Tag Archives: Election 2001

On to the runoff

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is trying to do something no Houston mayor has done in 46 years: flip the result between a general election and a runoff. Jim McConn last achieved the feat in 1977, erasing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

A few thoughts about Tuesday turnout

Posted on November 6, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We now know how many early votes were cast in Harris County for the November 2023 election. I’m now going to run through a few scenarios to show what the range of possibility is for overall final turnout. None of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Let’s try and get those federal transit funds now

Posted on May 30, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Works for me. Transit officials, sensing the timing may be right to tap federal funds for major projects, are moving quickly on portions of a planned bus rapid transit line viewed by some as the backbone of Houston’s future movement. … Continue reading →

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CM Steve Le not running for re-election

Posted on July 5, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We have another open seat, in District F. Houston City Councilman Steve Le announced Wednesday he will not seek a second term in November, leaving an open race for his District F seat and ensuring the southwestern district will get … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Shades of 1997

Posted on December 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron looks to the past to analyze Sylvester Turner’s runoff victory. As the Chronicle reported, voting in the Houston mayor’s runoff fell overwhelmingly along racial lines, with Sylvester Turner edging out a slight victory in part by securing 93 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Precinct analysis: Mayoral runoff

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Believe it or not, the County Clerk’s office put out draft canvass reports last night. As a result, I can do the thing that I do. Here’s a look at the Mayor’s runoff race: Dist King Turner ===================== A 9,491 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

KHOU/KUHF poll: Tuner 38, King 38

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We have a tie, according to the latest poll. Sylvester Turner and Bill King are now locked in a dead heat in the race for Houston mayor, according to the newly released KHOU-News 88.7 Poll of likely voters. The survey … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Our partisan Mayoral runoff

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I’m shocked, shocked to find that there are partisan interests in the Mayoral runoff. Even though Houston elections officially are nonpartisan, the contest between Bill King and Sylvester Turner has evolved into a test of party might as voters prepare … Continue reading →

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Race and runoffs and Turner

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Everyone agrees that Sylvester Turner will be one of the candidates to make it to the runoff for Mayor this year. But what happens then? Yet, to succeed term-limited Mayor Annise Parker, Turner, an African-American, will need to broaden his … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mimi Swartz’s Mayoral campaign rant

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here it is. What if they held a mayoral race and nobody came? That’s the question plaguing many people currently involved in Houston politics—even if no one else in town is asking it. This phenomenon isn’t entirely new: in 2009,* … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Defending HERO

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a big job, but we can get it done. “We’re going to do everything we can to win HERO at the ballot box,” [Houston GLBT Political Caucus] president Maverick Welsh said. It would be Houstonians’ third time voting on … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

The Trib on the big Mayor’s races

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Those being the Houston and San Antonio Mayors races, with a look at how candidates of color are faring. If former state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte wins the runoff for San Antonio mayor next weekend, she’ll become the Alamo … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Where are the women?

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I have several things to say about this. The slate running to replace Mayor Annise Parker features a globetrotting sailor, a triathlete grandfather, a millionaire minister and no women. Despite the most-crowded pack of mayoral contenders in decades, no female … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Garcia appears to be in for Mayor

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Not official yet, but stories like this don’t get run without justification. Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia is sending every possible message that he intends to run for mayor this year, aggressively increasing his political operations and signaling to some … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

There will be charter referenda next year

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Details are pending, but one way or another we’ll get to vote on some charter changes next November. City Council members on Thursday agreed that any city charter reforms, including changes to term limits, should go to voters in November … Continue reading →

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Time for a real NDO in Houston

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Bring it on. Last week, San Antonio passed an ordinance protecting gay and transgendered residents and veterans from discrimination. Houston Mayor Annise Parker says that vote “upped the ante” and that Houston should follow suit. “It is absolutely something we … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

On African-American turnout in city elections

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Bill King makes an observation about Ben Hall’s chances in the upcoming Mayoral election. When Lee Brown was elected mayor in 1997, many pundits predicted that with Houston’s growing minority community, Houston had seen its last white mayor. That, of … Continue reading →

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Hall is in

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s on. Former Houston City Attorney Benjamin L. Hall III announced his candidacy for mayor Wednesday, choosing a slogan of “Hall for All!” and emphasizing his ability to unite people. Hall said he filed a form designating a campaign treasurer … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Non-discrimination ballot referendum coming

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been waiting for this. Activists are preparing a petition to put a referendum on Houston’s November ballot, calling for a ban on discrimination against gays and permission for the city to grant health insurance benefits to the unmarried partners … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Elections from a bygone era

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

All through the Early Voting period, I’ve been comparing turnout this year to elections from 2005 through 2009. It’s not like we didn’t have elections in this city before then, of course. Obviously, the city now is different than it … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Chron overview of the Mayor’s race

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

For the Sunday that is the last day before the start of early voting, the Chron brings us their overview of the Mayor’s race. And a theme we’ve seen expressed once or twice before. Political analysts predict Mayor Annise Parker … Continue reading →

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San Antonio City Council extends domestic partnership benefits to city employees

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. On Thursday, words like “abomination,” “sin” and “Satan” were commonplace in City Council chambers as the audience weighed in on a tiny portion of San Antonio’s $2.2 billion budget. The council listened to three hours of public … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The 70 Percent Solution

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Where have I heard this before? November’s election really is about 2013, said lawyer, lobbyist and blogger Robert Miller. He speculates that the mayor needs to win big against low-profile opponents in November to discourage stronger candidates from running against … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Finance reports and the Mayor’s race

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Finance report updates: David Robinson has filed his corrected report, which includes the $53,095.57 cash on hand total that was omitted in the original. There were no other changes made. Mayoral candidate Kevin Simms has now filed his report. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

May elections

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the Lege passed a bill that would have the effect of moving the date for primary runoffs into May. This is causing heartburn for cities like Austin that hold their municipal elections in May of even numbered … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Mayor and the firefighters

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Despite the tone of this, I wouldn’t make too much of it. While looking for tens of millions of dollars through a combination of cuts, deferrals, savings and fee hikes, Mayor Annise Parker repeatedly has identified the Houston Fire Department … Continue reading →

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Runoff EV wrapup

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The final tally is in, and after 13,534 in person votes were cast today, a total of 66,909 have been counted so far. This compares to 80,516 early votes for the November election. Except it doesn’t, since that total represents … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Council turnover

Posted on November 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

One underappreciated aspect of this year’s election is that we may wind up with more than two new At Large City Council members. We started with two open seats, and with incumbents Sue Lovell and Jolanda Jones in runoffs, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Comparing Controller’s races

Posted on November 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In 2009, we have a Controller’s race that features an At Large Council member, a Council member from a high-turnout, mostly white district, and Council member from a low-turnout, mostly non-white district. In 2003, we had a Controller’s race that … Continue reading →

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Gay rights support in Houston

Posted on April 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. [A]ccording to the latest Houston Area Survey, fewer than half of Harris County residents believe homosexuality is morally wrong, 61 percent believe it’s an innate characteristic rather than a lifestyle choice, and 43 percent believe gay marriages should … Continue reading →

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Candidate interview: Yolanda Navarro Flores

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Next up in the District H special election interview series is Yolanda Navarro Flores. As far as I know, she is the only candidate to have been elected to public office before – she served one term in the Lege … Continue reading →

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