Category Archives: Election 2020

Scouting the opposition in CD07

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Not impressed so far. Facing a roomful of conservative voters at a meet-and-greet earlier this month, Republican Wesley Hunt laid out the stakes for his party’s primary in Texas’ 7th Congressional District. “This is about putting the best candidate forward … Continue reading →

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Justice Democrats find a primary opponent for Rep. Henry Cuellar

Posted on June 15, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s on. A 26-year-old Laredoan, former valedictorian of Early College High School and current immigration and human rights attorney, Jessica Cisneros is announcing her campaign Thursday to run for Congress in 2020 to represent Laredo and the rest of Texas’ … Continue reading →

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Republicans are worried about Texas, part 583

Posted on June 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

When was the last time you head about a Republican-oriented mass voter registration effort? Wealthy Republican donors are preparing a multimillion-dollar effort to register more than 1 million new GOP voters in Texas for 2020 amid anxiety that President Trump … Continue reading →

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Checking in on the national political atmosphere

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox, via G. Elliott Morris’ weekly email blast: Are Democrats doing as well as they were in 2017-2018? The plural of “anecdote” is not “data”, but that’s what special elections and the generic ballot are for. These numbers … Continue reading →

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In which I plead for a boon from national writers

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Dear national political writers: The former Texas congressman and one-time Senate hopeful has attended at least 67 Iowa town halls, driven nearly 3,000 miles across the state, and hired dozens of staffers there. He’s tall, white, charismatic, and handsome—traits that should serve … Continue reading →

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Do we have someone running in CD06 yet?

Posted on June 9, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This guy really needs a strong opponent. U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Arlington, says on a video released by an abortion rights group that women commit murder if they have an abortion and should “absolutely” be punished Reproaction, an abortion rights … Continue reading →

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Could Beto-Cornyn still happen?

Posted on June 8, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

According to that same Quinnipiac poll, some people would like for it to happen. Most Texas Democrats say they’d prefer for former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke to abandon his campaign for president and instead take on Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. … Continue reading →

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One more in CD23

Posted on June 8, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Should be an interesting primary. Rosalinda “Rosey” Ramos Abuabara, organizer of a 2017 LGBTQ pride flash mob across the street from the home of then-mayor Ivy Taylor, has filed to run for the congressional seat now held by Republican Will … Continue reading →

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The repeat Congressional candidates

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib looks at how the key 2020 Democratic Congressional campaigns are shaping up. Short answer: There are a number of repeat candidates from 2018. The situation in the 24th District is emblematic of a broader trend across the state. … Continue reading →

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The view to the next session

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This legislative session was relatively free of drama (you can decide for yourself how substantive it was in other ways), but the forthcoming election season will be anything but, with control of the Legislature and all that means at stake. … Continue reading →

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Undead “religious liberty” bill passes House

Posted on May 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This is why people caution that no bill is truly dead at the Lege until sine die. Over the tearful opposition of the Legislature’s first-ever LGBTQ Caucus and several failed attempts at a procedural block, the Texas House passed a … Continue reading →

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Two for HD134

Posted on May 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Local attorney and business owner Ruby Powers announced on Thursday that she is running to represent District 134 in the Texas House of Representatives. “Our district deserves a state representative who will ensure that families can send … Continue reading →

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An early review of the Senate campaign so far

Posted on May 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I have thoughts about this. When U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro announced earlier this month that he would not run for U.S. Senate in 2020, the San Antonio Democrat cleared up one major question hanging over his party’s primary. But the … Continue reading →

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Ortiz Jones 2.0

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Gina Ortiz Jones is back for another go at CD23. Gina Ortiz Jones, the Democrat who narrowly lost last year to U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, is running again. Jones, a former Air Force intelligence officer, launched her long-anticipated 2020 … Continue reading →

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Chris Bell looking at a Senate run

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We haven’t had one of these stories in a couple of weeks. Chris Bell, the former Democratic congressman and gubernatorial nominee from Houston, is mulling a bid for U.S. Senate in 2020 against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Bell told … Continue reading →

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How should we feel about Joaquin Castro not running for Senate?

Posted on May 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron’s Erica Greider has opinions. In announcing that he won’t challenge Republican U.S. Sen John Cornyn next year, Texas congressman Joaquin Castro explained that he wanted to focus on the “important and meaningful work” he is doing in Congress. … Continue reading →

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McLeod wants back on the bench

Posted on May 3, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

That’s fine. He’s got ten months to make his case to Democratic primary voters. The Harris County Civil Court At Law judge who inadvertently resigned his post in March, and unsuccessfully lobbied Commissioners Court to allow him to remain on … Continue reading →

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Joaquin is out for Senate

Posted on May 2, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, it’s hard to see this as a surprise. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro has decided not to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Sen. John Cornyn, choosing instead to continue pursuing a fast-rising career in Congress focusing on … Continue reading →

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Today is Joaquin Castro Decision Day

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

At least, that’s what we were told last week. Maybe it won’t be today but a few days later. In any event, it’s safe to say that expectations are not high right now. “I would say at this point, he’s … Continue reading →

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Two items about MJ Hegar and John Cornyn

Posted on April 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Ross Ramsey makes an obvious but necessary point about the fight MJ Hegar hopes to have with John Cornyn. It was money that made [Hegar’s close race in 2018 against Rep. John Carter] possible, just as money made O’Rourke’s challenge … Continue reading →

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April 2019 campaign finance reports: Congress

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s April, and that means it’s time once again to review campaign finance reports for Congressional candidates. The January roundup is here, which closed out the 2017-18 election cycle; these reports are the first ones for the 2019-20 cycle. A … Continue reading →

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So what’s with Joaquin?

Posted on April 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Nobody knows but him. From the nation’s capitol to the state capitol, the scuttlebutt was that Democratic U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro would announce within days — if not hours — his campaign for U.S. Senate. That was four weeks ago. … Continue reading →

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Where the Republicans think they’re vulnerable

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Always good to get the opposing perspective on these things. Eight House Republicans, including the three from districts won by Hillary Clinton in 2016, have been named to the National Republican Congressional Committee’s list of incumbents expected to face tough … Continue reading →

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Add CD10 to the contested primaries list

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It has been that way for awhile now, but I’m only just noticing that there is a second candidate for the Democratic nomination in CD10. This Statesman story, which is about the multiple Congressional districts being targeted by Democrats for … Continue reading →

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Hegar is in for the Senate

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Boom. Former Democratic congressional candidate MJ Hegar is running for U.S. Senate in 2020. Hegar, a former Air Force helicopter pilot, mounted a high-profile bid to unseat U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, in November, fueled by attention-grabbing ads and … Continue reading →

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DCCC polls Trump in three target districts

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

News flash: Donald Trump is not very popular. Surveys the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently conducted found that 41 percent of voters approved of Trump’s job performance in Texas’ 24th congressional district, where Rep. Kenny Marchant serves, while 44 percent … Continue reading →

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One more for CD24

Posted on April 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Another contested primary. Democrat Candace Valenzuela, a 34-year-old Carrollton-Farmers Branch school board member, is launching a campaign Monday against Texas GOP Rep. Kenny Marchant, one of the party’s top targets in 2020. She will face an uphill battle for her … Continue reading →

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Castro says he’ll make a Senate decision “soon”

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, please. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro said he still has not made a decision on whether he will run against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in 2020. “I’ll have an announcement soon,” Castro said during a stop at the Texas Capitol … Continue reading →

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CD07: Here comes another Bush?

Posted on April 18, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, goodie. A number of West Houston political insiders are abuzz at the prospect that Pierce Bush, the Houston-based CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star and member of the storied Bush family, might run for the Congressional seat … Continue reading →

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Two for CD22

Posted on April 15, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I expect the primary season for the other competitive Republican-held Congress districts to be busy, and so it begins. Lawyer Nyanza Moore plans to officially announce her candidacy Sunday for Texas’ 22nd Congressional District, where she plans to seek the … Continue reading →

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Here comes the DCCC

Posted on April 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

National Dems really are serious about competing in Texas next year. National Democrats are ratcheting up their Texas offensive yet again ahead of 2020. The chairwoman of U.S. House Democratic campaign arm announced Tuesday morning that her committee will open … Continue reading →

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No, we should not fear a competitive primary for Senate

Posted on April 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This comes up all the time, for both parties. It’s way overblown. Democrats are closer than they’ve been in decades to winning statewide in Texas. But a looming clash between two of the party’s top prospects could blow their shot. … Continue reading →

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Once again with EMILY’s List and the Senate

Posted on April 12, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty much the same story as before, but still worth noting. Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro is considering jumping into the Texas Senate race, but he might not have the primary to himself if EMILY’s List gets its way. The influential … Continue reading →

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Wendy for Congress?

Posted on April 8, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The great 2020 candidate shuffle continues. Wendy Davis says she is not running for U.S. Senate in 2020 and instead is considering a bid for the U.S. House. “I’m looking very seriously at Congressional District 21,” the former Democratic nominee … Continue reading →

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