Category Archives: Election 2020

Interview with Jenifer Pool

Posted on January 15, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We wrap up our visit with the candidates in HD138, the district that I was sure would flip before HD132 did. Politics is funny sometimes. Today’s candidate is Jenifer Pool, whose website is not up right now. If you’ve been … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Robert Morales

Posted on January 15, 2020 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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Flynn officially on HD138 primary ballot

Posted on January 15, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Score two for formerly-booted candidates. In mediation last Friday, [candidate Josh Flynn and the Harris County Republican Party] agreed that Flynn would appear on the upcoming primary ballot [for HD138]. [HCRP Chair Paul] Simpson said in a statement that he … Continue reading →

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Interview with Josh Wallenstein

Posted on January 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We continue in HD138 and the quest to turn that district blue. Unlike the districts we flipped in 2018, which really only came on the radar that year, HD138 has been a low-key target going back to the previous decade, … Continue reading →

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DMN profile of Royce West

Posted on January 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The fifth, and as far as I can tell final, one of these. U.S. Senate hopeful Royce West warns fellow Democrats not to nominate a “far left” candidate. Instead, he says they should choose him, the “most qualified” person in … Continue reading →

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Interview with Akilah Bacy

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We come now to HD138, another one of the top Democrat targets in this cycle, following an election in which the Republicans held it by 47 votes. It’s now an open seat, as incumbent Dwayne Bohac has chosen to retire. … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Judge Steven Kirkland

Posted on January 13, 2020 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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DMN profile of Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez

Posted on January 12, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The fourth entry in this series, and the first to generate some heat. Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez says there’s power in her name. “Tzintzún is more Mexican than any Garcia or Lopez,” the activist told a gathering of Democratic women in … Continue reading →

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Don’t count the other Jerry Garcia out yet

Posted on January 12, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

But do count his votes, because they are legally required to be countable. Reversing itself from a day earlier, the Harris County Democratic Party on Thursday said a constable candidate who was accused by another candidate with the same name … Continue reading →

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After-deadline filing review: Fort Bend County

Posted on January 11, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Fort Bend County had a big Democratic breakthrough in 2018 (though the gains weren’t fully realized, as some Republican incumbents were not challenged), but you could have seen it coming in 2016, when Hillary Clinton carried the county by almost … Continue reading →

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DMN profile of MJ Hegar

Posted on January 11, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Third in the series, and first of the candidates to jump in the race, back when we still thought Beto would be a candidate. As she looks confidently to November, and a chance to try to pack U.S. Sen. John … Continue reading →

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This ballot isn’t big enough for two Jerry Garcias

Posted on January 10, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

They will both still be on the ballot, though only one is now officially running. One of the two candidates named Jerry Garcia who filed to run for Precinct 2 constable — the one who did not appear to be … Continue reading →

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Interview with Kelly Stone

Posted on January 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Today we take a break from the State House to return to the one statewide office on the ballot, Railroad Commissioner. It will be the fourth race you see on your ballot this fall, after President, Senate, and Congress. If … Continue reading →

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Judge Powell back on the ballot

Posted on January 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

So be it. A civil court judge Wednesday ordered that sitting criminal district Judge George Powell be included on the March primary ballot after the Harris County Democratic Party denied his application for candidacy last month. Party officials had to … Continue reading →

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Interview with Lanny Bose

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We wrap up our tour of the candidates who seek to flip HD134. HD134 is now truly a Democratic district, at the county candidate level, at the state candidate level, and yes, at the judicial candidate level. It just needs … Continue reading →

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DMN profile of Amanda Edwards

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Second in the series, focusing on now-former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards. On the day of her last Houston City Council meeting, outgoing at-large member Amanda Edwards wasn’t in the mood for goodbyes. “In my mind it’s not really … Continue reading →

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Interview with Ruby Powers

Posted on January 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We continue with candidate interviews in HD134. You might have thought HD134 was a prime Democratic opportunity in 2018 based on the 2016 Presidential vote, but downballot, especially in judicial races, it was still a fundamentally Republican district. And then … Continue reading →

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We’re not going to get an independent redistricting commission

Posted on January 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Nice to think about, but the set of circumstances that might lead to it are exceedingly narrow. Most of the seven states that have independent commissions adopted them by a citizens’ initiative. Since Texas doesn’t have that option, the only … Continue reading →

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Interview with Ann Johnson

Posted on January 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The next three weeks will focus on the three highest-priority legislative races in the Houston area. The road to a Democratic State House, and all the good things that go along with it, go through HDs 134, 138, and 26. … Continue reading →

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DMN profile of Chris Bell

Posted on January 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The Dallas Morning News did a series of profiles of Democratic Senate candidates during the Christmas break. They’re worth reading, especially since polls show many of us don’t know these candidates all that well. I’m going to post about each … Continue reading →

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After-deadline filing review: Courts

Posted on January 3, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s return to the wonderful world of scoping out our candidates. Today we will concentrate on judicial races. Previous entries in this series are for the greater Houston area, Congress, state races, and the Lege. Supreme Court and Court of … Continue reading →

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Interview with Christian Menefee

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Our third candidate in my series of interviews for Harris County Attorney is Christian Menefee, who was the first candidate to declare for the race. A native Houstonian, Menefee is a former intern in the Harris County Public Defender’s office, … Continue reading →

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Interview with Ben Rose

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Incumbent Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan has two opponents in the March primary, the first time he has had company in a March race. Ben Rose has an LL.M. in Environmental Law from Tulane University, where he wrote his doctorial … Continue reading →

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Interview with Vince Ryan

Posted on December 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This week we focus on the Harris County Attorney primary, one of several high-profile primaries in the county where a sitting incumbent faces serious challengers. Vince Ryan was first elected to the office of Harris County Attorney in 2008, part … Continue reading →

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Cy-Fair Dems Senate candidate forum

Posted on December 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

There are actually multiple clubs hosting this forum, but there’s only so much room in the headline: Event details can be found here. The forum will be held at the Green House International Church, 200 W Greens Rd, Houston, TX … Continue reading →

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Beto PAC

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

In case you were wondering what he’s up to now. Weeks after dropping out of the presidential race, Beto O’Rourke has launched a new political group to boost Texas Democrats in the 2020 election. In an email to supporters Friday … Continue reading →

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Flynn stays on GOP primary ballot for now

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

There’s still litigation to come, but I think he’s got a good case and will probably win. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has weighed in on a lawsuit accusing the Harris County Republican Party of improperly declaring a candidate for … Continue reading →

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Federal lawsuit filed against Precinct 2 Constable over campaign practices

Posted on December 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Hoo boy. Nearly a dozen former employees and high-ranking officials are suing Precinct 2 Constable Chris Diaz, alleging that the elected Harris County lawman required deputies and command staff to help with his reelection campaign and retaliated against them with … Continue reading →

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HD28 poll: Markowitz 42, Gates 42

Posted on December 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: With the crowded field now narrowed to two, a new internal poll shows Dr. Eliz Markowitz (D) in a dead heat — 42 to 42 —with her Republican challenger, perennial candidate Gary Gates, in the race to … Continue reading →

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Trib profile of Sima Ladjevardian

Posted on December 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

CD02 gets a boost in profile. In the final hours before the filing deadline on Dec. 9, Sima Ladjevardian arrived at the Harris County Democratic Party office in Houston to make a little bit of news: She was running for … Continue reading →

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On Republican female Congressional candidates

Posted on December 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The sub-head for this article should be “It’s easy to show large percentage gains when you start from a very low base”. Heavy recruiting of female candidates paid off for Texas Democrats in 2018, but it is Republican women who … Continue reading →

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After-deadline filing review: The Lege

Posted on December 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Now we come to the State House, which is where most of the action will be in 2020. In 2018, much of the energy and focus was on Congressional races, to the point where some hand-wringing articles were written about … Continue reading →

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Flynn to “challenge” GOP decision to boot him from HD138 ballot

Posted on December 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Still more filing finagling. Texas House candidate Josh Flynn is challenging a decision by the Harris County Republican Party to rule him ineligible for the House District 138 primary because he did not “properly” submit his resignation from the county … Continue reading →

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Interview with Chrysta Castañeda

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

As you may have noticed, there are a lot of contested Democratic primaries, and not a whole lot of time between now and early voting. In an ideal world, I’d have time to talk to candidates in all of the … Continue reading →

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