Category Archives: Election 2018

Interview with Undrai Fizer

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Hard to believe, but the political version of spring training is almost over and the real season is about to begin, by which I mean early voting kicks off tomorrow. Barring any late additions, I have two more interviews to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Judicial Q&A: Latosha Lewis Payne

Posted on February 19, 2018 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 →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Latosha Lewis Payne

Early voting for 2018 primaries starts tomorrow

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Are you ready to vote? Wait, let me say that again. ARE YOU READY TO VOTE? When and where can you vote early? Early voting runs Tuesday, Feb. 20 to Friday, March 2. You can vote at any of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Early voting for 2018 primaries starts tomorrow

Judicial Q&A: Beth Barron

Posted on February 18, 2018 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 →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Beth Barron

The Land Office in the news

Posted on February 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Please enjoy this coverage of a downballot statewide race, which is not something we get all that much of. Incumbent George P. Bush, the 41-year-old grandson and nephew of U.S. presidents, is facing off against his outspoken predecessor Jerry Patterson, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Endorsement watch: Close choices

Posted on February 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses on both sides in SD17. Republican State Senator, District 17: Joan Huffman State Sen. Joan Huffman has been on board for some pretty bad bills, but it’s hard to overlook her herculean efforts to resolve the city … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Close choices

Already projecting ahead to November turnout

Posted on February 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Some in the political chattering class think the end results in Harris County this yearwon’t be all that different than what we’ve seen before. Harris County may be awash in Democratic hopefuls for the upcoming primary elections, but don’t expect … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Endorsement watch: Getting into the county

Posted on February 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron goes all in on county races, where they had not spent much time before. Two editorials, with two endorsements per, starting with Commissioners Court. County Commissioner, Precinct 2: Adrian Garcia While we lament that he ever stepped down … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Gina Calanni

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We wrap up the week in HD132, in the westernmost part of Harris County, including the Katy area. Democrats have not usually challenged in this district – going back to the 2001 redistricting, there has been a Democratic candidate in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Gina Calanni

Judicial Q&A: James Horwitz

Posted on February 16, 2018 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 →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: James Horwitz

Interview with Marty Schexnayder

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We come for a return engagement in HD133. For all the legitimate issues in our state and around the country with gerrymandering, HD133 is fairly close to a plain old rectangle, bordered by I-10 to the north, Westheimer to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Judicial Q&A: Ray Shackelford

Posted on February 15, 2018 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 →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Ray Shackelford

Endorsement watch: Congresspalooza

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Congresspalooza

Interview with Sandra Moore

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From HD138 we move to its southern neighbor, HD133. Covering territory from the Galleria area to the Westchase District, it’s solid Republican area but with a significant crossover swing to Hillary Clinton in 2016; she lost HD133 by a 54-40 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Judicial Q&A: Barbara Stalder

Posted on February 14, 2018 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 →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Barbara Stalder

Endorsement watch: Republican roundup

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes a conventional choice in CD02. Poe’s vacancy has attracted nine contenders in the Republican primary, and we encourage voters to look for a candidate who will aspire to embody the party’s values while also striving to represent … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Jenifer Pool

Posted on February 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We return to HD138 today. This is a district that has been held by Rep. Dwayne Bohac since 2002 but was carried by a tiny margin by Hillary Clinton on 2016, thus putting it high on the target list for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Judicial Q&A: David Fleischer

Posted on February 13, 2018 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 →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Cruz’s concerns about November

Posted on February 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Take this for what it’s worth. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is preparing Texas Republicans for a turbulent election year amid super-charged Democratic enthusiasm — including in his own re-election campaign. Traveling the state for GOP events this weekend, Cruz portrayed … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Interview with Adam Milasincic

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We are officially in the home stretch of primary season. Early voting starts eight days – eight days! – from today. Between now and then I will be bringing you interviews from the contested State Rep primaries in Harris County. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Judicial Q&A: Jason Luong

Posted on February 12, 2018 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 →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Jason Luong

Endorsement watch: County criminal courts

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

One last round of judicial endorsements. Judge, County Criminal Court No. 2: Harold J. Landreneau Harold Landreneau earns our endorsement for this primary slot with a significant caveat. Landreneau, 49, needs to shed the communication style of a chief clerk … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: County criminal courts

Update on the Dallas ballot lawsuit

Posted on February 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Still waiting on this. Dallas County Republicans have filed a motion to remove Judge Eric Moyé from overseeing a lawsuit that would remove 127 Democrats from the 2018 general election ballot. Moyé, a Democrat, has refused to step aside in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Update on the Dallas ballot lawsuit

Endorsement watch: CD02 and the road ahead

Posted on February 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes their pick on the Democratic side for CD02. If the primary race in the 7th Congressional District is the major-league showdown for Houston-area Democrats, then consider this election to be the Triple-A minor league version. In a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Will we or won’t we get a county bond election for flood control?

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Answer unclear, try again later. In an interview with the Chronicle, [Harris County Judge Ed] Emmett described the various factors that are at play as the county grapples with the possible bond referendum, which would be one of the biggest … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018, Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas Monthly long read on Beto

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Worth your time to peruse. It’s a feature from their January 2018 print issue. Talk to political scientists, pollsters, operatives—both Democratic and Republican—around the state and you’ll hear plenty of reasons why, despite the surprising crowds in places like San … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Texas Monthly long read on Beto

Endorsement watch: Two for CD07

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron wades into the deep waters of CD07 and comes away with two favorites. If Democrats are going to win this race, they’ll need a strong candidate whose views will appeal to voters disillusioned with their tea party Republican … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Two for CD07

Interview with John Miller

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Today we come to the end of HCDE week. As I said, there are three candidates running in Position 6, Precinct 1 – there is no Republican candidate, so the winner of the primary has his ticket stamped – but … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with John Miller

Judicial Q&A: Scot “dolli” Dollinger

Posted on February 9, 2018 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 →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Scot “dolli” Dollinger

No, the bathroom bill issue hasn’t gone away

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Lisa Falkenberg tries to argue that the bathroom bill issue has faded away this election, but I don’t buy it and I don’t think she does, either. But there’s one hot-button issue that’s been notably absent: the bathroom bill. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Judges and more judges

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

For probate court. Judge, County Probate Court No. 2: Michael Newman Candidate Jim Peacock told us that temperament is the key issue in this race, and it’s true that good judges should be courteous, calm and respectful. But whether a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Danyahel Norris

Posted on February 8, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Board of Trustees of the Harris County Department of Education is comprised of seven members, three At Large and one for each County Commissioner precinct. Republicans have generally held a majority of the positions on the Board, with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

January 2018 finance reports: Harris County legislative candidates

Posted on February 8, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve looked at Congressional fundraising, now let’s look at some local legislative races. Fran Watson – SD17 Rita Lucido – SD17 Ahmad Hassan – SD17 Natali Hurtado – HD126 Undrai Fizer – HD126 Gina Calanni – HD132 Carlos Pena – … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on January 2018 finance reports: Harris County legislative candidates

Paxton and Paxton, Inc

Posted on February 8, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

How exactly is this not a conflict of interest? Attorney General Ken Paxton’s political campaign guaranteed a $2 million loan to help his wife fuel her bid for a state Senate seat in North Texas. The Bank of the Ozarks … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments