Democrat Collier Will Face Lt. Gov. Patrick In November

[#TexasPolitics365]

Democrat Mike Collier will get his rematch against Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick again this fall, four years after he lost to the incumbent by 4 percentage points in the same race. In Tuesday night’s runoff for the Democratic nomination, Collier defeated state Rep. Michelle Beckley 55% to 45%.

The blue-haired Beckley represents the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, and was one of the Democrats in the legislature who fled to Washington, DC to prevent a voting quorum in the House.

While there, she drew criticism for announcing on video that she would run for Congress, plans that changed when she returned to Texas, announcing her lieutenant governor run last November.

Collier now faces an uphill battle against Dan Patrick.

(Full story HERE.)
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Paxton Easily Defeats Bush, Will Face ACLU Attorney Garza In November

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Attorney General Ken Paxton handily won the Republican runoff election against land commissioner George P. Bush last night.

Paxton one with 68% of the vote, to Bush's 32%. Paxton was able to Garner over 70% of the vote in almost all of the states 254 counties, with Bush only winning four, including some of the state's least populous areas.

In a written concession statement posted late Tuesday night, Bush said he hoped that Gov. Greg Abbott would protect the border, implying that Paxton would not. Bush did not mention Paxton by name in his statement.

The campaign was an ugly one, with Bush at one point posing with a cardboard cutout of Paxton, portrayed as wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, alluding to his legal woes, which his Democrat opponent will surely bring up in the general election.

Bush was hurt by his stance on the Alamo, part of which he advocated moving during renovations. The fact that he hails from the Bush political dynasty also hurt him with many Republicans, who were cognizant of the fact that Bush likely would eventually seek higher office, perhaps even the presidency.  Dynasties are not terribly popular with Republicans.

Any such political aspirations are likely on hold now, but defeat seems to never be final for family members. His grandfather, George HW Bush, lost at US Senate raised before winning a spot in Congress, catapulting him to other positions that led eventually to the presidency.

Word in Republican circles is that Bush will write a book while pondering his next steps.

Paxton's Democrat opponent will be ACLU attorney Rochelle Garza, who defeated former Galveston mayor Joe Jaworski 63% to 37%.

(Full story HERE
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Dem Lt. Governor Candidate Beckley Faces Challenges

[#TexasPolitics365]

Days after Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Mike Collier released his first TV ad, a survey of Texas voters from the Dallas Morning News and University of Texas at Tyler found that state Rep. Michelle Beckley leads Collier by double digits, 31 to 19 percent. 

Beckley, who with other legislators fled to Washington DC last year to prevent a quorum in the House, faces challenges in the race. The state’s major newspapers, and groups like the Texas AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood Texas Votes and Texas American Federation of Teachers have all endorsed Collier.

And Beckley appears to be facing repeated backlash from former staffers.  She was awarded Texas Monthly’s “Furniture” award, a distinction reserved for the most underwhelming legislators.

(Full story HERE.)
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Pro-Life Democrat Cuellar Gets Help From National Democrats

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Just a day after Democrats forcefully recommitted to protecting abortion rights, a U.S. House leader swooped into Texas on Wednesday to defend and stand side-by-side with Rep. Henry Cuellar, one of the last pro-life Democrats in Congress.

(Full story HERE.)
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House Candidates Spar Over 2019 Immigration Tweets, Ethics

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

A State House race in the Capitol City is turning ugly, with accusations and counter accusations between two Republican runoff candidates.

Former Austin city councilor Ellen Troxclair has uncovered a series of tweets from her opponent, Justin Berry, in which he seemingly sympathizes with illegal immigration.

"I cannot say one way or another if there truly is a crisis as I have seen both Trump, Obama, Clinton, and Schumer all make statements about a border crisis with regards to illegal immigration," Berry said, in a January 2019 tweet. "I have seen 1st hand the problems those who are here illegally suffer due to lack of access to the same services you and I take for granted daily. I've seen my friends be separated from their family members, and others unable to achieve gainful employment."

Troxclair, who is seeking the house district 19 seat, posted a link and screenshot to this and other responses in the 2019 thread, noting, "Was just sent this and I have to say…this thread is very troubling to see from someone running for the @TexasGOP nomination."

Berry responded with a tweet calling Troxclair a liberal:

"Funny and sad story. My liberal opponent, Ellen Troxclair, who previously joined the far left Austin City Council to defund police - just had her team file a false ethics complaint against me yesterday, which was then swiftly dismissed by the Texas Ethics Commission today!"

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Abbott-Endorsed Lubbock State House Candidate Accused Of Supporting Critical Race Theory

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In the Republican primary runoff for State House district 84, a new TV ad from David Glasheen accuses his opponent Carl Tepper of supporting "woke critical race theory."

The ad comes out just one day after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed Tepper, saying, "Carl Tepper is a trusted conservative leader who served in the Gulf War and back home as Republican Chairman. We can count on him to fight for lower property taxes & to secure our border. I urge voters to elect Carl Tepper as their next state representative."

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Bush Portrays AG Paxton in Orange Prisoner Jumpsuit In Facebook Video

[#TexasPolitics365]

Land Commissioner George P. Bush, in his campaign to become attorney general, again attacked his runoff opponent, incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton, in a Facebook video Friday afternoon.

Standing in front of the Williamson County courthouse next to a half-size cardboard cutout portraying Paxton wearing an orange jumpsuit, Bush brought up the ongoing investigation into Paxton, Bush said he faces three felony counts that could result in 90 years in prison in Harris county, where the charges were leveled.  

"It's been seven years that he's been avoiding trial. If he was as innocent as he proclaims, then he would sit down right now in front of a jury of his peers... But he is guilty and he knows the best way to stay out of jail is to get reelected and to do whatever it takes and say whatever it requires in order to get reelected."

(Full story HERE.)
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GOP House Candidates Disagree On Death Penalty For Woman Who Abort

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A Republican candidate for the state legislature appears to support punishing women who have had an abortion with the death penalty.

North Richland Hills Republican David Lowe, candidate for house seat 91, says his campaign in the May 24 runoff election has nothing to do with killing women. “I’m not even a fan of the death penalty,” he told a Republican women’s club luncheon last week in downtown Fort Worth.

But then, Lowe dropped this line:

"Do we all agree that abortion is murder?” he asked the crowd. “Absolutely. There should be consequences for it.”

At the same event, his opponent, State Rep. Stephanie Klick, an advocate for the right to life,  stated explicitly that she opposed capital punishment for women who obtain an abortion.

“Abolishing abortion is important, but we can do that without giving women the death penalty,” Klick told the luncheon.  "I don’t think it’s necessary to sentence women to death that had an abortion.”

While the Texas and National Republican Party platforms both oppose abortion and support "the sanctity of innocent human life," Right-to-Life advocates usually spell out clearly that they would never seek to sponsor legislation that would punish women who obtain abortions.

Meanwhile, the Texas Democratic Party platform states that it stands for "confidential, unrestricted access to affordable healthcare, including ...abortion."

There is no Democrat in this race.

(Full story HERE.)
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In Ugly AG Runoff, Bush And Paxton Launch Dueling Attack Sites

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In a sign of the Republican runoff race for attorney general is getting ugly and personal, Attorney General Ken Paxton's campaign has launched an attack website against his runoff opponent, Land Commissioner George P. Bush, georgepbushfacts.com, prompting Bush to launch one of his own.

The site calls Bush a "Republican in name only" (RINO): "Land Commissioner George P. Bush: The RINO Establishment Darling Who Has Sold Out Texas"

Striking at a very sensitive topic for conservative voters, the site starts by saying:

"The Alamo and its brave defenders are a deeply cherished part of Texas history, but Land Commissioner George P. Bush controversially demanded that the Cenotaph, the monument that honors our Texas heroes, be moved from the Alamo."

Bush has said that while he initially supported moving the monument, he quickly backed off the idea when it was apparent it had no public support.

The website continues by attacking Bush's response to Hurricane Harvey with allegedly slow disaster aid, it attacks him for his support of the DREAM act, which would give children of illegal aliens citizenship, and says that he is "bought and paid for" by Democrats and RINOS.

Bush responded with an attack site of his own, kenthecrook.com.

Bush's site calls out, "Crooked Ken Paxton," saying, "Ken Paxton is nothing more than a corrupt career politician who does not have the moral fortitude to serve in any elected position in Texas."

In language that could easily be used by a Democrat against Paxton if he wins the runoff, the site states: "THIS MAN DOESN'T RESPECT THE LAW. AND HE DOESN'T RESPECT YOU. IT'S TIME TO FIRE KEN PAXTON."

Bush has continually asserted on the campaign trail that Paxton is too damaged to win against a Democrat in the fall election.

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In Dem Lt. Gov. Race, Beckley Calls On Collier To Drop Out

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Houston accountant Mike Collier will face state Rep. Michelle Beckley in the May runoffs in the Democratic runoff for Lt. Governor. The winner will face incumbent Republican Dan Patrick in November.

Collier, who was the Democratic nominee in 2018, received 42% of the vote, while Beckley received 30%. Another candidate, Texas Democratic Party Vice Chair Carla Brailey, came in third.

Soon after those votes were tallied, Beckley called for Collier to drop out, saying he "doesn't inspire the base".

“I have no plans to drop out,” Collier said during an interview on Capital Tonight. “I came in first, not only statewide but in the vast majority of counties. I’m building a very diverse coalition around the state and I feel like I have a very good chance of success.”

(Full story HERE.)
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GOP Candidate Takes AOC To Task For Involvement in TX Dem Runoff

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Congressional candidate Cassy Garcia called out Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Thursday for her support of a progressive Democrat opponent, vowing Republicans will "fire" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in the 2022 midterm elections.

"I have a message for AOC: Do not AOC, our south Texas, and our Texas. We are not a progressive socialist community."

AOC is actively supporting Progressive opponent Jessica Cisneros in a runoff election against nine-term congressman Henry Cuellar, who has criticized Pres. Biden s border policies.

(Full story HERE.)
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George P. Bush Looks To Make Alliances To Beat AG Paxton

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After a bruising primary, George P. Bush is looking to mend some fences and make up ground on the incumbent attorney general.  

And he has less than 90 days to do it all.

“The basic math is this, that if we get a preponderance of Louis [Gohmert] supporters and Eva [Guzman] supporters and bring our people back out to the polls, we win this thing,” Bush said on Inside Texas Politics. “Close to 60% of Republicans chose to go on a different path when they saw the incumbent on that ballot.”

(Full story HERE.)
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Rep. Cuellar Forced Into Runoff With Progressive Opponent

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Incumbent Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar and progressive Jessica Cisneros are heading to a runoff in late May in Texas' 28th District, after neither candidate cleared the 50% mark in their highly contentious primary race on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. 

Cuellar, who has represented the district since 2005, recently had his home raided by the FBI in January, as part of an investigation related to Azerbaijan and several U.S. businessmen. 

(Full story HERE.)
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AG Paxton Faces Runoff With Bush

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is headed toward a primary runoff against Land Commissioner George P. Bush.

Paxton, the two-term incumbent, boasted the largest campaign war chest and the support of former President Donald Trump. But in a field of four candidates, he was unable to secure more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff election, setting the embattled attorney general on the defensive in the biggest fight of his political life.

Bush narrowly managed entry into the runoff by edging passed Judge Eva Guzman Tuesday night. Bush and Guzman traded barbs near the end of the campaign about each other's commitment to building a wall on the southern border.

Bush has been heard during campaign events calling Paxton an "indicted felon," although he has not been convicted of any crime. Paxton's 2015 indictment on corruption charges has been a focus of Bush's campaign. Paxton says the indictment had been politically motivated, and has successfully delayed any prosecution attempts.

Opponents of Bush have raised the issue of his handling of the Alamo and plans to move the near-sacred cenotaph monument at the Alamo site, and to  "reimagine" the visitor's center there to enhance the Mexican side of the formative Texas 1836 battle.

Democrats also are facing a runoff in the attorney general's race, with Civil Rights Attorney Rochelle Garza gaining 43% of the core, and former Galveston mayor Joe Jaworski and civil rights attorney Lee Merritt both coming in around 19%. 

(Full story HERE.)
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Leander City Runoff Gets "Ugly"

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Two runoff races for Leander City council have taken an ugly turn, with personalities clashing and accusations flying.

Local media reports that Leander City Council runoff candidate Mike Sanders was rebuked as "very unethical" by Texas Republican Party Chairman Lt. Col. Allen West in a March 12 email. 

The email was in response to Sanders sending West a secret recording he had made of Council member Annette Sponseller, who had run against him in the three-way May 1 municipal election. He is in a June 5 runoff with another candidate after both defeated Sponseller.

Fellow council runoff candidate Donnie Mahan, who is seeking a different seat than Sanders, recently posted a video urging residents to not vote for Sanders, because of his conduct during the campaign, even though he is a fellow Republican.

Members of the Williamson County Republican Leaders Organization declined to endorse either Sanders or Mahan at their Monday meeting, despite both candidates facing Democrats in the June 5th runoff.

In a Tuesday post on Facebook, Sanders decried the ugliness of the campaign, specifically alluding to Mahan's video.

"The ugly side of politics has been out on open display in Leander during this election.

Those who have set out to attack my credibility in this election have caused great harm to the Republican Party in Williamson County with their deceit and gossip.  They have unwittingly caused harm to their own reputations while seeking to dirty the name of an honorable man.  Perhaps the party will learn from this experience that it is not wise to call just anyone a "Republican."

Someone who has campaigned for numerous conservative Republican candidates through the years should not be counted the same as someone who has never campaigned for any Republican in their entire life.  "By their fruits you shall know them."

(Full story here)
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Galveston Mayor Pro Tem Brown Wins Runoff To Become Mayor

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Mayor Pro Tem Craig Brown defeated former Mayor Roger “Bo” Quiroga, 3,726 to 3,182 votes in last week's heated Galveston runoff election, reports the Galveston Daily News.

Brown went from councilman, to mayor pro tem, to acting mayor, to now Mayor. Incumbents held onto their positions in Districts 3 and 5.

It was a heated race in which accusations flew between the candidates, and the county Republican Party had taken the rate position of publicly taking sides in a non-partisan race, supporting Quiroga in his ill-fated comeback attempt.

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Rep. Drew Springer Defeats Salon Owner Luther For State Senate Seat

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State Rep. Drew Springer has defeated Dallas salon owner Shelly Luther for an open state senate seat in a district 30 runoff.

The Muenster, Texas Republican won Saturday's election 56% to Luther's 43%. Springer received 32,599 votes, while Luther garnered 25,146.

“As your next senator, I will continue advancing the conservative priorities of our district like reducing property taxes, securing the border, and standing up for our law enforcement and first responders who keep our communities safe,” Springer said in a Facebook post.

With a consistent lead throughout the night, Springer declared victory at 8:30 p.m.

The special election was held to replace State Sen. Pat Fallon. Fallon was elected to Congress in Texas' 4th Congressional District, a seat vacated by John Ratcliffe when Pres. Trump appointed him Director of National Intelligence, according to NBCDFW-TV. Springer and Luther were the top vote-getters in a September special election contested by six candidates.

Early in the night, Governor Greg Abbott tweeted out his congratulations to Springer.

"Congratulations to @DrewSpringer on the overwhelming victory tonight for Texas Senate District 30. We look forward to working with you to secure our border, support police, protect unborn, cut taxes, safeguard 2nd Amendment rights, fund schools & open up businesses in Texas."

Springer had Governor Abbott's endorsement and support, while Luther, who hails from the Dallas suburb of Pilot Point, ran an outsider's campaign without Abbott's support.

Luther made national headlines after she defied Gov. Abbott’s COVID-19 restrictions and built her campaign around opposing them. A political newcomer, Luther called Abbott a tyrant and pledged to rein in his power. In response, Abbott funneled thousands of dollars to Springer's campaign.

Senate District 30, which is heavily Republican, stretches across 14 counties in north Texas.

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Upstart Mackenzie Kelly Defeats Incumbent Flannigan In #Austin Council Runoff

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Mackenzie Kelly has defeated incumbent Austin City Councilor Jimmy Flannigan in a runoff election Tuesday.

Kelly, a Republican who ran on a pro-law enforcement platform, won by 4 points, taking 52% of the vote to Flannigan's 48%.

Flanagan, who will be leaving the council after only one term, had argued in favor of defunding the Austin Police Department, going so far as to call for the literal dismantling of the police department's headquarters downtown. Kelly received the Austin Police Association's endorsement, While Flanagan received the endorsement of city irefighters. Both organizations send Kelly congratulatory words on Twitter Wednesday morning.

Kelly released a statement to the media Tuesday night following her victory:

"From standing courageously behind our law enforcement community to demanding safer conditions for our homeless population to fighting for transparency at City Hall, the voice of Northwest Austin has been heard. Considering the stark differences between my campaign's priorities and the platform of the incumbent, their united voice is resoundingly clear this evening! I am honored to be the next representative for District 6 on the Austin City Council and will work immediately to begin healing the divisions in our community."

On her Twitter feed, Kelly said Mayor Steve Adler had called her Wednesday morning to congratulate her on her victory. The previous evening, Adler heaped effusive praise on Flanagan for his service to the community as a councilor.
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Long-Delayed Houston Election Made National Headlines Over Candidates With Felony Convictions

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Houston Public Media reports that some 200,000 Houston residents in District B had to wait more than a year to elect a City Council member as the race was delayed because of an legal question: Can a candidate with a felony conviction run for office in Texas?

"The top two vote-getters in the November 2019 general election, Tarsha Jackson and Cynthia Bailey, faced a runoff, after a nine-month legal battle about Bailey's eligibility. After Bailey and Jackson made the runoff in a crowded field, the third-place candidate sued both Houston and Harris County, arguing that Bailey's felony conviction disqualified her under state law. ...The Houston election has put second chances on the ballot for the whole state. Council Member Jerry Davis, who's term limited, has stayed on during the election legal battle, while over the past year."

Bailey won in court, with State judges ruling three times in her favor, but on December 12, Jackson bested her at the polls, garnering 68.5% of the vote in the runoff election, to beat Bailey.

Texas election law states that, “A finally convicted felon is not eligible to be a candidate for public elected office in this state unless they have been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities.” Bills have been filed in the legislature to allow felons to run for office.

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Two Austin City Councilors Face GOP Challengers In Runoffs

[Texas Politics 365]

The Austin Chronicle reports on the Republican challengers seeking to unseat two Progressive Democrats on Austin's city council, most notably Mackenzie Kelly's runoff against far-left leaning Jimmy Flannigan, who has infamously proposed literally dismantling the city's police headquarters.

A GOP party official working with Kelly says the Republicans have been vigorous in their block walking efforts throughout the campaign.

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