Category Archives: Election 2018

Dan Patrick is a wimp

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, you’re such a big tough meanie, Danno. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick does not intend to debate his Democratic challenger, Mike Collier, before Election Day, according to Patrick’s campaign. “It’s no secret Lt. Governor Patrick relishes debates, but since his … Continue reading →

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Sen. Garcia announces her resignation

Posted on July 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Not quite what I was expecting, but it will do. Moments ago I submitted a letter to @GregAbbott_TX informing him of my intent to resign from #txlege on 1/2/19. It’s been an unbelievable honor to fight for the people of … Continue reading →

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Fundraising: 2018 vs the rest of the decade

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

When I posted about the Q2 Congressional finance reports, I said I would try to put the totals in some more context at a later time. This is where I do that. Take a look at this table: Dist 2012 … Continue reading →

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Kinder Institute profiles Lisa Seger

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure what prompted them to pay attention to this particular race, but Lisa Seger is a good subject for such a profile. In November, Seger will become the first Democratic candidate to challenge Republican Cecil Bell of Magnolia for … Continue reading →

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The rising cost of losing

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Womp womp. The price of losing keeps going up for Republican Kathaleen Wall. Four months after losing her campaign for Congress, the Houston Republican had to put yet another $150,000 of her own money into her campaign to pay for … Continue reading →

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Debating dates

Posted on July 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We know what the best answer is. What the most likely answer is, I have no idea. The back-and-forth over when and where the two major candidates for Texas governor will debate continued Wednesday, with Democratic nominee Lupe Valdez announcing … Continue reading →

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Two views of Democratic fundraising

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Positive: For the first time in a generation, there is a Democrat running for Congress in every single district in the state. Most of those candidates vying to unseat Republicans will likely lose. Many are running in districts where President … Continue reading →

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July 2018 campaign finance reports: Congress

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

So we know that Texas Democratic Congressional challengers really crushed it in Q2, and that’s on top of three strong quarters before that. How good was it? Let’s quantify. Here are the July 2017 finance reports, here are the October … Continue reading →

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Dems keep posting very strong finance reports

Posted on July 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. There are few bigger warning signs for a member of Congress that their re-election may be in doubt than when a challenger outraises them. In Texas, it just happened to seven incumbents, all Republicans. Since last week, when U.S. … Continue reading →

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Early voting in SD19 special election has begun

Posted on July 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The summer of elections continues apace. Monday marks the start of early voting in the July 31 special election to fill the seat for Texas Senate District 19. It’s been less than one month since Gov. Greg Abbott called a special … Continue reading →

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Monday “day before reports start showing up” campaign finance roundup

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good things keep happening to MJ Hegar. EMILY’s List, a powerful organization that backs female Democratic candidates who support abortion rights, is putting its support behind Hegar, an Air Force veteran who has shot to national prominence in recent weeks … Continue reading →

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Debating debates

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We have an agreement for a debate (mostly) between Greg Abbott and Lupe Valdez. Incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott agreed Wednesday to participate in a televised statewide debate with Democratic challenger Lupe Valdez, the first in the general election runup. … Continue reading →

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Republican reactions to Beto’s fundraising

Posted on July 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The interesting bits of this story: El Paso Democrat Beto O’Rourke, the underdog challenger to Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, recently burnished his grass-roots credentials by completing a tour of all 254 counties in Texas. Now O’Rourke has proven his fundraising chops as … Continue reading →

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We are going to get some Congressional polling soon

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Nate Cohn on Twitter: Well we’ve been working pretty hard over here in Upshot land for the last few months, but I think we’ll have at least one thing to show for it fairly soon: results from a test of … Continue reading →

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Everyone is giving money in the Senate race

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a marquee attraction. Abby Tannenbaum has never been to Texas. But that hasn’t stopped the 23-year-old digital strategist from Florida from sending $2 a month for the past year to help fuel the campaign of El Paso Congressman Beto … Continue reading →

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Gravis: Cruz 51, O’Rourke 42

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a new poll of four statewide races in Texas, for which there may or may not be any news coverage. The executive summary: Gravis Marketing, a nonpartisan research firm, conducted a random survey of 602 likely voters across Texas. … Continue reading →

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CD07 candidates endorse the August flood bond referendum

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

What I would expect. U.S. Rep. John Culberson and his challenger, Lizzie Fletcher, found rare common ground on Wednesday as both endorsed Harris County’s proposed $2.5 billion flood infrastructure bond proposal. Culberson said he can match every local dollar Harris … Continue reading →

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The story behind the MJ Hegar video

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Cool little “making of” feature. Mary Jennings “MJ” Hegar, a 42-year-old mother and Republican turned “independent Democrat” running for Congress in Texas, is an Air Force veteran and retired Air National Guard helicopter pilot who didn’t let an abusive biological father, … Continue reading →

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What the prognosticators are saying about Texas

Posted on July 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve covered some of this before, but with Daily Kos releasing their initial House race rankings, let’s see how the national prognosticators are classifying Texas Congressional races. Daily Kos Elections Tossup – CD23 Lean R – CD07, CD32 Likely R … Continue reading →

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Three more Dems top $1 million in Q2

Posted on July 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

In the morning there was Gina Ortiz Jones. Gina Ortiz Jones, the Democrat running against U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, raised more than $1.2 million over the last three months, a huge haul that far outpaces the fundraising by her … Continue reading →

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Failed indy Senate candidate accuses Cruz campaign of sabotage

Posted on July 9, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’m gonna fire up the popcorn popper. When independent U.S. Senate candidate Jonathan Jenkins missed the filing deadline for the November ballot last month, it surprised the political observers who had been keeping an eye on his Texas run. Jenkins, … Continue reading →

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Where best to attack Culberson?

Posted on July 8, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Flooding is an obvious issue, but it’s hardly the only one. After Hurricane Harvey flooded much of Houston – including the hotly contested Seventh Congressional District – Republican incumbent John Culberson used his position on the House Appropriations Committee to … Continue reading →

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Fletcher reports raising $1 million in Q2

Posted on July 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Our first story about a strong finance report from the just-ended previous quarter. Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, the Democratic challenger in one of the Texas congressional seats that Democrats hope to flip in November, reported more than $1 million in contributions … Continue reading →

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On enthusiasm and fundraising

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

RG Ratcliffe engages the “can Lupe Valdez be competitive” question. Valdez will almost certainly lose to Greg Abbott in November. Yet if she inspires Hispanic voters to turn out, she could help Democratic candidates in tight down-ballot races and make … Continue reading →

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What might be the SCOTUS effect on the Senate race?

Posted on July 2, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Insert shrug emoji here. In recent weeks, the race between U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, has largely revolved around immigration, playing out in detention centers along the southern border and over immigration bills … Continue reading →

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Special election set for HD52

Posted on July 2, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Another one in November. The special election to replace former state Rep. Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock, will take place on Nov. 6, the same day voters were already set to head to the polls to select his 2019 replacement, Gov. … Continue reading →

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Cloud wins in CD27

Posted on July 1, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

No runoff needed. Republican Michael Cloud appears likely to win the special election to fill former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold’s seat, which would spare the GOP a runoff in the 27th District. With 89 percent of precincts reporting, Cloud was … Continue reading →

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The CD27 special election is almost upon us

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s on Saturday, to be specific. Voters in the 27th Congressional District are preparing to go to the polls for a third time this year on Saturday for a sleepy special election in which both parties are working to rally … Continue reading →

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UT/Trib: Cruz 41, O’Rourke 36, part 2

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We pick up where we left off. Republican Ted Cruz leads Democrat Beto O’Rourke 41 percent to 36 percent in the general election race for a Texas seat in the U.S. Senate, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune … Continue reading →

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Eight for SD19

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Gentlemen, start your engines. Eight candidates have filed for the July 31 special election to replace former state Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, — including his brother, outgoing state Rep. Tomas Uresti, according to the secretary of state’s office. […] … Continue reading →

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UT/Trib: Cruz 41, O’Rourke 36

Posted on June 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Well, what do you know? Republican Ted Cruz leads Democrat Beto O’Rourke 41 percent to 36 percent in the general election race for a Texas seat in the U.S. Senate, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Neal … Continue reading →

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CBS/YouGov: Cruz 44, O’Rourke 36 (RVs)

Posted on June 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Time for another poll. In Texas’ Senate race, incumbent Republican Ted Cruz has a 10-point lead over Democrat Beto O’Rourke among likely voters. Cruz benefits from strong support from his own party and has an advantage among independents as well. … Continue reading →

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MJ Hegar introduces herself

Posted on June 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s her opening video: Fair to say it made a good impression, and USA Today, Daily Kos, Slate, Business Insider, and Political Animal all gushed about it. Nancy LeTourneau, who wrote that latter article, used it as a springboard to … Continue reading →

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“Indie Party” Senate candidate misses filing deadline

Posted on June 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

That sound you hear is my heart breaking for him. Jonathan Jenkins, an independent candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas whose unconventional campaign has drawn Republican objections, has missed the deadline to submit the signatures needed to appear on the … Continue reading →

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