Category Archives: Election 2014

And the same old crap begins in Steven Kirkland’s race

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Lone Star Q reports that Steven Kirkland received the endorsement of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, just as the same kind of attacks on his character that he dealt with in 2012 cranked up again. Kirkland, a close friend … Continue reading →

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Some Republican candidates are still embracing Ted Nugent

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Why not? He’s an excellent representative of and for them. Sid Miller, a Republican candidate for agriculture commissioner, won’t oust rocker Ted Nugent as his campaign treasurer over controversial remarks made about President Barack Obama and other officials, the Longview … Continue reading →

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UT/TT poll: Abbott 47, Davis 36

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib publishes its second poll of the Texas gubernatorial race. After what are shaping up to be easy primary wins in March for the leading gubernatorial candidates, Republican Greg Abbott starts the general election race for governor with an … Continue reading →

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Davis outraises Abbott on the 8 day report

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Democrat Wendy Davis reported that she outstripped Republican Greg Abbott in fundraising, bringing in $2.85 million over a 29-day period. His totals were reported here. Davis has $11.3 million tucked away looking ahead to the general election. Her overall … Continue reading →

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Early voting, one (six day) week in

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

We have one week completed for early voting, though it was only a six day week thanks to the Presidents Day holiday. Here are the daily totals from the County Clerk. Republicans continue to be the majority of early voters … Continue reading →

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Leave Greg Abbott aloooooooooooooone!

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

He’s ready to move on from Nuge-a-palooza. What more do you want? Controversy over Attorney General Greg Abbott’s decision to campaign for governor with Ted Nugent continued to simmer Friday, even after the outspoken rocker apologized for calling President Barack … Continue reading →

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Revisiting George Fleming

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Lisa Falkenberg catches up with an old friend. Trial lawyer George Fleming was calm and gracious when he took questions back in 2012, insisting that his bankrolling of a respected judge’s no-name opponent had nothing to do with his own … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of Ag Commissioner race

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s mostly about Kinky and pot, because what else is there to talk about? Democrat Kinky Friedman is attempting to add a little spice to the crowded agriculture commissioner race by being the lone candidate to advocate legalizing marijuana and … Continue reading →

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Perry schools Abbott

Posted on February 22, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

This is how it’s done, son. Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday condemned inflammatory remarks by Ted Nugent that resurfaced when the outspoken rocker this week joined Republican Greg Abbott’s gubernatorial campaign. Nugent was quoted in an interview with Guns.com … Continue reading →

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Dan Patrick strongly denies having once been a decent human being

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I’m late to the party on this, but I think my post title about sums it up. State Sen. Dan Patrick, who says Texas leaders must “stop the invasion” from Mexico, went along with a decision to hire at least … Continue reading →

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Yes, they fear what BGT is doing

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the proof. While saying it had received no complaint against the Democratic group Battleground Texas, the office of Texas Secretary of State Nandita Berry suggested Wednesday that the group’s voter registration practices might rise to a “potential level of … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The remaining judicial races

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron finishes off the contested judicial primaries. 246th Family District Court: Julia Maldonado In a race between two qualified candidates, we encourage voters to go with Julia Maldonado. Her goals of a quicker docket and a more welcoming staff … Continue reading →

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On Abbott and empathy

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

On Sunday, the DMN had this long piece about Greg Abbott’s longstanding hostility to claims made under the Americans with Disabilities Act, even though he himself had benefited from it. Attorney General Greg Abbott, who has said he supports the … Continue reading →

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All about Lloyd

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Emily dePrang talks to Lloyd Oliver about his candidacy for District Attorney and confirms what we already knew about him. Oliver admits he runs for office to drum up business for his law practice. He credits his 2012 win to … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Belatedly for Whitmire

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle makes its recommendations for the State Senate. Senate District 15 (D) In 1973, a 23-year-old college dropout named John Whitmire hopped aboard a wave of voter disgust with ethically challenged incumbents and won a seat in the Texas … Continue reading →

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First day of early voting

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Here are the Day One primary early voting totals, which was reasonably heavy and which went according to prediction, with most of the votes on the Republican side. The Chron preview story lays it out. Early voting for the March … Continue reading →

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Let’s say what “inappropriate” means

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Morning News has a more complete story about Greg Abbott’s pal Ted Nugent, who is in for a campaign appearance with Abbott. Democrats and women’s groups assailed Republican Greg Abbott’s choice of Ted Nugent to appear with him Tuesday, … Continue reading →

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A closer look at the turnout issue in 2014

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I wrote yesterday about turnout for this year’s election. The main problem that Democrats face this year is that turnout has basically been flat for them since 2002 in the off year elections. I began to write a post to … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of Harris County GOP Chair race

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

This race has provided quite a bit of entertainment for us armchair types. The race to head the Harris County Republican Party is about as far down the ballot as you can get. As such, it typically generates neither news … Continue reading →

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Early voting begins tomorrow for the March 4 primary

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s that time again. Here’s a message from County Clerk Stan Stanart, via the inbox: As early voting gets underway for the March 4, 2014 Democratic and Republican Party Primary Elections, Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart reminds voters that photo … Continue reading →

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The turnout issue in 2014

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Two recent articles of interest, both about the nature of the electorate in non-Presidential years. First, via Ed Kilgore, who has been beating the drum about the volatility of the Democratic base, comes this NYT story about what the Democratic … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Wendy Time

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes the obvious call in the Democratic primary for Governor. The Democratic candidate for governor is, in essence, an accidental candidate. Disconsolate Texas Democrats, wandering on the wrong side of the River Jordan for more than half of … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Chron for Alameel

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Houston Chronicle makes a nice endorsement of David Alameel for the Democratic nomination for Senate. David Alameel isn’t your usual political candidate. Most big money political donors don’t start like Alameel: a gas station attendant and farm laborer. But … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Kim Ogg for DA

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle gives a ringing endorsement to Kim Ogg in the Democratic primary for District Attorney. Ogg has experience as a board-certified felony prosecutor, but she also has the broad view that comes from serving as director of Houston’s first … Continue reading →

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Davis officially supports same sex marriage

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Right on. Sen. Wendy Davis said Thursday that she supports same-sex marriage and that Attorney General Greg Abbott, her presumed general-election opponent in the race for governor, should stop defending the state’s ban. “It’s my strong belief that when people … Continue reading →

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Davis for medical marijuana

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Wendy Davis talks to the DMN editorial board and answers some questions about marijuana. Questions: As you know, both ends of the political spectrum have questioned the nation’s and state’s drug policies and the mass incarceration that has resulted. Even … Continue reading →

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Interview with Hugh Fitzsimons

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

In my previous interview, I mentioned that the two Democratic candidates for Ag Commissioner that I had spoken to were very different from each other. (There is a third candidate in the race, but I have not seen any evidence … Continue reading →

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If we must have voter ID, let’s make sure people know about it

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Democratic Senators from Harris County write a letter to County Clerk Stan Stanart. Three Houston state senators are asking Harris County officials to emulate Dallas County’s voter outreach efforts tied to Texas’ new voter identification law. State Sens. Rodney … Continue reading →

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Interview with Kinky Friedman

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

We come to my last set of interviews for the primary season, the Democratic race for Ag Commissioner. Some primaries feature candidates that don’t differ all that much. This race is not one of those. Making his second run for … Continue reading →

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Interview with Rep. Mary Gonzalez

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

We’re one week out from the start of early voting, and barring anything unexpected the interviews I present this week will be the last ones I do for the primary cycle. I’ll have interviews with two of the Democratic candidates … Continue reading →

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Pity the poor Hispanic Republicans

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I’d say I feel sorry for them, but I don’t. Every few years, I like to check in with Massey Villarreal to see if he’s still a Republican. He still was on Thursday. But it’s getting harder all the time. … Continue reading →

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Abbott’s border surge plan

Posted on February 8, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

A whole lot of not much here. Attorney General Greg Abbott, the Republican candidate for governor, said Tuesday he wants to nearly double state spending to improve security along the U.S.-Mexico border, proposing a “continuous surge” with 1,000 new boots … Continue reading →

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On succeeding Abbott as AG

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The next Attorney General will inherit a lot of Greg Abbott’s unfinished fights, some of which he instigated and some of which were thrust upon him by the Lege. Defending the constitutionality of the state’s controversial public school finance system … Continue reading →

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Indictments in petition forgery case

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Whoa. Four political campaign workers have been indicted by a Harris County Grand Jury in the wake of allegations of election fraud in a Harris County Justice of the Peace race, first reported by Local 2 News in January. The … Continue reading →

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