Former State House Candidate Arrested For Assault

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Craig Carter, a candidate for Texas House District 68, has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

According to Denton County Jail records, Carter was arrested by Fort Worth police on Dec. 15. He was released the same day after posting a $20,000 bond.

Carter is a Nocona business owner who ran for state senate in 2018 and 2020. In 2021, he was in a runoff race for Texas House District 68 with David Spiller, vying to fill the seat vacated by Drew Springer.

Spiller won with 43.3% of the vote, while Carter received 17.8% of the vote.

(Full story here.)
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Republican John Lujan Flips State House Seat That Went +14 For Biden Last Year

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While Democrats have been caught off guard by previous special elections in the San Antonio area, Republicans made clear from the get-go that they were gunning for the open seat in Texas House District 118. And Democrats took them seriously, seeking to show early on that they would not be upset in an overwhelmingly Hispanic district that President Joe Biden carried by 14 percentage points last year.

And yet Republican John Lujan captured the seat Tuesday, in exactly the kind of nationally reverberating outcome that Democrats were working to avoid.

(Full story here.)
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Abbott Announces Election Audit Of Four Counties After Trump Request

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Former Pres. Trump is pressuring Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to back a bill to launch an election audit in the Lone Star State, signaling an expanded effort to throw his broader 2020 election defeat into question

The Texas secretary of state's office announced Thursday afternoon it would carry out an election audit in four of the state's largest counties.

While Trump won Texas handily in November, as did Republicans up and down the ballot, he issued an open letter to Abbott Thursday repeating his claims of mass voter fraud and other irregularities "in some" counties in the state and urged the governor to back the election audit bill in the Texas Legislature's upcoming special session.

The legislature passed sweeping legislation to reform elections in a previous session this year, ending special, one time election procedures such as drive-thru voting in 24-hour voting and lengthened hours of voting in some counties. Democrats portrayed this as restricting access to voting and voter suppression, but these selection procedures were unusual and in place only for the 2020 election.

(Full story here.)
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Special Election Called For San Antonio State House Seat

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Gov. Greg Abbott has picked Sept. 28 as the date of the special election to replace former state Rep. Leo Pacheco, D-San Antonio.

The candidate filing deadline is Monday, and early voting starts Sept. 20. Pacheco resigned effective Aug. 19 to take a job with San Antonio College.

House District 118 is anchored in San Antonio and covers parts of Bexar County south and east of the city. It is a Democratic-friendly district, though Republicans have already made clear they are eyeing it in the special election.

(Full story here.)
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Republican Mayoral Victory In 85% Hispanic Border Town Gives Hope To GOP

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 Javier Villalobos has defeated Veronica Whitacre in the June 5 runoff election to win the position as the mayor of McAllen, Texas.

Villalobos, a Republican, won the election with 4,744 votes to Whitacre’s 4,538 votes. Villalobos won with 51.11% of the election total.

McAllen is a major border town of 140,000 people. 85% Hispanic, and voted for Biden last year by 17% and for Hillary Clinton in 2016 by a 41% margin.

It is seen by political observers as a major sign that Republicans and conservatives within the party are making serious inroads with Hispanic voters.

Newsmax TV host Steve Cortez noted: 

"The macro realignment accelerates in South Texas, and elsewhere, as Hispanics rally to America First: Strong Borders, Economic Nationalism, Pro-Police." 

Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted: "Javier Villalobos is a proven leader who cares deeply about the people of the Rio Grande Valley.  Congratulations @J_VillalobosLaw on becoming the next Mayor of McAllen!"

(Full story here.)
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What A Democrat Shut-Out In Dist. 6 Special Election Might Mean

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The special election in Texas’ Sixth Congressional District had two Republicans gathering enough votes to advance to a runoff — in what was seen as a major blow to Democrats’ bid to flip seats in one of the country’s key states in the election.

Reports also noted that the result of the special election in the district, which covers some southeastern parts of Fort Worth, as well as some rural areas —  presented a snapshot of how the district has reacted to the new Democratic administration’s first 100 days in the White House. 

John Fund of National Review opined on Twitter:

"If Biden Is So Popular, Why This? 

Republicans grabbed the two runoff slots in the Texas 6 special election yesterday. Dems were shut out, their candidates won a total 36% in a Dallas area seat that Trump carried by only 3 points last November."

(Full story here.)
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Lubbock Voters Approve "Abortion Ban"

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Voters in Lubbock have overwhelmingly approved a city ordinance that outlawed abortion with the city limits as well as declared Lubbock a “Sanctuary City for the Unborn.” The vote was 62.46% of voters in favor and 37.54% opposed.

Lubbock’s is the largest city by far in the United States to outlaw abortion; Lubbock has an estimated population of 258,862. 22 other Texas cities and two cities in Nebraska had passed ordinances with similar intent, but Lubbock is the only town with an active abortion clinic, which opened on April 15.

Last November, the Lubbock City Council rejected the ordinance after a petition drive forced a vote by the council. But then the committee responsible for the petition forced the city council to approve a May election to consider the matter.

However, the ordinance cannot be enforced until the US Supreme Court overrules landmark Roe v Wade decision, which legalized abortion in the United States in 1973.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas reacted to the ordinance passing by stating, “The ACLU has a long history of challenging unconstitutional abortion bans and will continue to fight to protect the fundamental rights of the people of Lubbock.”

(Full story here)
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Austin Voters reinstate Public Camping Ban

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Voters Saturday approved Proposition B, a reinstatement of Austin’s public camping ban. It penalizes those who camp in public spaces not designated by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department.  

In 2019, Austin City Council voted to repeal previous city bans on camping, sitting and lying in public spaces. 

Since that time, tent cities have spring up under numerous underpasses and in median strips. Several recent fires in the encampments have drawn alarm from residents and passers-by.

Nearly 60% of voters approved the measure Saturday, showing strong bipartisan support in the largely liberal Capitol city.

Opponents said the repeal of the camping ban has acted like a magnet to bring homeless from many other areas into the city. 

(Full story here)
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"Police Accountability" Proposition Fails In San Antonio

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A charter amendment that would have stripped San Antonio's police union of its right to collectively bargain with the city, was defeated by a narrow margin Saturday.

About 51 percent of voters opposed Prop. B, with 49 percent supporting it, according to the final tally.

Voters’ rejection of Prop. B notched a significant victory for the San Antonio Police Officers Association, which first gained collective bargaining in 1974. It and the city are in midst of negotiating a new contract.

Opponents framed the proposition as a way to "hold police accountable."

(Full story here.)
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Wife Of Late Congressman Headed Into Runoff After Tight Election

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Republican Susan Wright, the wife of late U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, has the lead in the race for Congressional District 6, with the special election to succeed him headed into a runoff.

With all polling places reporting, Wright had 19.2% of the votes, according unofficial numbers from the Texas Secretary of State. Next behind her were Republican State Rep. Jake Ellzey with 13.9% and Democrat Jana Lynne Sanchez with 13.4%.

Wright received the endorsement of the state Republican executive committee. Ellzey, a Republican state representative, fought accusations that he was not a "true conservative" and received the endorsement of former Texas Governor Rick Perry.

(Full story here.)
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Trump Aide Pierson Decides Against Crowded 6th Dist. Special Election, Signals Future Run

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On the final day of filing for the 6th District congressional seat special election, former Trump communications director Katrina Pierson decided against a run for the open seat.

This, as 23 others,  11 Democrats and 13 Republicans, did take the plunge.

Pierson, widely reported to be a condidate, said Tuesday on Twitter she want found to sell to open seat, but signaled that she is open to running for Congress in 2022.

"I am humbled by the outpouring of support/encouragement of so many fellow Texans, Rep leaders & especially the Trump family! I have decided that I have a greater responsibility to #TakeBackTheHouse 

I’m not running in TX6, but I’m not closing the door on Congress - stay tuned!"

Some insiders are speculating that polling was not great for her in this race. If she had run, she would have faced former Health and U.S. Human Services Dept. chief of staff Brian Harrison, making an expected Trump endorsement of Pierson problematic.

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SCOOP: Husband And Wife Run For Cedar Park Council Seats

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A husband and wife are both running for separate city council seats in Cedar Park.

Dorian and Claudia Chavez filed to run Friday, the last day of filling for city races throughout the state for the May 1 election.

Dorian Chavez is seeking Place 1, a seat currently held by Councilman Tim Kelly, who is not seeking re-election, and will face James Penniman-Morin. His wife Claudia Chavez is seeking Place 3, currently held by incumbent Anne Duffy.

Dorian Chavez previously served one term on the council, but lost his race for re-election last November.  The council  postponed last May's election date in November due to Covid-19.

This will be Claudia Chavez's first run for political office. She served as a medic in the U.S. Army, and is the mother of three boys.

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Runoff Election For #Texas State Rep. Dist. 68 Scheduled

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A special general runoff election has been scheduled for Feb. 23 in District 68 of the Texas House of Representatives.

Craig Carter (R) will face off against David Spiller (R). Carter and Spiller advanced to the runoff with 18% of the vote and 44% of the vote. 

The vacancy occurred when Republican Rep. Drew Springer was elected to the state senate.

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Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price Won't Seek Sixth Term

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Fort Worth 5-term Mayor Betsy Price announced yesterday she will not seek a sixth term after a decade in the office, reports the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Price made the announcement that she wouldn’t run for an unprecedented sixth term Tuesday at City Hall. 

The announcement is likely to create the most contested race for mayor since she ran in 2011. Campaign filing opens Jan. 13. Five candidates are reportedly going to vie for the position.

The ten-year tenure of Price, 71, makes her the longest serving mayor in Fort Worth history.

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