Category Archives: Election 2014

Chron overviews of the other candidates for Governor

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

On the Republican side, everybody wants to be the next coming of Ted Cruz. As Attorney General Greg Abbott sweeps toward the GOP nomination for governor, other Republicans are reminding voters that he’s not alone in the party primary. Waging … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Jim Evans

Posted on January 9, 2014 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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Interview with Damian LaCroix

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Challenging Sen. John Whitmire in SD15 is attorney Damian LaCroix, who as noted before had been a candidate for judge in 2010. LaCroix is a Houston native and graduate of Texas A&M and SMU law school. As Sen. Whitmire touted … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Sandra Peake

Posted on January 7, 2014 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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Kinky and pot

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib talks to Kinky Friedman, making another run for Ag Commissioner as a Democrat, and his new signature issue. Friedman, 69 — a singer, humorist, novelist and hawker of tequila — has tried, frequently, to add “elected official” to … Continue reading →

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Interview with Sen. John Whitmire

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

There’s never much of an offseason for campaigns. The city elections are finally behind us, and believe it or not we’re six weeks out from the start of early voting for the 2014 primary elections in Texas. I was busy … Continue reading →

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Stockman and Bitcoin

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Somehow, this doesn’t surprise me. U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, a Friendswood Republican with a history of flouting campaign finance laws, entered a new legal gray area this week when he announced his campaign can now accept donations in Bitcoin, a … Continue reading →

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Who are these people on our ballot?

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The filing deadline is long past, and campaigning for the primary and general election is well underway. Democrats in Harris County have a fairly full complement of legislative candidates this fall, some of whom are better known than others. I … Continue reading →

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What is the sound of one politician switching?

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It depends. When Lawrence Meyers won a seat on the statewide Court of Criminal Appeals in 1992, he was the first Republican elected to the state’s highest criminal court. This month he made history again. After switching parties, Meyers, who … Continue reading →

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The 12-candidate pileup in CD36

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Steve Stockman’s last-minute switch to the Senate race left a void in CD36 on the Republican side that is being filled by a dozen Stockman wannabes. The Republican primary ballot for the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman was … Continue reading →

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Consequences are for suckers

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

They’re not for former judge Elizabeth Coker, thank you very much. State District Judge Elizabeth E. Coker, who presided over Trinity, Polk and San Jacinto counties before resigning Dec. 6 under fire in a texting controversy, filed Monday to run … Continue reading →

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Judge Pratt update

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The most embattled Family Court judge in Harris County is still on the ballot, in case you were wondering. Embattled state District Court Judge Denise Pratt, accused of falsifying court records to cover up tardy rulings, intends to remain on … Continue reading →

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More primary thoughts

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I wonder if Big John Cornyn will come to rue this interview. BDS: At the kickoff for your reelection campaign in November, Governor Perry said that you are “the epitome of what I look for in a U.S. senator.” He … Continue reading →

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Final filings: We have a statewide Democrat

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Boy, I didn’t see this coming. Longtime Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Lawrence “Larry” Meyers announced Monday that he is leaving the Republican Party to run as a Democrat for the Texas Supreme Court. Meyers, of Fort Worth, filed … Continue reading →

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Filing deadline today

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Before I get into the details of who has or hasn’t filed for what, I have a bone to pick with this AP story. Perhaps what the candidate filings reveal most is the relative strength and depth of the political … Continue reading →

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Susan Criss to file in HD23

Posted on December 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Some excellent news from the inbox, via Carl Whitmarsh: For fifteen years I was honored to wear a black robe for the people of Galveston County. Four times I raised my hand and swore, so help me God, to faithfully … Continue reading →

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Maxey Scherr kicks off her campaign

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Maxey Scherr, an El Paso attorney, officially kicked-off her campaign for United States Senate today with a web video and event over a hundred supporters in El Paso. Scherr is vying to be the first person from … Continue reading →

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LaCroix files in SD15

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

As of the Monday candidate filing update from the HCDP, Damian LaCroix has made official his primary challenge to Sen. John Whitmire in SD15. He announced his challenge in August, and what I said at that time still holds true … Continue reading →

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Fort Worth and Tarrant County

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Between Wendy Davis’ campaign for Governor, and the campaign to succeed Wendy Davis in SD10, there’s going to be a lot of attention focused on Forth Worth in the next twelve months. The two scenes capture the split political personality … Continue reading →

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And then there were three Democrats running for the Senate

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This one has run for something before and spent a bunch of money doing it, though he was not very successful at it. Democratic dental center mogul David Alameel has confirmed he will run for the seat held by Texas’ … Continue reading →

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How to assess the odds in HD134

Posted on December 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Texpatriate informs us that two-term Rep. Sarah Davis will be getting a primary challenger in HD134 – Bonnie Parker, who lost to Davis in the 2010 primary, and who will unsurprisingly be attacking Davis from the right. There are three … Continue reading →

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He’s baaaack

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I was at HCDP headquarters on Monday night, participating in a panel discussion hosted by the Texas Democratic Women of Harris County along with my friends Perry and Neil. On the back wall of the main room is a big … Continue reading →

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More on LVdP for Lite Guv

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Mostly from Monday’s Lone Star Project news roundup email. AP: Texas Democrats offering stark contrast. Texas voters won’t have a hard time telling the difference between the Republican and Democratic candidates next year. With the addition of San Antonio Sen. … Continue reading →

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Fjetland files for Senate

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Democrats will have a contested primary for the right to run against Sen. John Cornyn next year. Michael Fjetland, a previous GOP House candidate, has filed as a Democrat to run for the Senate seat held by Texas Sen. … Continue reading →

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Son Of Ortiz/Farenthold?

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. A grudge match could be brewing in South Texas. On Tuesday, the Democrats’ top congressional strategist hinted that he’s been trying to recruit someone to challenge two-term Rep. Blake Farenthold, a tea party Republican from Corpus Christi. Turns out, … Continue reading →

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Sam Houston files for AG

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s official. Democrat Sam Houston filed for attorney general Thursday, promising to return the office to it’s basic functions of “serving all Texans” rather than “partisan lawsuits and constant disputes with the federal government.” The Houston Democrat said specifically he … Continue reading →

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Grownups

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Ha ha ha ha ha! U.S. Sen. John Cornyn preached the gospel of a big-tent GOP at a Friday rally for his re-election, saying Republicans must prove to voters they can govern like “responsible adults.” Cornyn has been bedeviled by … Continue reading →

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LVdP is in for Lite Gov

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Awesome. Long rumored to be a contender, state Sen. Leticia Van De Putte has now made it official: She is running for lieutenant governor. “I want to be your lieutenant governor because Mama ain’t happy — because Texas, we can … Continue reading →

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Kim Ogg officially files for DA

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is the marquee matchup in Harris County in November, at least so far. Kim Ogg, the only Democratic yet to announce a bid for Harris County district attorney, said Monday that most voters do not identify with a particular … Continue reading →

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Hoang to challenge Vo

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Soon-to-be-former CM Al Hoang is not sitting still in the wake of his unexpected electoral loss. Houston City Councilman Al Hoang, who narrowly lost his reelection bid in a surprise upset last week, has filed paperwork to challenge state Rep. … Continue reading →

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Tactics are nice, but turnout is key

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The main thing I learned in this story about Wendy Davis’ national connections is that at least one person in the state gets what she will really need to win. “I’m going back home to Texas and walking door to … Continue reading →

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Two Dems file in SD10

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

May the best candidate win. After months of speculation, two Democratic candidates have emerged to campaign for the contested Senate District 10 seat that Sen. Wendy Davis has vacated to run for governor. Fort Worth community leader Libby Willis and … Continue reading →

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Van de Putte appears to be in for Lite Gov

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Hot damn! Sources close to state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, say she is poised to make an announcement on her political future on Friday. But the likely Democratic contender for lieutenant governor is expected to do what … Continue reading →

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Of course Wendy Davis needs to talk about health care

Posted on November 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not even a question. In order for Davis to defeat Attorney General Greg Abbott, her likely Republican opponent next November, political strategists say she needs to win big among two key demographics: Hispanics and white women. Among Hispanics in … Continue reading →

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