Category Archives: Election 2016

Endorsement watch: Three State House races

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Possibly the only State Rep race endorsements we’ll get, depending on how much the Chron cares about the less-competitive races. House District 23: Lloyd Criss We endorse Lloyd Criss, a Democrat whom Texas Monthly rated as an outstanding freshman legislator … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Our first guess at Harris County turnout

Posted on October 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s big. Early voting in Texas for the 2016 election begins in a month. It will run through November 4. The Harris County Clerk’s office is encouraging voters to take advantage of the window, in order to avoid long lines … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: SBOE

Posted on October 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes endorsements in two SBOE races. District 6 When she was first appointed as head of the State Board of Education in 2015, Donna Bahorich was condemned as an anti-education advocate of homeschooling who would drag the board … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More DNC presence in Texas

Posted on October 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Glad to see it, even if I’m not really sure what it means. The Democratic National Committee is expanding its presence in Texas as polls continue to show a closer-than-usual presidential race in the solidly red state. Texas is set … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

More on Republican turnout concerns

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a thing that is happening, though it’s hard to say to what extent. On Monday, one of the most prominent Republicans in Texas has a warning for supporters that Texas could go blue this election. Governor Greg Abbott is … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Endorsement watch: Continuing a trend

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes their criminal district court endorsements, and in doing so they stick to a pattern. 174th Criminal District Court: Hazel B. Jones In this race to replace Judge Ruben Guerrero, voters should go with Democratic candidate Hazel B. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Continuing a trend

Taco the vote

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Now you’re talking. MI FAMILIA VOTA is accustomed to registering voters in unusual places, such as the food court at the UH Student Center where we caught up with Maria Villenas last month. Villenas is Houston’s civic engagement lead for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Judicial Q&A: Judge Mike Engelhart

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I ran a series of judicial Q&As for Democratic candidates in contested primaries earlier this year. I am now doing the same for the candidates who were unopposed in March, which includes most of the sitting incumbent judges. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Sung in the special

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Anne Sung in the HISD special election. Out of the four names on the ballot, Anne Sung is the only candidate who will be prepared to do a good job immediately. Sung, 38, a product of HISD … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Sung in the special

Voter registration way up statewide

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

That’s a lot. Nearly 15 million people are now registered to vote in Texas, a state record. Texas currently has more than 14.8 million voters registered — over 1 million more than were registered in the 2012 presidential election, according … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Endorsement watch: Against recapture

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron recommends a No vote on the forthcoming HISD referendum to authorize recapture. Voters will face a test on Election Day, and whether they answer correctly will determine the future of the Houston Independent School District. It should be … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Ben Rose

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

There are basically two interesting legislative races in the Houston area this November. The first is HD144, where former Rep. Mary Ann Perez should reclaim her seat against 2014 winner Rep. Gilbert Pena. I did an interview with Perez for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

McMullin will “appear” on the ballot

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

To the extent that a write-in candidate “appears” on the ballot, anyway. Texas voters will be able to vote for former CIA operative Evan McMullin for president in November. The Texas secretary of state’s office on Friday certified McMullin, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on McMullin will “appear” on the ballot

UH Hobby School (Harris County only): Clinton 43, Trump 34

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I have many thoughts about this. Between September 1 and September 20, 2016, the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs conducted a telephone survey of 550 Harris County registered voters as part of a larger Hobby School study … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Endorsement watch: Bail matters

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

For only the second time this cycle, the Chron endorses a challenger to a sitting judge. Harris County’s criminal courts at law are currently defendants in a lawsuit alleging that pretrial bail policies violate the U.S. Constitution. It is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Bail matters

Endorsement watch: A bit of a surprise

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Ann Harris Bennett for Harris County Tax Assessor. When Mike Sullivan first ran for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector, he promised that he would: “Bring the office into the 21st century by embracing new technology.” By Sullivan’s standard, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Interview with Jon Harris

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It is time to start the fall 2016 interview season. I don’t plan to do a whole lot of these – in particular, I don’t plan to revisit races that I had covered during primary season – but I do … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Jon Harris

HISD board members against the HISD ballot item

Posted on September 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I missed this when it first appeared. Three Houston school board members on Thursday evening publicly urged voters to oppose a measure that would authorize the district to forfeit $162 million to the state. Trustees Jolanda Jones, Harvin Moore and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Another story about the possible Trump Effect on downballot races

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s mostly about one legislative race in particular, but that’s okay. When he worked in the oil industry, Thomas Benavidez traveled to drilling sites across Texas and northern Mexico. The work was exciting, and the pay was good. He rarely … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Another story about the possible Trump Effect on downballot races

The local and state party perspective

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This is the flip side of yesterday’s story about the national Democratic campaign opening an office in Houston. As long-beleaguered Texas Democrats look toward November, they see opportunity in the fallout from Trump’s rhetoric targeting Latinos and women. Surveys have … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Endorsement watch: The one Family Court race

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The 507th Family Court is one of the two new courts in operation in Harris County, and thus one of the two spots on the ballot for which Democrats had to choose nominees this summer. In keeping with its Civil … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: The one Family Court race

More on the ground game here

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

A few days ago I wrote about the opening of a national Democratic campaign office here in Harris County. I had the opportunity to pose a few questions to the campaign over the weekend about this office and their larger … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Endorsement watch: Time for a change, part 2

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Ed Gonzalez for Sheriff, after indicting incumbent Sheriff Ron Hickman for a litany of failures. At the beginning of this campaign we believed that Sheriff Ron Hickman should get the benefit of a doubt on his challenging … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Time for a change, part 2

Wanted: Poll workers

Posted on September 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Multi-language ability a plus. Presiding election judges hire their Election Day staff, working largely from a list compiled from online applications. Hector de Leon is with the Harris County Clerk’s office. “We’re going to have approximately 5,845 people working on … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Wanted: Poll workers

Endorsement watch: A Libertarian moment

Posted on September 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron thinks outside the box in endorsing for the Railroad Commission. Our editorial board interviews scores of candidates for political office every election year, but seldom do we find ourselves wholeheartedly endorsing a nominee from the Libertarian Party. Then … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Endorsement watch: Civil incumbents, part 2

Posted on September 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron continues a theme. 151st Civil District Court: Mike Engelhart If you commute along the Southwest Freeway, then you probably know Judge Mike Engelhart from his big red billboard at Greenbriar Drive, which informs drivers that the two-term Democratic … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Civil incumbents, part 2

What the Harris County Clerk is saying about voter ID requirements

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart reminds Texas voters who cannot obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID that they now have additional options when voting in person. “My office is working to make sure all voters … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Endorsement watch: Time for a change

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron gives a ringing endorsement to Kim Ogg for District Attorney, but not before delivering a stern rebuke to incumbent DA Devon Anderson. Harris County cannot take four more years of a prosecutor’s office that pursues convictions at any … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Time for a change

Endorsement watch: The one man term limits debate

Posted on September 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s one of the more interesting endorsements so far. Steve Radack is at once an argument for and against term limits. The Precinct 3 county commissioner and former Precinct 5 constable, who will turn 67 before Election Day, has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas begins its voter ID education outreach

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

For what it’s worth. Texas on Wednesday kicked off a voter education campaign ahead of the November elections amid heightened scrutiny of the state’s voter ID law. Under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and minority rights groups, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texas begins its voter ID education outreach

Precinct analysis: HISD Trustee district VII in a Presidential year

Posted on August 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, we have a special election for HISD Trustee in district VII on the ballot this November. There’s one Democratic candidate in that race and three Republicans. These races are normally held in odd-numbered years, in which turnout … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Field set for HISD special election

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Four candidates have filed, so no one else got in since my last post. Four candidates have applied to run in a special election to be a trustee for the Houston Independent School District. The filing deadline was Aug. 25. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Civil court incumbents

Posted on August 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Keeping up with the weekly endorsement schedule, we have round one of Civil Court endorsements, as there are many Civil Court races this year. 11th Civil District Court: Kevin Fulton The candidates in this race to replace outgoing Judge Mike … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Schedule set for voter ID discrimination arguments

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The next phase of the voter ID litigation will begin shortly after Election Day. A federal judge has scheduled oral arguments for Jan. 24 to determine if the Texas Legislature approved a voter ID law in 2011 with the intent … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments