This was unexpected, at least by me.
David Alameel
Texas Democrats may be working on drafting a 2014 dream team.
State Sen. Wendy Davis announced today that she’s backing David Alameel in his bid for the U.S. Senate nomination.
The wealthy Dallas dentist and investor is one of five Democrats vying in the March primary. The winner will face two-term Sen. John Cornyn, if he survives his own primary fight with Rep. Steve Stockman and a handful of others.
“Dr. Alameel is an astute and successful business leader who shares my commitment to creating good paying jobs, improving education for all our children and protecting the retirement our seniors have worked hard for and earned,” said Davis, D-Fort Worth. “I am pleased to endorse him for U.S. Senate.”
Davis gained national attention last summer after an 11-hour filibuster over an abortion bill. Since then, she has become a rallying point for Democrats hoping to put some blue back in Texas’ deep red Republican politics. She’s likely to face Attorney General Greg Abbott in November.
“I am honored to have the support and encouragement from my good friend, Senator Wendy Davis,” Alameel said in a statement. “Wendy knows I will work hard to make sure every Texan has a real voice in Washington and that I will bring fair and common sense leadership back to our nation’s capital.”
Alameel brings deep pockets to the race, with an estimated fortune of about $50 million. He flexed his financial muscle in a 2012 campaign for what is now Rep. Marc Veasey’s Fort Worth congressional district. He spend more than $4.5 million in the Democratic primary, ending up in fourth place with 10 percent of the vote.
Alameel would not be my first choice, in part because I know precious little about him. His webpage is new and as of this morning still hasn’t been indexed by Google – his old webpage is still the first result when you Google his name, and it doesn’t redirect to the new webpage – and his Facebook page was created January 6 and isn’t displayed when you enter “David Alameel” in Facebook’s search box. The main thing I learned when I did find these two pages is that Alameel has been endorsed by Wendy Davis.
I’m personally leaning towards Maxey Scherr, who I think has the highest upside and who has been the most active campaigner so far. Mike Fjetland is someone I’ve known for several years for whom I have a lot of respect. But Davis prefers Alameel, and while it’s easy to see a financial motive in that choice, I’ll take her at her word. Be all that as it may, let’s not forget that the real bottom line here is to ensure that LaRouchie wacko Kesha Rogers is not the nominee. We can argue all we want about which of the others is the best choice, but right now I care more about Rogers not being the nominee than I do about who is.
For my part Davis’s endorsement means I’ll be looking closely at whatever competition she might have against her in the Democratic primary. The last thing we need is for Texas Democrats to keep up their tradition of nominating Republican-lite candidates for high-profile statewide offices. If Alameel actually got elected, I strongly expect he’s switch back to Republican for re-election… after all, that’s where his donations went.
David Alameel is not a Republican.
He seems an astute, intelligent, and humble man. He listens.
I don’t know much but he was born to a Maronite Catholic family in Lebanon, raised in Israel and grew up, joined the army, went to school and married a Latina in Texas.
He made his money with a dental practice management company, and opened dental clinics in poor areas.
He contributed to both Democrats and Republicans, but much more to Democrats.
When he got cancer and was cured in 2010 he seems to have decided to do something with his life and started running as a Democrat.
I still strongly support Wendy Davis, but when it comes to the Senate race against Cornyn, Maxey Scherr has my vote. After researching Alameel, there in no way in hell he would or could ever get my vote.
Here’s why:
Wendy Davis Endorses … Dallas Dentist David Alameel’s Doomed U.S. Senate Bid?
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2014/01/wendy_davis_endorsesdallas_den.php
$216.00 is NOT a “grassroots” campaign:
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/alsorun.php…
Alameel Donated $1.4M to REPUBLICANS:
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/…/david-alameel…/
Does Alameel think that by contributing Millions to Republicans, he can BUY his way around the law? Apparently so:
http://info.tpj.org/Lobby…/01-08-09_yvonnedavistrack.html
Scherr hits Alameel for funding Anti-Choice Republicans:
http://brainsandeggs.blogspot.com/
Maxey Scherr is the Only Democrat Worth Supporting for US Senate in Texas
http://www.politicususa.com/…/maxey-scherr-democrat…
Dallas dentist David Alameel brings big fortune to U.S. Senate race
http://www.dallasnews.com/…/20131202-dallas-dentist…
Alameel serves on a Catholic (anti-abortion) non profit group. The man is anti-choice: http://www.catholicfoundation.com/learning/governance/advisory-council.asp
Do grant recipients have to be Catholic organizations or agencies? Do they have to be in Dallas, or in Texas? No. All 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible for funding. Your school or university, a civic cause, a cultural institution, or any qualifying charitable organization operating in accordance with Catholic values, can be funded anywhere in the country. http://www.catholicfoundation.com/learning/faq/
Alameel’s efforts
could pay off for Davis
It’s not surprising the Wendy Davis has quickly endorsed the Senate campaign of Democrat businessman David Alameel.
The Fort Worth senator is trying to become the first Democrat to win a statewide campaign since 1994. She needs a massive voter turnout organization, and Alameel can help.
Though he’s unlikely to beat a Republican, Alameel has promised to spend as much of his fortune as needed. That means he’ll help bring more Democratic voters to the polls, which is good for Davis and the overall ticket.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/gromer-jeffers-jr/20140113-ted-cruz-cutting-it-close-with-shout-outs-to-political-friends.ece
NO social/equality issues listed: http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/House/Texas/David_Alameel/Views/
Who is David Alameel and what is he hiding? Is he a closet pro-lifer?
BLOG
http://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2014/01/who-is-david-alameel-and-what-is-he.html
Per Michelle’s whole set of links, and one in particular, I’ve got a new blog post up. If Alameel truly is pro-choice, he’s got some ‘splaining to do to a bunch of Dallas-area Catholics, including the Archbishop: http://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2014/01/if-david-alameel-is-pro-choice-he-still.html