Tag Archives: Election 2020

Look for the grifters

Posted on June 19, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

In any rightwing political movement, there will always be grifters. It’s absolutely an ants-to-a-picnic situation. Over the last two presidential election cycles, True the Vote has raised millions in donations with claims that it discovered tide-turning voter fraud. It’s promised … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Flores wins CD34 special election

Posted on June 16, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Groan. Republican Mayra Flores prevailed Tuesday in a special election for an open congressional seat in South Texas, marking a major breakthrough for Republicans eager to blaze new inroads in the historically blue region. She beat Dan Sanchez, the leading … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

When we had more deaths than births in Texas

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Seems like that would be a bad thing. In the midst of the nation’s deadliest pandemic, Texas recorded more births than deaths every month since 2016 — with one exception. Provisional data from the Texas Department of State Health Services … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on When we had more deaths than births in Texas

So what’s going on in the CD34 special election?

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

We started with this. Early voting continues for the June 14 special election for CD34 open (Lean R) through June 10. Candidates for that special election were required to file pre-special election reports today (Thurs.) if they meet the reporting … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Houston vies for 2024 DNC

Posted on May 29, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

It would be nice, but I feel like I’ve seen this movie before and I know how it ends. Houston is vying to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention held the summer before the next presidential election, in which Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Houston vies for 2024 DNC

The national trend is for less voting by mail

Posted on May 28, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. The great vote-by-mail wave appears to be receding just as quickly as it arrived. After tens of millions of people in the United States opted for mail ballots during the pandemic election of 2020, voters in early primary … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

State Bar finally files that professional misconduct lawsuit against Paxton

Posted on May 26, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve been eagerly awaiting this. A disciplinary committee for the State Bar of Texas on Wednesday filed a professional misconduct lawsuit against Attorney General Ken Paxton for his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential elections in four … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

State Bar complaint filed against Ted Cruz

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A group of lawyers want the State Bar of Texas to investigate Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for his “leading” role in attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Lawyers with the 65 Project, an organization aiming to … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A bunch of well-financed wackos won school board races in Tarrant County

Posted on May 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Not great. All but one of the 11 Tarrant County conservative school board candidates, who were backed this year by several high-profile donors and big-money PACs, defeated their opponents during Saturday’s statewide election, according to unofficial election results. The one … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A bunch of well-financed wackos won school board races in Tarrant County

Chron editorial board wins another Pulitzer

Posted on May 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations! The Houston Chronicle Editorial Board on Monday won a 2022 Pulitzer Prize in editorial writing for a series on voter suppression in Texas. The prize, which is the nation’s most prestigious for journalists, was awarded to writers Lisa Falkenberg, … Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Chron editorial board wins another Pulitzer

Oh yeah, Hotze knew all about the Aguirre attack

Posted on May 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Who could have ever guessed that a lifelong lying lair was lying to us? Two days before a private investigator looking into a voter fraud conspiracy theory smashed into an air conditioning repairman’s truck and pulled a gun on him, far-right activist Steven … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More State Bar disciplinary stuff

Posted on May 8, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

A new twist, as a new player enters the picture. The Texas State Bar has filed a suit in Williamson County district court against First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster for his involvement in the state’s lawsuit seeking to overturn … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More State Bar disciplinary stuff

TDP officially applies for early primary status

Posted on May 8, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

They’ll have a lot of competition. More than a dozen states and at least one territory are applying to be among the first to vote for Democrats’ next presidential nominee — with the biggest pile-up coming out of the Midwest, … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on TDP officially applies for early primary status

Paxton whines about the disciplinary process he selected

Posted on May 7, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

My head hurts. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the state’s top lawyer, said Friday the state bar was suing him for professional misconduct related to his lawsuit challenging the 2020 presidential election. “I have recently learned that the Texas State … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

April 2022 campaign finance reports: Congress

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The primaries are over, and while we do still have some runoffs plus now a weird special election in CD34, we do have a smaller set of races and candidates to review. Given how many I had to cram into … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on April 2022 campaign finance reports: Congress

I’m not sure I want us to be an early Presidential primary state

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

We’re pretty early already. I’m fine with that. The Texas Democratic Party is planning to apply to be one of the first states to vote on the 2024 presidential nomination. The Democratic National Committee recently decided to allow new states … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hotze gets bail

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know about you, but I’d feel much safer if this guy had been locked up. Far-right activist Steven Hotze on Thursday made his first court appearance since being indicted on criminal charges after funding a private investigation into … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Hotze gets bail

Hotze indicted for his bogus “voter fraud investigation”

Posted on April 21, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Lock him up. Steven Hotze, the far-right agitator who funded a private investigation into voter fraud that ended with a private investigator pointing a gun at an innocent air conditioning repairman, has been indicted for his role in the episode. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Four candidates file for CD34 special election

Posted on April 16, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The sprint is on. Two Democrats and two Republicans have filed for the June 14 special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, in a South Texas congressional seat that the GOP wants to flip. The filing deadline was 5 p.m. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Four candidates file for CD34 special election

CD34 special election set for June 14

Posted on April 6, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Wasting no time. Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday called a June 14 special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, in a South Texas seat that Republicans are working to flip. The filing deadline for the special election … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Filemon officially resigns

Posted on April 1, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Feh. U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela will formally resign from Congress late Thursday in a move that officially kicks off what’s expected to be a scramble to replace him in a special election. Vela, D-Brownsville, previously announced his intention to step … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Guess who’s paying for Ken Paxton’s defense against those state bar complaints?

Posted on March 31, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

You are, of course. What did you expect? Texas taxpayers are on the hook for $45,000 so far in legal defense for Attorney General Ken Paxton as he attempts to ward off multiple complaints to the State Bar over his … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Guess who’s paying for Ken Paxton’s defense against those state bar complaints?

Of course Ted Cruz supported sedition

Posted on March 30, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

None of this is surprising. And I’m certain there will be more, that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Sen. Ted Cruz was dining near the Capitol on the evening of Dec. 8, 2020, when he received an … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Rep. Filemon Vela to step down

Posted on March 27, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Another special election, though this one is already a little chaotic. U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela confirmed Thursday he will resign from Congress in the coming weeks, a decision that comes after he announced last year he would retire from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

First “Trump Train” lawsuit to proceed

Posted on March 26, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. Today, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas ruled in favor of plaintiffs in Cervini v. Cisneros, the “Texas Trump Train” lawsuit filed against individuals in a convoy of Trump supporters who conspired to mount … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Amanda Edwards to run for Mayor

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The field is now at three. Amanda Edwards, a former at-large member of Houston City Council and candidate for U.S. Senate, announced Wednesday she is running for mayor of Houston in 2023. Edwards’ return to politics comes two years after … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Amanda Edwards to run for Mayor

Precinct analysis: The new Senate map

Posted on March 22, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Previously: New State House map, New Congressional map, new SBOE map. The good news is that all 31 Senate seats will be on the ballot this year, as it is a post-redistricting year. The bad news is that the only … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Precinct analysis: The new Senate map

Still more on the mail ballot rejections

Posted on March 19, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The Associated Press moves the ball forward now that the votes have been canvassed. Texas threw out mail votes at an abnormally high rate during the nation’s first primary of 2022, rejecting nearly 23,000 ballots outright under tougher voting rules … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

OAN sues AT&T over being dropped from their service

Posted on March 19, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Worth keeping an eye on. Right-wing cable network One America News is suing Dallas-based AT&T and DirecTV, alleging the companies breached their contract with OAN and conspired with a company currently suing OAN’s owners. AT&T and DirecTV became the target … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A trifecta of crap from the Fifth Circuit

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

It’s what they do. A federal appeals court has ruled for Texas in three lawsuits challenging the state’s voting laws, including mail-in ballot provisions and the elimination of straight-ticket voting. In a series of 2-1 rulings Wednesday evening, a panel … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More data about mail ballot rejections

Posted on March 13, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Keep it coming. Thousands of Texans who attempted to vote by mail in the March primary were disenfranchised in the state’s first election conducted under a new Republican voting law. The state’s largest counties saw a significant spike in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The rejected mail ballots of Bexar County

Posted on March 12, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I have four things to say about this. Bexar County rejected mail-in ballots at roughly ten times the rate it did before the passage of the state’s new voting law last year. Before Senate Bill 1 took effect, with its … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

State Bar sues Sidney Powell for professional misconduct

Posted on March 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Busy times at the State Bar of Texas. The State Bar of Texas has filed a disciplinary suit against former Trump campaign attorney Sidney Powell alleging that she committed professional misconduct when she filed multiple lawsuits seeking to invalidate the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on State Bar sues Sidney Powell for professional misconduct

State Bar complaint against Paxton to proceed

Posted on March 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Nice, but I’m still not expecting there to be consequences for him. I will be delighted to be wrong about that. A Texas State Bar complaint against Attorney General Ken Paxton is moving forward and will be heard by either … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment