impressive. Checking back, MJ Khan took 1710 votes unopposed of the 2558 Republicans who came out to vote in the first Republican primary, and the total Democrat vote in the first primary in that district was 1892. If Khan contests vigorously, he might be able to take this district.

    I don’t usually look at Democrat precinct chair contests but noted that Maverick Welch defeated Letiticia Ablaza, former aide to Helena Brown and spouse of the GOP preciinct chair of the precinct.

    Recounts do not usually change a result, but in the Guinn-Diaz contest where most of the Diaz support came from mail in ballots, careful scrutiny might change the outcome. Also, there may be a handful of provisional ballots not at first counted which could be added to shift such a close outcome. I had 4 provisionals in my own precinct alone on election day, but am not in that party or district.

  4. Greg Wythe says:

    M –

    MJ has finally pulled out the big guns for 2012: five large signs (6*6 or thereabouts) along Richmond. From talking to actual voters, we’re already seeing a lot of receptiveness from Republicans toward Gene. They recall MJ’s ineffectiveness on council and like a candidate from their neighborhood. A law enforcement record isn’t without some appeal, also.

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  6. Gary D says:

    Is the County Clerk only incompetent or is he using the back doors with no audit trails built in to the vote counting program to change results?

  7. Mainstream says:

    My sense is that Republicans are in an angry mood, Greg, and will be voting a straight ticket, and perhaps inflamed numbers. Also, Cruz might be able to make an appeal which would break up the usual straight Democrat voting habits of a slice of the Hispanic voters who are in HD 137. Nonetheless, MJ Khan has to be serious and run an active campaign, and a few big signs along Richmond are not going to be enough.

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