Category Archives: Election 2020

Your daily Bonnen-MQS update

Posted on August 2, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I’m just sittin’ here watching the wheels go round and round… After a week of denying that he asked an arch-conservative to target 10 fellow Republicans in the next primary election, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen challenged Empower Texans CEO Michael … Continue reading →

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That UT-Tyler poll

Posted on August 1, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose I have to talk about this. A poll conducted by the Center for Opinion Research at the University of Texas at Tyler showed [Beto O’Rourke] leading among Texas voters in the Democratic presidential primary. The survey showed O’Rourke … Continue reading →

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State Rep. John Zerwas to retire

Posted on August 1, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Big news. Rep. John Zerwas, the head of a powerful budget-writing committee in the Texas House, announced Wednesday his retirement at the end of September. “It has been an absolute honor to represent House District 28, and I am proud … Continue reading →

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I just can’t quit the Bonnen-MQS squabble

Posted on August 1, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

How much popcorn is too much? Asking for a friend. A hardline conservative activist who has accused Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, of offering his group long-denied media access to the lower chamber in exchange for politically targeting 10 … Continue reading →

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Keep that popcorn coming

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, yeah. Four days after a hardline conservative activist accused him and GOP caucus chairman Dustin Burrows of plotting to target 10 fellow Republicans in primary elections, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen forcefully denied the allegations Monday afternoon. “Let me be … Continue reading →

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The crowded Senate primary

Posted on July 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s all good. Two days after longtime state Sen. Royce West launched his U.S. Senate campaign here, one of his primary rivals swung through the city with an unequivocal pitch. “I’m the fighter that it’s gonna take to beat John … Continue reading →

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The Bonnen-MQS kerfuffle

Posted on July 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

As they say, pass the popcorn. Less than three weeks after state lawmakers wrapped up their 2019 legislative session, an unusual meeting convened with unlikely conferees from opposite ends of the Texas Capitol power structure. On one side: Republican House … Continue reading →

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Pete Olson not running for re-election

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Least surprising story of the week. U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, announced Thursday afternoon that he is retiring from Congress at the end of his term. The retirement sets up what will likely be one of the most competitive … Continue reading →

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July 2019 campaign finance reports: Harris County

Posted on July 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Before we get to the numbers, please read this. The widow of former Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner El Franco Lee has emptied most of her late husband’s $3.8 million campaign account by donating to community groups and charities. Ethel … Continue reading →

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Davis raises $250K on her first day as a candidate

Posted on July 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Well, that would be one reason why people wanted her to run. Former Texas Sen. Wendy Davis raked in more than $250,000 in the first 24 hours after she announced her bid for U.S. Rep. Chip Roy’s 21st District seat … Continue reading →

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Royce West makes it official

Posted on July 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

He’s in. State Sen. Royce West made it official Monday: He’s running for U.S. Senate, joining a crowded and unsettled Democratic primary in the race to unseat Republican John Cornyn. “I’m battle tested,” West told supporters at a campaign launch … Continue reading →

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Wendy Davis is in for CD21

Posted on July 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

For some reason it hadn’t occurred to me that this was likely to happen on Monday. And here we are. Former Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis is running for Congress. Early Monday morning, Davis announced her candidacy for the Democratic … Continue reading →

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July 2019 campaign finance reports: Congress

Posted on July 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s move over to Congress and the Senate, where there are several new candidates, with more on the way. The January roundup is here, which closed out the 2017-18 election cycle, and the April report is here. For comparison, the … Continue reading →

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West sets up Senate campaign committees

Posted on July 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This would seem to end the suspense, if there were any suspense remaining. State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, appears to be in for the U.S. Senate race. He has an announcement planned for Monday in Dallas, but on Friday, paperwork was … Continue reading →

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Amanda Edwards joins the Senate race

Posted on July 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

And then there were three, with a fourth likely to follow and a fifth out there as a possibility. Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards announced Thursday morning she is running for U.S. Senate, joining an increasingly crowded primary to challenge … Continue reading →

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Looks like Wendy Davis is in for CD21

Posted on July 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Wendy Davis is getting support from some of the highest-ranking Democrats in Congress — including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — as she appears to move closer to run for Texas’ 21st Congressional District. Pelosi and other House leaders have … Continue reading →

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We’ll have a much better idea of who the candidates are soon

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

There are a lot of people filing to run for Congress as Democrats. It remains to be seen how many of them are viable. Three times as many Democrats have already filed to run for Congress in Texas this year … Continue reading →

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The field for Senate may keep growing

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Another possible contender for the Democratic nomination for US Senate. A group of progressive Democratic operatives is looking to draft one of the state’s top organizers of the Latino vote into running for U.S. Senate, a move that could further … Continue reading →

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Libertarians and Greens sue over the petition process for ballot access

Posted on July 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see about this. Ahead of the 2020 election cycle, a group of Texans, along with a number of nonmajor political parties, have sued the secretary of state’s office, alleging that Texas election law discriminates against third-party and independent candidates … Continue reading →

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Does the partisan redistricting ruling change anything in Texas?

Posted on July 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe, but if so it will be indirect. Robert Henneke, general counsel for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, said the ruling was a clear sign that the high court wanted to discourage federal judges from micromanaging … Continue reading →

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Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls will step down

Posted on July 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

That sound you hear is a domino falling. Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls announced Wednesday that he would not seek a third term in 2020. “My work in law enforcement, it’s been an honor and a privilege,” said Nehls. … Continue reading →

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We have a candidate in CD06

Posted on July 12, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A Waxahachie Democrat who is business partners with Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins is running for Congress in 2020 against Rep. Ron Wright, an Arlington Republican who was first elected to office last year. Stephen Daniel, an attorney, on … Continue reading →

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Royce West looks ready to announce

Posted on July 11, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendars. Royce West is one step closer to running against Republican incumbent Sen. John Cornym. The Dallas Democrat has announced a news conference for July 22, where he’s widely expected to launch a campaign for Senate. The longtime … Continue reading →

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Bell says he’s in for Senate

Posted on July 4, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We have a competitive primary now. Former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell is running for the Democratic nomination for Senate, joining what could be a crowded field of candidates looking to oust incumbent Republican John Cornyn. Bell on Tuesday filed a … Continue reading →

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Chip off the old block

Posted on July 3, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Chip Roy, that is, the Ted Cruz minion in the House that no one said they needed. Freshman Rep. Chip Roy, who squeaked into office last year, has spent his first months in Congress establishing himself as a brash and … Continue reading →

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How many contested judicial primaries should we expect?

Posted on June 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We already know that we’re going to get primary challenges to at least one Democratic countywide officeholder, as County Attorney Vince Ryan has two challengers lining up against him, and DA Kim Ogg has at least one person who has … Continue reading →

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The Straus PAC

Posted on June 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what this does. Former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, a San Antonio Republican, announced Wednesday he was launching a new political action committee that he said will aim to help him continue to carry out “a thoughtful, responsible … Continue reading →

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Some county race updates

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

2020 is going to be a very different election year in Harris County, because for the first time in anyone’s memory all of the non-HCDE countywide offices are held by Democrats. If you’re a Democrat in Harris County and you … Continue reading →

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See ya, Stickland

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Good riddance. State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, a firebrand conservative Republican from Bedford and one of the most vocal members of the Texas House, announced Monday he will not run for reelection in 2020. Stickland, first elected to represent House District … Continue reading →

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The battle for the Lege is gonna be lit

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Fasten your seat belts. While the Texas Senate appears safe for Republicans, Clinton’s comments underscored the emphasis that some Democrats — both in Texas and outside it — are already putting on the fight for the majority in the state … Continue reading →

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Royce again

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The “Royce West for Senate” thing is officially a thing. State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, met this week with U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as he nears a decision on whether to run for U.S. Senate — a … Continue reading →

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The lamentations of Big John

Posted on June 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

You guys, he may finally lose a race. I’m serious! There is no ghostwritten Cornyn memoir. His ego does not seem to live and die on how many times he appears on Sunday morning talk shows. And he’s never launched … Continue reading →

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What about Royce?

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Gromer Jeffers examines the question of whether State Sen. Royce West will jump into the Democratic primary for US Senate in 2020. For several months, there’s been speculation that Democrats, against the wishes of some party leaders and donors, will … Continue reading →

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UT/Trib: So this is what a swing state looks like

Posted on June 18, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This is not the poll I’m looking for, but it still tells us something. Half of the registered voters in Texas would vote to reelect President Donald Trump, but half of them would not, according to the latest University of … Continue reading →

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