Texas Megathread

[Flake]

I saw there was no megathread for Texas so I thought some of y'all would like it.

I guess I'll start off with this:



As badgate stated earlier, she is running for Lieutenant Governor.

[Qymaen]

Are there any other confirmed candidates for the governorship besides Wendy Davis and whoever the current Lieutenant Governor is?

[Deus Naturae]

Are there any other confirmed candidates for the governorship besides Wendy Davis and whoever the current Lieutenant Governor is?

The AG is the one who's planning to run for Governor. Anyway, the other announced gubernatorial candidates are, for the Reps, Tom Pauken (former TXGOP Chairman), Lisa Frisch (wikipedia lists here as an "activist," whether that means she's a Tea Partier I don't know), Larry Kilgore (a hardcore secessionist), and Miriam Martinez (a former TV personality who calls herself the "Hispanic Margaret Thatcher"). For the Dems, Wikipedia lists Ray Madrigal.

[badgate]

IndependentTexas' list of candidates for each office

U.S. Senate:
John Cornyn (I)
Michael Fjetland
Maxey Scherr
Chris Mapp
Dwayne Stovall
Linda Vega
Eric Wyatt

Governor:
Greg Abbott - TX Attorney General
Wendy Davis - State Senator (Fort Worth)
Lisa Fritsch
Larry Kilgore
Miriam Martinez
Tom Pauken - former RPT Chair; former Workforce Commission member

Lieutenant Governor:
David Dewhurst (I)
Dan Patrick - State Senator (Houston)
Jerry Patterson - Land Commissioner
Todd Staples - Agriculture Commissioner
Leticia Van de Putte* - State Senator (San Antonio)

Attorney General:
Dan Branch - State Representative (Dallas)
Sam Houston
Ken Paxton - State Senator (McKinney)
Barry Smitherman - Railroad Commissioner

Comptroller:
Mike Collier
Glenn Hegar - State Senator (Katy)
Harvey Hilderbran - State Representative (Kerrville)
Debra Medina

Land Commissioner:
George P. Bush
John Cook - former Mayor of El Paso
David Watts

Agriculture Commissioner:
J. Allen Carnes - Mayor of Uvalde
Kinky Friedman
Jim Hogan
Tommy Merritt - former State Representative (Longview)
Sid Miller - former State Representative (Stephenville)
Eric Opiela

Railroad Commissioner:
Becky Berger
Malachi Boyuls
Steve Brown
Wayne Christian - former State Representative (Center)
Ray Keller
Joe Pool, Jr.
Ryan Sitton

(I) = Incumbent
* Van de Putte has not officially announced or filed but is widely assumed to be running.
[/quote]

[Qymaen]

IndependentTexas' list of candidates for each office

U.S. Senate:
John Cornyn (I)
Michael Fjetland
Maxey Scherr
Chris Mapp
Dwayne Stovall
Linda Vega
Eric Wyatt

Governor:
Greg Abbott - TX Attorney General
Wendy Davis - State Senator (Fort Worth)
Lisa Fritsch
Larry Kilgore
Miriam Martinez
Tom Pauken - former RPT Chair; former Workforce Commission member

Lieutenant Governor:
David Dewhurst (I)
Dan Patrick - State Senator (Houston)
Jerry Patterson - Land Commissioner
Todd Staples - Agriculture Commissioner
Leticia Van de Putte* - State Senator (San Antonio)

Attorney General:
Dan Branch - State Representative (Dallas)
Sam Houston
Ken Paxton - State Senator (McKinney)
Barry Smitherman - Railroad Commissioner

Comptroller:
Mike Collier
Glenn Hegar - State Senator (Katy)
Harvey Hilderbran - State Representative (Kerrville)
Debra Medina

Land Commissioner:
George P. Bush
John Cook - former Mayor of El Paso
David Watts

Agriculture Commissioner:
J. Allen Carnes - Mayor of Uvalde
Kinky Friedman
Jim Hogan
Tommy Merritt - former State Representative (Longview)
Sid Miller - former State Representative (Stephenville)
Eric Opiela

Railroad Commissioner:
Becky Berger
Malachi Boyuls
Steve Brown
Wayne Christian - former State Representative (Center)
Ray Keller
Joe Pool, Jr.
Ryan Sitton

(I) = Incumbent
* Van de Putte has not officially announced or filed but is widely assumed to be running.

[/quote]

Interesting. I wish Julian Castro were running, though.

[ElectionsGuy]

Well, republicans are looking at another sweep in statewide offices. The interesting things should be the demographics, factors, and style of the races. Texas only has one competitive house district (TX-23) to watch. Possible movements in the state legislature should also be tracked here.

[Maxwell]

Lieutenant Governors race is probably going to be most interesting: Last poll I saw, Dewhurst had a decent lead over Peterson or Patrick, but he only had 26%, which makes it difficult to imagine that being good news for him.

[badgate]

Lieutenant Governors race is probably going to be most interesting: Last poll I saw, Dewhurst had a decent lead over Peterson or Patrick, but he only had 26%, which makes it difficult to imagine that being good news for him.

Yeah, there's definitely going to be a runoff there. Should be fun.

[Maxwell]

Lieutenant Governors race is probably going to be most interesting: Last poll I saw, Dewhurst had a decent lead over Peterson or Patrick, but he only had 26%, which makes it difficult to imagine that being good news for him.

Yeah, there's definitely going to be a runoff there. Should be fun.

As someone from Texas, do you think Dewhurst could survive a run-off against any of these candidates? I think he's toast. I can't imagine him coming back from the immense failure of his Senate campaign.

[badgate]

I have doubts about his survival. Working in his favor is the fact that the primary is earlier than it was in 2012; in 2012 it was in May. While the primary has already gotten heated between the four in their many debates (seriously- they are having so many [inks]ing debates, town halls, etc), nobody's broken through yet. Also in his favor is his incumbent advantage and money. He just bought another ad buy today I think.

Dewhurst's failures in the first special session will be an issue too, one we're already hearing in attacks from Sen Dan Patrick. That's bigger than his failed Senate run, imo, since this speaks to his handling of the job he currently holds and is asking the primary electorate to let him keep. The bill eventually passed, but Gov Perry had to step in and call another session.

Between now and March the primary voters will have to decide which of his challengers is their guy. If that doesn't happen, but a runoff is still triggered, he could appeal to the voters that weren't supporting his runoff challenger.

[Kushahontas]

Van de Putte to announce within 15 minutes in SA

[badgate]

For those interested, here is a 1 1/2 min video with clips of her announcement: http://youtu.be/Qu1cGgLUqO0 I think any Texan that hears her speak, no matter their politics, is going to be impressed with her personality.

And here's a longer video of her speaking to Battleground Texas volunteers later in the day: http://youtu.be/KJfOxukWQN4. Skip to 1:30 for her remarks.

[badgate]

The Young Conservatives of Texas Straw Poll results are out. Link to the results and analysis: http://yct.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/YCT-Poll-Results-Analysis.pdf

WINNERS (EXCLUDING NO PREFERENCE):
U.S. Senate – John Cornyn
Governor – Greg Abbott
Lt. Governor – Jerry Patterson
Attorney General – Ken Paxton
Comptroller – Glenn Hegar
Ag. Commissioner – Eric Opiela
Land Commissioner – George P. Bush
Railroad Commissioner – Wayne Christian

The only difference between this and limiting it to only votes within Texas is that Sid Miller wins Ag Commissioner. What's amazing is how vulnerable this makes Cornyn look. I'm going to forever wish that Liz Cheney had chosen to challenge Cornyn instead of Enzi.

[Indy Texas]

Some highlights from Texas Tribune's Inside Intelligence report (PDF), which allows various "political insiders" in Austin to comment on the state of the parties and the 2014 elections candidly and anonymously. They're very worried about the lieutenant governor's race, which could end up garnering more attention than the top of the ticket.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[badgate]

I wonder if I can vote in the GOP primary. I should find out.

[Indy Texas]

I wonder if I can vote in the GOP primary. I should find out.

If you're registered to vote in Texas, you can vote in the GOP primary. Even if you're a Democratic troll who works for Wendy Davis.

[badgate]

I work for World Market!!

And I wasn't thinking about it bc of Davis, I was thinking about the Lite Guv primary. BTW I became a Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrar today

[TX Conservative Dem]

You guys also forgot about the judicial statewide offices in 2014:

Texas Supreme Court-Chief Justice:
Nathan Hecht (R-incumbent)
Tom Oxford (Lib)

Texas Supreme Court-Place 6:
Jeff Brown (R-incumbent)

Texas Supreme Court-Place 7:
Jeffery Boyd (R-incumbent)

Texas Supreme Court-Place 8:
Phil Johnson (R-incumbent)
RS Roberto Koelsch (Lib)

TX Court of Criminal Appeals-Place 3:
Bert Richardson (R)
Barbara Walther (R)

TX Court of Criminal Appeals-Place 4:
Kevin Patrick Yeary (R)
Jani Jo Wood (R)

TX Court of Criminal Appeals-Place 9:
David Newell (R)
W.C. "Bud" Kirkendall (R)

*NO Democrats running for these judicial statewide offices.

[Kushahontas]

You guys also forgot about the judicial statewide offices in 2014:

Texas Supreme Court-Chief Justice:
Nathan Hecht (R-incumbent)
Tom Oxford (Lib)

Texas Supreme Court-Place 6:
Jeff Brown (R-incumbent)

Texas Supreme Court-Place 7:
Jeffery Boyd (R-incumbent)

Texas Supreme Court-Place 8:
Phil Johnson (R-incumbent)
RS Roberto Koelsch (Lib)

TX Court of Criminal Appeals-Place 3:
Bert Richardson (R)
Barbara Walther (R)

TX Court of Criminal Appeals-Place 4:
Kevin Patrick Yeary (R)
Jani Jo Wood (R)

TX Court of Criminal Appeals-Place 9:
David Newell (R)
W.C. "Bud" Kirkendall (R)

*NO Democrats running for these judicial statewide offices.

lol

[NewYorkExpress]

Something you guys missed...
http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/rick-perry-offers-john-cornyn-a-ringing-endorsment/nbs83/

Gov. Perry endorses Senator Cornyn...

[Indy Texas]

Something you guys missed...
http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/rick-perry-offers-john-cornyn-a-ringing-endorsment/nbs83/

Gov. Perry endorses Senator Cornyn...

I think he's trying to poke Ted Cruz in the eye in the subtlest way possible. He made a few jokes about him during the shutdown, campaigned for his opponent during the Senate primary, and if they are both on a debate stage together in Iowa in 2016 things will get very interesting.

[Miles]

Filing ends Monday. Here are the legislative seats that Democrats haven't yet recruited candidates in:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Indy Texas]

Tom Pauken is quitting the Texas governor's race. Let the Republican coronation begin.

The GOP LiteGuv primary will be the most interesting race in Texas of 2014, including both primaries and the general election.

[badgate]

Here is a run down of recent TX political stories.


Texas Tribune

Democrat David Alameel Will Run for Cornyn's Senate Seat
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/11/29/democrat-david-alameel-will-run-cornyns-senate-sea/
Alameel came in 4th in the Dem primary for one of Texas' new minority-majority districts, which is currently held by Rep Mark Veasey.

Governor's Race Draws Spotlight on Red Light Cameras
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/12/05/governors-race-draws-spotlight-red-light-cameras/

Davis Expresses Concerns on Energy Market Proposal
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/12/05/wendy-davis-skeptical-need-energy-market-change/

Most Statewide Candidates Won't Release Tax Returns (including a run-down and links to all info)
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/12/05/most-statewide-candidates-wont-release-tax-returns/

Polling Center: Obama Weighs Heavily on Texas Democrats
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/12/05/polling-center-obama-weighs-heavily-texas-democrat/

This doesn't pertain to 2014 directly, but

Dallas Morning News

Ted Cruz at ALEC Summit: End Direct Vote for Senators
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/ted-cruz-at-alec-summit-end-direct-vote-for-senators.html/


Also from the DMN

Study: Refusal to Expand Medicaid is Costing Texas Billions
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20131204-study-refusal-to-expand-medicaid-is-costing-texas-billions.ece
The facts continue to be on the Democrats' side with this issue, despite local politics.

Greg Abbott, Wendy Davis clash over public education
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20131203-greg-abbott-wendy-davis-clash-over-public-education.ece

Fort Worth Business Press

District 10 Race Drawing A Crowd
http://fwbusinesspress.com/fwbp/article/1/3232/Breaking-News/District-10-race-drawing-a-crowd.aspx
The only true swing senate seat.

More of Davis' attack on Abbott when he started talking about education:

DMN
Wendy Davis: Greg Abbott is no teacher's pet.
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/wendy-davis-greg-abbott-is-no-teachers-pet.html/

Wendy Davis allies challenge Greg Abbott claim his oath of office made him defend $5 billion cut to Texas schools
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/wendy-davis-allies-challenge-greg-abbott-claim-his-oath-of-office-made-him-defend-5-billion-cut-to-texas-schools.html/

[Reginald]

Ted Cruz at ALEC Summit: End Direct Vote for Senators
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/ted-cruz-at-alec-summit-end-direct-vote-for-senators.html/

lol. Didn't know he was such a Dewhurst fan. This has to be red meat more than actual conviction, because the cognitive dissonance is remarkable.