Tag Archives: special election

Interview with Elisabeth Johnson

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Elisabeth Johnson has a long background in politics and community activism, having worked on the Bill White for Governor campaign in 2010 as a field organizer in Dallas and with the Texas Organizing Project and Working America to help pass … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Larry Blackmon

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We return now to the interviews for the special election in District K. Most of the nine candidates in this race are first-timers, but two are not. Larry Blackmon is one of those two, having run in the open At … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Interview with Cecil Webster

Posted on April 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’m going to take one brief diversion from the District K special election interviews to bring you this interview for the HD13 special election, which is also happening on May 5. I’ve written about Cecil Webster before, as he is … Continue reading →

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Interview with Martha Castex-Tatum

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We continue on with interviews in the District K special election, to succeed the late Council Member Larry Green. Today we have Martha Castex-Tatum, who has served in CM Green’s office as the Director of Constituent Services since 2015. She … Continue reading →

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Interview with Lawrence McGaffie

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We continue with interviews in the special election for District K to succeed the late CM Larry Green. Today I am talking with Lawrence McGaffie, an ordained minister and Army veteran who is the founder of the Inspire the Lead, … Continue reading →

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Interview with Anthony Freddie

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the special election to succeed the late Council Member Larry Green in District K is on May 5. Early voting for this election begins April 23, which is to say two weeks from now. In those two … Continue reading →

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Farenthold resigns

Posted on April 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

So long, Ducky. U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, resigned on Friday. The decision marks the capstone of a tumultuous few months for the four-term congressman, who has been dogged by sexual harassment allegations and an ongoing ethics investigation. “While … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Pete Gallego is in for SD19

Posted on March 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We now have two intended candidates for what we hope will be a special election. Another candidate signaled plans to enter the race for Senate District 19 on Wednesday, about a month after the San Antonio Democrat who currently holds … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Ana’s army

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Two weeks ago, I noted an email sent out by Rep. Carol Alvarado containing a long list of current and former elected officials as well as other prominent folks who had endorsed her candidacy for SD06, for when Sen. Sylvia … Continue reading →

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The field is set in District K

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the District K special election webpage, and now that the filing deadline has passed and the list of candidates has been updated, here are your contenders for this seat: Candidate Contact Information in alphabetical order Larry Blackmon | 6167 Ludington, … Continue reading →

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District K special election update

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From Durrel Douglas: In a late night Facebook Live video, prominent Houston activist Ashton P. Woods bowed out of the race to replace former City Councilman Larry Green who passed unexpectedly in early March. Woods says he will back a … Continue reading →

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So will there be any effort to help Cecil Webster in the HD13 special election?

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

So as we know, there is a special election set for HD13 on May 5. Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a special election for May 5, 2018, to fill the State Representative District 13 seat vacated by Leighton Schubert. District … Continue reading →

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What are the elections of interest this May?

Posted on March 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

That’s a question I’m asking as well as one I’m trying to answer. Normally, there are no elections in May of any kind of year for Houston folks, though there are some for parts of Harris County and surrounding areas. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Endorsement watch: Alvarado’s army

Posted on March 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Rep. Carol Alvarado has released a long list of supporters for her campaign to succeed Sen. Sylvia Garcia in SD06. This is clearly a show of strength on Alvarado’s part – the list includes the three most recent Mayors of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Rep. Gutierrez is in for SD19

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Whenever that election may be. State Rep. Roland Gutierrez is running for Texas Senate District 19, a Democratic-leaning San Antonio district that overlaps with his own. The only problem: That seat is still held by state Sen. Carlos Uresti, who … Continue reading →

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The race for SD06 has already begun

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s State Rep. Ana Hernandez on Facebook: The Trib has picked up on this as well. Not long thereafter, I received this in my mailbox: Dear Friends, I would like to congratulate State Senator Sylvia Garcia on her hard-earned victory … Continue reading →

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Special election set for District K

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendars. Voters in southwest Houston will select a replacement for the late City Councilman Larry Green in a May 5 special election, Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday. Green, who was found dead at his home Tuesday morning, remains … Continue reading →

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RIP, CM Larry Green

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Very sad news. Houston City Councilman Larry Green was found dead at his home late Tuesday morning, prompting an outpouring of sadness from City Hall to the southwest Houston district he represented for more than six years. The cause of … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Just so we’re clear, Sen. Carlos Uresti needs to resign

Posted on March 2, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Any time soon works for me. Last Thursday, a jury convicted Uresti, who represents Senate District 19, on 11 felony counts, including fraud and money laundering, for his work with a defunct frac-sand company. In addition, he has a separate … Continue reading →

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

Special election coming in HD13

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We have an opening act for November. State Rep. Leighton Schubert, who previously said he wouldn’t seek re-election this year, has decided to resign early to take a job at a local junior college. The Caldwell Republican will step down … Continue reading →

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That sexual harassment day of reckoning in Texas politics has begun

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Daily Beast follows up its initial reporting about the secret sexual predators of Texas politics with a story that names names. Two names, in particular. Rather than excerpt at length, allow me to quote the Texas Monthly Daily Post … Continue reading →

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Filing news: The “What’s up with Lupe Valdez?” edition

Posted on December 1, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

On Wednesday, we were told that Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez had resigned her post in preparation for an announcement that she would be filing to run for Governor. Later that day, the story changed – she had not resigned, … Continue reading →

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The potential Sylvia effect

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, Rep. Gene Green is retiring, and as we also know, Sen. Sylvia Garcia is one of the contenders to succeed him. As noted before, this is a free shot for Garcia, as she would not otherwise be … Continue reading →

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Another contemplation of turnout

Posted on October 20, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s see where this one takes us. Last time, I made some guesses about turnout in the HISD races based on overall turnout in the city of Houston. Now I’m going to turn that around and take a shot at … Continue reading →

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An unsatisfying attempt at projecting turnout

Posted on October 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

So as we all know, this in an unprecedented election, as there are no city races on the ballot. This has everyone wondering about turnout, because the usual drivers of turnout are a Mayor’s race and/or a big referendum, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2017 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Cornyn withdraws from consideration to succeed Comey

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It was fun while it lasted. John Cornyn withdrew from consideration to be the next FBI director on Tuesday, saying the “best way I can serve is continuing to fight for a conservative agenda in the U.S. Senate.” “Now more … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2017 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Cornyn’s colleagues cool to him as FBI Director

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Boy, with friends like these… There is a growing obstacle standing in the way of Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, becoming the next director of the FBI — his own Republican colleagues. Led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, a chorus … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

So who might run for Cornyn’s Senate seat?

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The short answer is “pretty much anyone”, but there are several names that are on top of everyone’s list of imagined candidates. At least three members of the U.S. House are mulling a run for a possible U.S. Senate vacancy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2017 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Dowd declines to run for Senate

Posted on May 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Not a surprise. Matthew Dowd, a political commentator and former strategist for George W. Bush, announced Wednesday that he will not challenge U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in 2018. Dowd had been considering an independent run against Cruz, who is … Continue reading →

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Cornyn on shortlist to replace Comey

Posted on May 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is on the short list to succeed James Comey as FBI director, according to a White House official. Cornyn is one of about 11 contenders for the post, according to Fox News. He has strong … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Court rules several Congressional districts were illegally drawn

Posted on March 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Bam! Some of Texas’ 36 congressional districts violate either the U.S. Constitution or the federal Voting Rights Act, a panel of federal judges ruled Friday. In a long-delayed ruling, the judges ruled 2-1 that the Texas Legislature must redraw the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Sung and Vilaseca sworn in at HISD

Posted on January 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The HISD Board is back at full strength. As Anne Sung and Holly Flynn Vilaseca took their oaths of office and became Houston ISD’s newest Board of Education trustees on Thursday, their husbands swaddled their months-old babies in one hand … Continue reading →

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Dawnna Dukes case to go before grand jury

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Awesome. Travis County prosecutors and Texas Rangers will present evidence to a grand jury that state Rep. Dawnna Dukes abused the power of her office, Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore told the American-Statesman. Among possible charges: abuse of official … Continue reading →

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Dukes un-resigns

Posted on January 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. State Rep. Dawnna Dukes confirmed to the Texas Tribune in an email Monday that she is not resigning from her post with House District 46, just two days after blindsiding supporters and fellow lawmakers with her reverse decision. Dukes, … Continue reading →

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