Texas Megathread

[badgate]

Today was a special election in a north Austin State Legislature district. With about 77% reporting, turnout was 10.7% and Democratic candidate Celia Israel has won with 60% of the vote. The district has gone from a 62% victory for the Dem candidate in 2008 to being vaguely competitiven in 2010 (54%D/41%R/3.5%L), and Republicans didn't even field a candidate in 2012.

http://traviselectionresults.com/enr/contest/display.do?criteria.electionId=20140128&contestId=78

[TX Conservative Dem]

Besides the wild Lieutenant Governor contest, which other down-ballot statewide offices do y'all see going into a runoff ?

[Deus Naturae]

Davis supports open carry law.

[TX Conservative Dem]

Won't matter since Davis is just another overhyped, overrated sacrificial lamb just like former Houston Mayor Bill White was in 2010.

[Indy Texas]

Davis supports open carry law.

Good God, at this point she's Mitt Romney running for Senate in 1994 but with blonde hair and without the money or the wholesome family image. Always eager to please. Maybe next she'll tell us she was an independent during Clinton-Gore and is not trying to take us back to the era of Clinton-Gore.

The only people who care about open carry as a make-or-break issue are people who will never vote for her or any Democrat, and people who, quite frankly, I'm not sure the Democratic Party should even want to get the support of.

I've been consistently disappointed with this woman. I was skeptical of her from the getgo due to the way she became such a household name, and at this point the inept, amateurish campaign she's running is making me want a refund on the $50 I gave her. I'd rather have Bill White running again. Not that he would win either.

[TX Conservative Dem]

To top it off, Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News, published another scoop revealing that Davis used to be an active Republican until she switched parties in 2006.

[smoltchanov]

To top it off, Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News, published another scoop revealing that Davis used to be an active Republican until she switched parties in 2006.

In the past almost all prominent Texas Republican politicians were former Democrats. May be Democratic bench is so weak now, that Democratic leaders must be former Republicans?)))) In fact, looking at Democratic performance in Texas outside majority-minority areas, i frequently think it's really so. Davis will lose. and lose BIG, IMHO....

[free my dawg]

To top it off, Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News, published another scoop revealing that Davis used to be an active Republican until she switched parties in 2006.

Pretty old news, though.

[Indy Texas]

To top it off, Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News, published another scoop revealing that Davis used to be an active Republican until she switched parties in 2006.

All I've heard is that she's voted in Republican primaries before and made a couple of donations to Republican candidates.

I'm not going to fault her for that considering I've voted in Republican primaries before and donated to Republican candidates. There aren't enough severely partisan Democrats in Texas, even in the Democratic Party itself, for that to be too damning.

[badgate]

I guess people assume because of how she became a household name she is left on every issue. The thing is, Wendy Davis' record on gun rights is very strong and supporting "open carry" is backed up by that record, making it hard to accuse her of pandering.

R: "You only support this because you're pandering for moderate voters and trying to take the issue away from me."

Davis: "In the state Senate I supported x, y, z, so no, I support this because I believe in it and I believe in the 2nd amendment."

More than the policy itself, I think this is a move to show she's not afraid to buck the national party and distance herself from the possibility of accusations of Obama puppetry.

I've been frustrated with her campaign's missteps too, Indy. But the candidate I support is still there. I could tell in the speech she gave the same night as the State of the Union. Her campaign seriously f***ed up there, because coverage of that speech really could have changed the tide on her bio issues. I've read (though the article had a paywall so I only saw the first two sentences) that the campaign has hired a new press liaison, or something, (they aren't firing anyone yet) which I hope will help. We probably won't be able to tell for a week or two, since she has been fundraising out of state this week.

She did give a Univision interview that, from what I can tell, was really good. I don't speak spanish and they lower the volume on the english voice tracks, but here you go: http://noticias.univision.com/video/386591/2014-02-02/al-punto/videos/wendy-davis-senadora-democrata-texas-candidata

To top it off, Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News, published another scoop revealing that Davis used to be an active Republican until she switched parties in 2006.

This is old news, and very common for moderates especially in the panhandle and north Texas. You have the choice between voting for the Democrat that will lose later that year, or having a say in how crazy your future representative is.

[TX Conservative Dem]

Texas Democrats might as well start the Castro for Governor 2018 campaign signs right now

[IceSpear]

Won't matter since Davis is just another overhyped, overrated sacrificial lamb just like former Houston Mayor Bill White was in 2010.

Bill White actually could've won. Rick Perry was dragged over the finish line by the GOP wave. The race started out really close.

On the other hand, I doubt Davis could win even in a Dem wave.

[Nhoj]

Gallup poll on Texas demographic trends.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/167339/texan-hispanics-tilt-democratic-state-likely-stay-red.aspx

[TX Conservative Dem]

What odds you're giving Texas Democrats in winning statewide offices?
A. 2018
B. 2022
C. Never

[ElectionsGuy]

What odds you're giving Texas Democrats in winning statewide offices?
A. 2018
B. 2022
C. Never

Sometime after 2030.

Good article, Nhoj.

[smoltchanov]

What odds you're giving Texas Democrats in winning statewide offices?
A. 2018
B. 2022
C. Never

Sometime after 2030.

Good article, Nhoj.

Agree (and too lazy for detailed explanation)

[Kushahontas]

To top it off, Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News, published another scoop revealing that Davis used to be an active Republican until she switched parties in 2006.

All I've heard is that she's voted in Republican primaries before and made a couple of donations to Republican candidates.

I'm not going to fault her for that considering I've voted in Republican primaries before and donated to Republican candidates. There aren't enough severely partisan Democrats in Texas, even in the Democratic Party itself, for that to be too damning.

Exactly. My matrix score is -4,-4 yet I am technically a registered Republican in the state

[badgate]

Dallas Morning News - Wendy Davis backs medical marijuana, would consider decriminalization.
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/02/wendy-davis-backs-medical-marijuana-would-consider-decriminalization.html/
Dallas Morning News An Impressive Conversation With Wendy Davis
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/02/an-impressive-conversation-with-wendy-davis.html/

Abbott has been under some fire for describing corruption in the Rio Grande Valley (southern Texas, Latino-rich) as "third-world." The McAllen Monitor called on him to apologize, as did Wendy Davis. Abbott responded today in the Monitor by doubling down. Seriously, can any Texan here imagine him describing corruption in the north Texas (DFW/Gainesville/Tyler) area as 'third-world?' I can't.
Run Down:
Texas Tribune Governor Candidates Sparring over "Third-World" Remark
http://www.texastribune.org/2014/02/10/latest-spar-governors-race-over-third-world-remark/
McAllen Monitor COMMENTARY BY GREG ABBOTT: Third-world comments not directed at RGV
http://www.themonitor.com/opinion/columnists/article_d6d33a72-92b3-11e3-b173-0017a43b2370.html
McAllen Monitor LETTER: Wendy Davis responds to Greg Abbott's third-world comment
http://www.themonitor.com/opinion/letters/article_e2746da2-9104-11e3-b380-0017a43b2370.html


Davis yesterday held a press conference (and invited everybody! Progress!) as Abbott was in court on the school finance lawsuit.
Video http://www.texastribune.org/2014/02/10/video-davis-speaks-about-school-finance-trial/
Article http://www.texastribune.org/2014/02/10/davis-says-abbott-should-settle-school-lawsuit/

[badgate]

In Non-Gubernatiorial News:

Newspaper Endorsements

San Antonio Express News
Maxey Scherr for Democratic U.S. Senate nomination
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/article/Scherr-for-the-Dem-Senarte-nomination-5215173.php
Fitzsimmons, Carnes for ag commissioner nominations
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/article/Fitzsimmons-Carnes-to-run-for-agriculture-5215220.php
John Cornyn for Republican U.S. Senate nomination
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/article/Cornyn-for-the-GOP-nomination-5215170.php
Hecht, Brown, and Johnson for high court
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/article/Hecht-Brown-and-Johnson-for-high-court-5225578.php
Novak best choice for [state] Senate seat
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/article/Novak-best-choice-for-Senate-seat-5222022.php

DMN We recommend Harper-Brown in GOP race for Texas House District 105
http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20140209-editorial-we-recommend-harper-brown-in-gop-race-for-texas-house-district-105.ece
We recommend Branch for attorney general in GOP race
http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20140210-editorial-we-recommend-branch-for-attorney-general-in-gop-race.ece
We recommend Ratliff in Texas house district 115 GOP race
http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20140211-editorial-we-recommend-ratliff-in-texas-house-district-115-gop-race.ece
We recommend Morgan Meyer in GOP race for Texas house district 108
http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20140211-editorial-we-recommend-morgan-meyer-in-gop-race-for-texas-house-district-108.ece

...


DMN Record, Mug Shot from Steve Stockman's drug arrest that he now denies.
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/02/record-mug-shot-from-steve-stockmans-drug-arrest-that-he-now-denies.html/

[TX Conservative Dem]

Abbott says he's standing by the comments.

[badgate]

Abbott says he's standing by the comments.

Well summarized

[Indy Texas]

DMN Record, Mug Shot from Steve Stockman's drug arrest that he now denies.
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/02/record-mug-shot-from-steve-stockmans-drug-arrest-that-he-now-denies.html/

[badgate]

lol I know. He looks so grungy!

[RogueBeaver]

So Davis now backs a 20-week abortion ban, albeit a slightly different one than the bill she became famous for.

[TX Conservative Dem]

Bill White actually could've won. Rick Perry was dragged over the finish line by the GOP wave. The race started out really close.

On the other hand, I doubt Davis could win even in a Dem wave.
[/quote]

First off, Bill White was NEVER going to beat Perry in 2010-ever: too much anti-Obama sentiment and backlash against the national Democrats were too much for him.

Perry still was going to win reelection by double digits and he did...by 13 points: 55% to 42% carrying 226 out of 254 counties.