Tag Archives: Election 2015

Initial day-after-election thoughts

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

– We now have two cycles’ worth of data to suggest that having more good candidates in a Council race does not necessarily lead to better outcomes. Following in the footsteps of At Large #3 in 2013, a handful of … Continue reading →

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What the passage of the term limits referendum means

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a little unclear from this story. The passage of Proposition 2 also means some current officeholders will be able to serve longer than the six years they originally signed up for. Current freshman council members will now be able … Continue reading →

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Omnibus election results post

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I’m going to take the easy way out here, because it’s been a long day/week/month and I’m hoping to get some sleep tonight, and just hit the highlights. There will be plenty of time for deeper analysis later, and of … Continue reading →

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More on MUDs

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron covers this topic. A few months ago, a cabinet maker and his wife were recruited to move into a manufactured home parked on a dirt road that was plowed into the woods on the west side of Conroe … Continue reading →

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Final 2015 EV statewide totals

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Presented for completeness. Here are the 2015 EV totals from the top 15 counties, and here are the 2013 totals. And here is a handy table comparing the two: County 13 total 15 total Inc ====================================== Harris 101,694 193,966 90.73% … Continue reading →

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One more analysis of early vote turnout

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From Greg: Sometimes the motivation to drive out one segment of voters to the polls has a disparate impact in an electorate. And sometimes the motivation in one constituency has an echo effect that motivates competing constituencies. A classic example … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Day 12 EV 2015 totals: Final turnout projections

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The last day was another big one: Year Early Mail Total Mailed ======================================= 2015 164,104 29,859 193,963 43,280 2013 87,944 21,426 109,370 30,572 The running 2015 totals are here, the full 2013 totals are here, and for completeness the full … Continue reading →

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Hall sues his former consultant

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not really an election season if there isn’t at least one WTF story to make us all shake our heads. Houston mayoral candidate Ben Hall sued his former consultant for defamation Tuesday in connection to a radio advertisement that … Continue reading →

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The pessimism of the poli-sci profs

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

A trio of academic pundits thinks things aren’t going well for the pro-HERO forces. Turnout is up sharply from previous Houston municipal elections, with the largest increases occurring in predominantly Republican and African-American precincts, where a majority of voters are … Continue reading →

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A further look into anti-HERO financing

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Regular commenter Mainstream has been investigating the complex money trail of the various anti-HERO factions and documenting it in the comments for the 8 day finance reports: Pro- and anti-HERO post. I’m putting his two most recent entries here to … Continue reading →

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Day 11 EV 2015 totals: So what do we think turnout will be, anyway?

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One more day of early voting to go: Year Early Mail Total Mailed ======================================= 2015 128,611 27,952 156,563 43,280 2013 68,803 20,491 89,294 30,572 The running 2015 totals are here, the full 2013 totals are here, and for completeness the … Continue reading →

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Back to square one for ReBuild Houston

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. A state district judge on Thursday voided the 2010 charter referendum that enabled the city to create the ReBuild Houston program, muddying the fate of the multi-billion-dollar funding scheme to dramatically improve Houston’s streets and drainage. … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of the Montgomery County bond referendum

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The voters there are engaged in this issue, that much is for sure. Life is on hold in the parking lot that is Rayford Road, 4 miles of too many cars squeezing into too few lanes. Even when it isn’t … Continue reading →

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8 day finance reports: Controller candidates

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

How about a look at the 8 day finance reports for Controller candidates? I figure if you’re reading this blog you won’t look at me funny when I say things like that, so here we go: Candidate Raised Spent Loans … Continue reading →

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Day 10 EV 2015 totals: City versus county

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Day 9 totals came in too late for me to post them yesterday, but the Day 10 reports came in early, so let’s skip ahead to those: Year Early Mail Total Mailed ======================================= 2015 107,086 26,608 133,594 43,280 2013 … Continue reading →

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8 day finance reports: Mayoral candidates

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the story: Adrian Garcia outspent his chief rivals in the Houston mayor’s race over the last month, hoping to hold what polls suggest is his slipping grip on a spot in the likely December runoff. The final round of … Continue reading →

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An Election 2015 threefer

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Three links of interest that weren’t quite worth a post on their own. Cort McMurray deconstructs Bob McNair: It’s not easy, being Bob McNair. Back in the old days, being a Houston billionaire was fun: Whether you made your fortune … Continue reading →

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The Prop 7 funds are already being claimed

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Get ready for a lot more road construction in the near future. Voters have a little more than a week to decide whether to give Texas highways a $2.75 billion annual funding boost, but Houston-area officials are already making plans … Continue reading →

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The animus that drives HERO opposition

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I have often spoken of my contempt for the leaders of the HERO opposition, for their lying and their willingness to demonize their fellow man. There are a number of people who deserve that scorn, but this guy belongs up … Continue reading →

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8 day finance reports: Pro- and anti-HERO

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

First, from the inbox: Houston Unites has raised nearly $3 million in support of Proposition 1 from late August through last Saturday, according to the campaign’s finance report submitted to the city today. Almost 75 percent of all donors were … Continue reading →

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Day 8 EV 2015 totals: Breaking it down to districts

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Day One of Week Two: Year Early Mail Total Mailed ====================================== 2015 73,903 23,560 97,553 43,279 2013 45,571 16,076 61,647 30,548 The running 2015 totals are here, the full 2013 totals are here, and for completeness the full 2009 totals … Continue reading →

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If you really want to improve turnout in city elections

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This is a plan that would do it. Councilman Ron Nirenberg [recently] called for a major change to local elections that he says would boost voter turnout and bolster public participation. The councilman said he’s spent years considering ways to … Continue reading →

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What about the trans men?

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

ThinkProgress asks a good question. Opponents of HERO, identifying themselves as the “Campaign for Houston,” have blanketed the city with billboards, radio ads, television ads, and other forms of messaging, all of which focus on the singular message: “No men … Continue reading →

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Day 7 EV 2015 totals

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One week in: Year Early Mail Total Mailed ====================================== 2015 61,008 21,141 82,149 42,938 2013 37,928 14,342 52,270 30,544 The running 2015 totals are here, the full 2013 totals are here, and for completeness the full 2009 totals are here. … Continue reading →

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Day 6 EV 2015 totals: Rain, rain, go away

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here are your rain-soaked Day Six totals: Year Early Mail Total Mailed ====================================== 2015 57,657 21,141 78,798 42,938 2013 35,376 14,342 49,728 30,544 The running 2015 totals are here, the full 2013 totals are here, and for completeness the full … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of HISD Trustee races

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Little late in the game for this sort of thing, but better late than never. With Superintendent Terry Grier leaving in March, the HISD board faces a big decision in choosing his replacement. Voters can help to determine who makes … Continue reading →

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Day 5 EV 2015 totals: Early voting is up (almost) everywhere

Posted on October 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here are your Day Five totals: Year Early Mail Total Mailed ====================================== 2015 48,027 21,141 69,168 42,938 2013 28,303 14,342 42,645 30,544 The running 2015 totals are here, the full 2013 totals are here, and for completeness the full 2009 … Continue reading →

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McNair rescinds anti-HERO contribution

Posted on October 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Well, what do you know? Earlier this month, billionaire Bob McNair, owner of the Houston Texans NFL team, donated $10,000 to the Campaign for Houston, a coalition working to defeat the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO). That campaign has repeatedly … Continue reading →

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Day 4 EV 2015 totals

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Gonna be lazy for one more day. Year Early Mail Total Mailed ====================================== 2015 36,321 19,789 56,110 42,520 2013 21,193 13,322 34,515 30,096 The running 2015 totals are here, the full 2013 totals are here, and for completeness the full … Continue reading →

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The parks part of the county bond package

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The plans are more specific for the part of the bond package that’s easier to sell. Commissioner Jack Morman thinks of the East Aldine residents waiting outside Crowley Park before dawn for workers to unlock the gates. Commissioner Steve Radack … Continue reading →

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Day 3 EV 2015 totals

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

No fanfare today Year Early Mail Total Mailed ====================================== 2015 27,596 18,196 45,752 41,994 2013 15,595 12,033 27,628 29,538 The running 2015 totals are here, the full 2013 totals are here, and for completeness the full 2009 totals are here. … Continue reading →

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Day 2 EV 2015 totals: Why I’m using 2013 as my basis for comparison and not 2009

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

But first, here’s yesterday’s Chron story about Day One turnout: Turnout as of the first day of early voting in Harris County more than tripled from 2009, when Houston last elected a new mayor, though it is too soon to … Continue reading →

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Dan Patrick buys airtime for anti-HERO ads

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Of course he does. With the start of early voting Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick began lending his voice and his pocketbook to radio and TV ads urging Houston voters to reject the city’s embattled equal rights ordinance. At a … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jew Don Boney

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

And we come to my final interview of the 2015 cycle. I would have published an interview with Jew Don Boney earlier, but schedule conflicts happen, so here we are now. A longtime community activist, Boney served as an aide … Continue reading →

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