Tag Archives: Election 2012

How long will we talk about Latino turnout before someone does something about it?

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Stop me if you’ve heard any of this before. On Saturday, the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project announced its 2012 goal of raising Latino voting in Texas to 2 million from the 1.7 million who voted in the last presidential … Continue reading →

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Primary news: HD90, HD113, HCDE

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Lon Burnam has an opponent in March. Fort Worth School Board trustee Carlos Vasquez has announced he will challenge state Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, in next year’s Democratic primary. Vasquez, a former elementary school principal, has been … Continue reading →

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Trautman running for HCDE

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

And we have our first contested Democratic primary in Harris County for 2012 as Diane Trautman has announced her intent to run for Harris County Department of Education Trustee in At Large #3. Here’s her Facebook page for that. She … Continue reading →

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“Draft Nick Lampson”

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As things stand now, there are basically two Congressional seats in Texas that Democrats have a shot at taking away from Republicans in 2012. One is CD23, which is drawing a fair amount of interest. The other is CD14, thanks … Continue reading →

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Bexar County legislative hopefuls

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Some news out of Bexar County about Democratic legislative candidates. Two former San Antonio councilmen who left office this summer because of term limits are back in politics and gearing up for their first partisan campaigns for seats in the … Continue reading →

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Jackson to run for Congress, Anderson to primary Harris

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

State Sen. Mike Jackson makes official what had been speculated. As expected, state Sen. Mike Jackson, R-La Porte, will run for Congress next year instead of for re-election to the Texas Senate. He’ll be running in the newly created CD-36. … Continue reading →

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What if they all lose?

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Now that Rick Perry and David Dewhurst have decided they really want to be in that place they profess to hate so much, Washington, DC, there are a bunch of politicians behind them hoping to move up. Ross Ramsey wonders, … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: What would Molly say?

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In re: Rick Perry for President, I quote the immortal Molly Ivins, who said about Dubya “Next time I tell you someone from Texas should not be president of the United States, please pay attention.” In honor of that, here’s … Continue reading →

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My one piece of advice to Barack Obama in re: Rick Perry

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

By now you’ve probably heard about Rick Perry’s long-anticipated announcement that yes indeedy, he is running for President. I plan to avoid this subject as much as possible, because there’s only so much blogging about Rick Perry one can do … Continue reading →

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Another entrant in CD23

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Democratic field in CD23 has gotten bigger, and may grow again. Manny Pelaez, a trustee of VIA Metropolitan Transit, has filed a statement of candidacy for Congressional District 23, a seat held by U.S. Rep. Francisco “Quico” Canseco, R-San … Continue reading →

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Former CM Pam Holm to run for HD136

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

So says Robert Miller. Pam Holm, who represented District G on the Houston City Council from 2004 through 2009, has decided to run to replace Speaker Beverly Woolley in Texas HD 136. Ms. Holm was a prolific fundraiser the three … Continue reading →

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Sylvia for Something

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

So many rumors, so little time. Among those voicing support for the alternative [County Commissioners] map was Sylvia Garcia, who was Precinct 2 commissioner from 2002 until this year. Garcia’s loss – by 2,310 votes – to Republican newcomer Jack … Continue reading →

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Lampson looking at options

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Former US Rep. Nick Lampson has said he’s thinking about running in the newly-drawn and now open CD14, but that’s not the only option he’s pondering. Lampson said in an interview that he’s received a great deal of encouragement since … Continue reading →

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Third time’s a charm

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We won’t have any Williams on Williams action in the new CD33 after all, as former Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams has changed races again. Michael Williams, who jumped from the U.S. Senate race to the congressional race in the new … Continue reading →

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Sumners v Sullivan?

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Well, this would be entertaining. County tax assessor-collector Don Sumners thinks Houston City Councilman Mike Sullivan may be preparing to take a run at him in next year’s GOP primary, and Sullivan isn’t denying it. Sumners took a swipe or … Continue reading →

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Meyers to challenge Keller in GOP primary

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There will be a little hot judge on judge action in next March’s Republican primary. Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Lawrence “Larry” Meyers has told colleagues that he will challenge fellow jurist Sharon Keller in the Republican primary for the … Continue reading →

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Are there West Texas pickup opportunities available?

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Depends on how you look at it, I suppose. Former Potter County Democratic Party chairman Abel Bosquez said he plans to run for the same Texas House seat he did not win in last year’s election. “I am ready to … Continue reading →

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Sylvia and Mario

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, Robert Miller mentioned that there was talk that former County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia might challenge Sen. Mario Gallegos in the 2012 primary. PDiddie expanded on that, and the chatter eventually led to a denial from both politicians via … Continue reading →

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Rep. Beverly Woolley to retire

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Robert Miller had the scoop, and Texas Politics has the details. Rep. Beverly Woolley, a longtime Republican Party activist elevated to some of the most prestigious leadership positions in the Texas House, announced today – her 72nd birthday – that … Continue reading →

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Oh yeah, someone is running in CD23

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Scott Stroud reminds me that the Democrats do have a candidate for that other Congressional race in Bexar County. Although Democrats are already buzzing about the looming Interstate 35 tussle between Congressman Lloyd Doggett and state Rep. Joaquín Castro for … Continue reading →

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Patterson to run for Lite Guv

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

With Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst running for the Senate, everyone else in state government that’s been waiting for a chance to move up is undoubtedly making plans to do so. At the front of the line is Lanc Commissioner Jerry … Continue reading →

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Amazon to push for ballot initiative in California

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I believe we are entering “last refuge of the scoundrel” territory here. Amazon said [last] Monday that it would back a California ballot initiative that would roll back a new state law that forces more online retailers to collect sales … Continue reading →

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The Dew gets set to do it

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

To officially join the Senate race, as everyone has been expecting him to do. Ending perhaps the worst-kept secret in Texas politics, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will make his official announcement by “midweek” that he will seek the Republican nomination … Continue reading →

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David Rosen for HCDE Trustee

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Via Facebook, we have our first announcement of a countywide candidacy for 2012, as David Rosen declares his candidacy for the Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees. Here’s a video of the announcement that was posted: Rosen will … Continue reading →

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Does Perry get any credit?

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

What credit, if any, should Rick Perry get for Texas’ relatively good economic condition? This Statesman story aims to find out. As Gov. Rick Perry’s flirtation with running for president puts the Texas economy under a microscope, there’s no question … Continue reading →

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Austin braces for job losses

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Ready or not, here they come. The Texas Education Agency said Tuesday that it is laying off 178 employees this week. Those are among the first of thousands of state government layoffs expected in the coming weeks. The TEA decision … Continue reading →

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Lampson says he’s looking at CD14

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Some potential good news from the Chron story about Ron Paul’s announcement that he will not seek re-election in CD14: One with a definite interest in the race is Nick Lampson, a Beaumont Democrat who represented Texas’ 9th Congressional District … Continue reading →

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Doggett v Castro by the numbers

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Greg looks at primary results from the last two cycles in the newly drawn CD35, and finds confirmation of the convention wisdom that Rep. Lloyd Doggett has his work cut out for him against State Rep. Joaquin Castro. Go take … Continue reading →

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Meet the Harris County redistricting map

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

On the agenda yesterday at Commissioners Court – the long-awaited redistricting plan for County Commissioner precincts. The proposal would bring significant changes to several precinct boundaries, seeking to make the populations in the four commissioners’ precincts roughly equal, as required … Continue reading →

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Ron Paul not running for re-election in CD14

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like we won’t need to challenge him after all. Late Tuesday morning, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Surfside, sent out the following message to his Twitter followers: “I have decided not to seek re-election to Congress.” Brazoria County newspaper, The … Continue reading →

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Opening bids on the next deficit

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Do I hear $7 billion? Ten billion? How about $15 billion? Early projections indicate that when the Legislature convenes in 2013 it could face another revenue shortfall. Not as severe as this year’s $27-billion gap, but still problematic. “I think … Continue reading →

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Fourteen and counting

Posted on July 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

That’s fourteen lawsuits related to redistricting. At least 14 lawsuits have been filed against the state’s recent redistricting efforts, with more likely on the way. Every decade, Texas lawmakers are responsible for redrawing political boundaries in light of population changes. … Continue reading →

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On challenging Ron Paul in CD14

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Jason Stanford has a question. So why aren’t we targeting Ron Paul again? The Texas legislature drew him the reapportionment equivalent of a target on his back. They took away some of his red meat territory and gave him Galveston … Continue reading →

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Austin presents a single-member Council map

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The city of Austin has released the first maps of a proposed six-district City Council, which Mayor Lee Leffingwell would like to put on the ballot next year for public approval. The City of Austin has for decades operated under … Continue reading →

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