Tag Archives: Lite Gov

Endorsement watch: Three out of five ain’t bad

The five major papers have made their endorsements in the Governor’s race now. We know about the DMN and their strange belief that it is possible to placate the extremists, so let’s look at the others, starting with the Houston … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Three out of five ain’t bad

From the “Simple answers to simple questions” department

The Statesman asks “Would Dan Patrick’s tax plan lower your taxes?” Efforts to shift toward sales tax in lieu of property and income taxes have in recent years gained momentum in Republican-led states — even as economists warn that this … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on From the “Simple answers to simple questions” department

Endorsement watch: DMN drops the ball

The Dallas Morning News got off to a good start as it wrapped up its election endorsements by making the crystal-clear case for Leticia Van de Putte. There are a couple of ways to keep your house warm this winter. … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Sweep for Sam Houston

The Houston Chronicle endorses Sam Houston, completing a sweep of the big papers for the Democratic candidate for Attorney General. Democratic candidate Sam Houston is the best choice on the ballot. A graduate of Baylor Law School and candidate for … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Sweep for Sam Houston

Saving SD10 and other benchmarks

The Observer looks at the race to succeed Wendy Davis in SD10. It’s a steamy, hot summer morning in the Metroplex, and at the Dixie House, a Southern-style diner in east Ft. Worth where gravy flows like water, Libby Willis … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Saving SD10 and other benchmarks

Endorsement watch: Chron for Leticia

It’s amazing how easy some endorsement decisions are, or at least should be, this year. The differences between the candidates this year could hardly be more stark. State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, the Democratic candidate, is … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Chron for Leticia

Lyceum: Abbott 49, Davis 40

Pretty decent result that will hopefully put the “double digit lead” narrative out to pasture. Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott leads Democratic opponent Wendy Davis by 9 percentage points, 49 percent to 40 percent, according to the latest Texas Lyceum … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lyceum: Abbott 49, Davis 40

The Lite Guv debate

It was lively, and it was a good reminder of who Dan Patrick really is. In the only scheduled debate in their race for lieutenant governor, state Sens. Dan Patrick and Leticia Van de Putte faced off on Monday night … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Lite Guv debate

A thought about the stealth campaign

Forrest Wilder writes about the un-campaigns being run by most statewide Republicans. But now comes a new twist: the art of the non-campaign. The candidate who doesn’t even bother to put on a show, doesn’t even pretend to reach the … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A thought about the stealth campaign

Dan Patrick loves the poor folks

He says so himself, so it must be true. State Sen. Dan Patrick told a wealthy Houston business group Thursday that he would advocate for the poor and people of color if elected lieutenant governor in November, at one point … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Dan Patrick loves the poor folks

Dan Patrick sightings

I doubt that the Chron’s calling out of Dan Patrick had anything to do with him appearing in public, in the daylight, where there might be people that don’t vote Republican, but it was good timing anyway. Now that Patrick … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The run and hide strategy

Where’s Danno? Texas voters [were] treated to a peculiar sight Friday evening: a one-candidate debate. Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, [answered] questions in a Spanish-language television event without Republican rival Dan Patrick. He’ll be meeting … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The run and hide strategy

School finance system ruled unconstitutional again

A little light reading for your holiday weekend. Nearly three years after more than 600 Texas school districts filed litigation challenging the state’s school finance system, a Travis County district judge has ruled in their favor. In an almost 400-page … Continue reading

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on School finance system ruled unconstitutional again

LVdP for Medicaid expansion

No surprise here. Democratic state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte vowed to overturn Republican opposition to expanding the state’s Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act if elected lieutenant governor, saying the state should act to protect poor, uninsured adults. … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on LVdP for Medicaid expansion

We have a Lite Guv debate agreement

Mark your calendars for September 29. Both campaigns confirmed the date via email Thursday after the two sides had agreed to a Texas Tribune-hosted debate but couldn’t reach a consensus on a day. The Tribune originally proposed Sept. 24 and … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on We have a Lite Guv debate agreement

On redistricting and race

Phase Two of the redistricting trial is underway, and if it sounds an awful lot like Phase One to you, you would be right. Texas’ Republican-controlled Legislature didn’t discriminate against minorities by drawing election maps in 2011 that voting-rights activists … Continue reading

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

LVdP calls out Patrick on debates

You tell him, Leticia. Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Letitica Van de Putte said Thursday that her Republican opponent, Sen. Dan Patrick, has yet to respond to her proposal for a series of debates ahead of the Nov. 4 election. Van … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

LVdP will not be a candidate for Mayor of San Antonio in 2015

I never really thought there was anything to this, but in case you needed an official denial, here you go. Democrat Leticia Van de Putte wants to put rumors to rest: she has absolutely no intention of running for mayor … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on LVdP will not be a candidate for Mayor of San Antonio in 2015

Planned Parenthood comes out swinging

Good to see. Planned Parenthood’s political arm is embarking on the most aggressive campaign it has ever waged in Texas, with plans to spend $3 million to turn out voters for Democratic candidates including Sens. Wendy Davis for governor and … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Planned Parenthood comes out swinging

The relevant numbers in the finance reports

The headlines will say one thing but you need to dig a little deeper to get the picture. Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott has amassed a $35.6 million war chest in his campaign for Texas governor, a figure his aides … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The relevant numbers in the finance reports

Convention coverage

Wendy and Leticia and a whole host of others rally the crowd in Dallas. Wendy Davis and Leticia Van de Putte shared the spotlight at the Texas Democratic Party convention on Friday night, promising to change the direction of the … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Convention coverage

On defining success

It depends on what your goals are. Suppose you were a Texas Democrat and a realist. You want your candidates to win in November and to break the spirit-killing string of losses that started after the statewide elections in 1994. … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on On defining success

Of course some people will split their votes

It’s just a matter of how many of them do so, and if the races in question are close enough for it to matter. Democrats are hoping the Republicans will eventually make some of the mistakes Democrats themselves made back … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Of course some people will split their votes

The Latino Victory Project

I like the sound of this. Building on record-breaking fundraising numbers, an expanded donor base and a historically high number of Latino voters in the 2012 presidential election, a progressive Latino group is set to officially begin efforts to expand … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Yes, Greg Abbott opposes the HERO

He just doesn’t want to be forced to admit it. When the Houston City Council passed its nondiscrimination ordinance including gay and transgender protections, top Democratic statewide candidates such as Sen. Wendy Davis were quick to celebrate. “All people should … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dan Patrick loves the Latinos

Can you feel the love? State Sen. Dan Patrick’s victory over incumbent David Dewhurst in the Republican runoff for lieutenant governor on Tuesday night came as no surprise. And while the conciliatory tone that marked his victory speech — in … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Dan Patrick loves the Latinos

Where are all the ladies?

Christy Hoppe of the DMN notices something missing on the Republican side of the 2014 ballot. The Texas Republican Party has a girl problem. A glance down the list of GOP nominees set after Tuesday’s runoffs makes it look as … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Some postmortem thoughts

The Trib leads with the obvious. As the results of Republican primary runoffs began to roll in Tuesday evening, Texas Democrats realized they were getting exactly what they wanted — and exactly what they feared. The victories of Dan Patrick … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Primary runoff results

So long, Dave. Riding a wave of conservative sentiment that Texas Republicans were not being led with a hard enough edge, state Sen. Dan Patrick crushed Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in Tuesday’s Republican primary runoff election for lieutenant governor, ending … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Primary runoff results

Dewhurst admits he has no control over his campaign

I can’t think of any other way to characterize this. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Monday he was “appalled” by Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson’s decision to publicize court filings detailing Dan Patrick’s past mental health issues and that he tried … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Dewhurst admits he has no control over his campaign

One thing I won’t criticize Dan Patrick for

This is just wrong. Sen. Dan Patrick issued a terse statement late Thursday about a period in his life 30 years ago during which he sought medical attention to cope with “mild depression and exhaustion.” Patrick, who is in a … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why isn’t Ken Paxton releasing his tax returns?

This DMN story is actually about how Sen. Ken Paxton, currently in a runoff for the GOP nomination for Attorney General after leading the field in March, has done pretty well for himself as a lawyer since his initial election … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Davis vs the DGA

Show some respect, y’all. The chairman of the Democratic Governors Association gave a less-than-rosy assessment of Sen. Wendy Davis’ chances Tuesday and got a slam in return from her campaign. Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin, association chairman, failed to cite the … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Who’s afraid of the Republican slate?

I was reading this story about a kerfuffle in the Republican runoff for Railroad Commissioner when a thought struck me. A Republican candidate seeking a post that regulates the state’s oil and gas industry said he won’t cut ties to … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Who’s afraid of the Republican slate?