In front of a packed house at a meeting of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, I outlined my plan to repeal the Texas Defense of Marriage Act and all statutory and constitutional barriers to equality for LGBT citizens, as well as ending discrimination in hiring and employment, public accommodations and real estate transactions, insurance, and more.
After The Advocate took note of this policy release, a Texas reader in their comment section said he though, with a policy like that, I don't stand "a snowball's chance in hell," of winning this election because of the reputation Texas has under Rick Perry.
Just a day after Dick Cheney endorsed Kay Bailey Hutchison, her opponent Rick Perry answered with the endorsement of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, the chair of the Republican Governors' Association. Barbour was in Texas earlier today, appearing in Fredericksburg and Dallas, to announce the endorsement, according to the Statesman.
When Hutchison's campaign announced the Cheney endorsement, Perry's camp shot back with an attack on Hutchison's time in Washington.
“It’s not surprising, since they both worked in Washington for so long. Washington insiders stick together," said Perry spokesman Mark Miner.
Haley Barbour has been a Washington insider for over two decades. One of the most powerful lobbyists in Washington in the 1990s, Barbour served as chair of the Republican National Committee from 1993 to 1997.
When Perry was by the Statesman asked whether he would rather having Cheney or Sarah Palin endorsing him, Perry, who is expected to campaign alongside Palin in January, answered as you might expected: "I think I'd stick with Sarah." Whether a parade of unaccomplished conservative govenors (sound familiar?) will help convince Texans to stick with Perry for a third term remains to be seen.
Detailed fundraising numbers from the Sharp and White Senate campaigns show a striking discrepancy in the source of both candidates' fundraising. In the fundraising quarter ending September 30, John Sharp loaned himself over $500,000 of the $615,000 he reported to the FEC. The following table breaks out the numbers:
Other Peoples' Money
Loans from Candidate
Contributions from Candidate
Total Raised
Expenditures
White:
$1,116,813
$0
$414,399
$1,549,941
$703,108
Sharp:
$107,204
$504,514
$0
$615,210
$170,190
In actual contributions from campaign supporters, White outraised Sharp by over 10 to 1.
Both candidates contributed to their own campaigns: Sharp loaned himself money, while White contributed the $414,399 as part of a donor-matching program during the last three days week of the quarter. White and his wife Andrea matched donations that included $200,000 in online giving through ActBlue and the campaign website. That $200,000 raised online by White in the last three days week of the quarter is more than Sharp raised from all of his donors throughout the three months of the quarter.
It's also interesting to compare these numbers to the candidates' expenses. White is running a full state-wide campaign with organizers and physical office space in most regions of the state. However, he more than raised enough to cover his significant expenses. On the other hand, the Sharp campaign spent more money in Q3 than it took in from outside contributions.
With the DSCC openly encouraging White, Sharp may begin to feel more pressure to switch to another race where Democrats desperately need a strong candidate. Without the FEC limits of $2400 per person, Sharp would likely find it easier to raise money closer to the levels he did as Comptroller. Of course, Sharp has given no public indication that he is considering switching races.
After Houston Mayor Bill White's campaign reported $1.5 million raised this quarter, leaving them with $4.18 million on hand, national observers took notice. Politico's Josh Kraushaar wrote that White had "posted one of the strongest fundraising totals for any Senate candidate this quarter."
Then it was the NRSC, led by Texas' own John Cornyn, who read the good news about White's fundraising and decided to go on the attack. From Whitless Humorings:
“Bill White’s fundraising diligence is exceeded only by his negligence to his current position. The city of Houston is facing a $50 million budget shortfall, Houstonians are facing potential tax hikes, city employees are facing possible layoffs, and yet, Bill White is traveling around the country raising money while collecting a paycheck from Houston taxpayers. Instead of spending his time worrying about a job promotion Bill White ought to focus on the job he was elected to do.” – Brian Walsh, NRSC Spokesman
The White campaign issued this response to the NRSC's statement on Wednesday, via the Mayor's Facebook page.
"Houston has run operating surpluses for most my time as Mayor, while we cut tax rates. Meanwhile DC borrowed trillions to pay operating expenses even before the recession. Yet some party hack in DC criticizes me for raising money for my Senate race, ...saying I neglected our City's finances? (See the link below.) They don't get it. Many fiscally conservative Republicans serve with me on City Council and they deserve credit--as do all Council members--for working as a non-partisan team to make sure that Houston is in the best financial condition of any of the nation's big cities.We aren't raising taxes or laying off employees. When is the last time they ran a surplus in DC? 1998-2000? Is it possible that in DC someone is looking at a poll and is worried?"
National Republicans are worried about holding on to this senate seat, and for good reason. When was the last time the NRSC attacked a Democratic candidate for a seat that was not even open yet?
This morning, the campaign of Tom Schieffer, a Democratic candidate for Governor, announced they had received the endorsement of nine South Texas legislators.
The group includes Senator Chuy Hinojosa of McAllen and Representatives Veronica Gonzales of McAllen, Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles of Alice, Ryan Guillen of Rio Grande City, Eddie Lucio III of Brownsville, Armando Martinez of Weslaco, Rene Oliveira of Brownsville, Aaron Pena of Edinburg and Tara Rios Ybarra of South Padre Island.
Senator Hinojosa becomes the first Democratic state senator to endorse a current gubernatorial candidate this year.
From the Schieffer campaign press release:
“Tom Schieffer is a lifelong Democrat and proven leader who is addressing issues critical to South Texas and the entire state – stronger public schools, a better health care system and a stronger economy. His focus is on bread and butter issues that will improve the quality of life for all Texans,” said Senator Hinojosa, chairman of the Senate’s Hispanic Caucus and a well-respected Senate leader on criminal justice issues and appropriations.
Schieffer's early support from former Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa, a current DNC member and county party chair, likely was instrumental in securing the nine endorsements.
Update: Hank Gilbert's campaign has issued a hard hitting press release in response to Schieffer's endorsement roll out. In the interest of full disclosure, Gilbert's communications director is Vince Leibowitz, who has appeared as a guest writer on BOR in the past.
"That Tom Schieffer is releasing these endorsements this early is his campaign's tacit acknowledgment that Hank Gilbert is emerging as a serious threat to his nine-plus month effort. Schieffer's run for Texas Governor is stalled not only in South Texas but all across Texas because he is so closely associated with his friend and business partner, former President George W. Bush. This is yet another futile attempt to jump start a lackluster campaign, especially when the press and political pundits will wonder why he pulled the trigger on his major endorsements way before anyone begins paying attention to the race.
Tom Schieffer will be no better than George W. Bush on issues of importance to South Texas - much less all of Texas. Bush's lasting legacy for South Texas is skyrocketing unemployment, the continued lack of a VA hospital, and a border wall taking citizens' land and separating our communities. George W. Bush did not support the South Texas community when he was Texas Governor. He left this state in shambles before leaving the country divided, at war, and in the worst economic mess we have seen since the Great Depression.
South Texas deserves more than a continuation of the failed Bush/Perry legacy, which is all that Tom Schieffer has to offer."
U.S. Senate candidates Bill White and John Sharp have each announced endorsements from legislators in recent months. Of course, their election date has yet to be set (and is likely to be in May) while the Democratic primary is slated for March 2. The notion that Schieffer's announcement of the endorsements is surprisingly early may not add up given the recent actions of White and Sharp.
Marc Katz, the Katz's Deli owner who lost a 2003 bid to be Austin's mayor, announced yesterday he would run for the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor.
Katz, a New York City native who has lived in Texas since the mid-1970s, becomes the first Democrat to enter the race. The Republican field is not entirely set either, as incumbent David Dewhurst continues to weigh a Senate bid (or await an appointment). If Dewhurst does not run for reelection, Attorney General Greg Abbott is widely expected to run for Lt. Gov.
“I know that I can make a huge difference for Texas,” Katz said. “Being the Pastrami King and lieutenant governor is similar. Decisions should be made on the basis of what’s best for this state. As a small business owner I understand that.
“There’s been enough decisions, and that’s all there’s been. There’s been no action.”
In his campaign, Katz said he intends to stress health care reform, increased teacher pay and lower taxes for smaller businesses.
“This state needs to run like a business” Katz said. “Teachers should be the most elite profession, but they’re not. There are counties in this state without a doctor.
Let’s show a bottom line. If you could show me where you’re making the state better, we could afford you. Otherwise, we can’t.”
Katz also told the Statesman he expected to raise as much as $10 million for the race and would focus primarily on "$50 and $100 donations."
Democrats finally have a candidate for Lt. Governor. Whether it is the one the party will ultimately nominate, however, remains to be seen.
Even though the race may not officially exist yet, there is plenty going on in the race to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison in the U.S. Senate.
If you're in Austin, John Sharp is launching his campaign at Abel's on the Lake at 6pm tonight. Suggested contribution is $35.
Speaking of Sharp, Galveston County Democratic Party Chair Lloyd Criss has a BOR diary up encouraging the former Comptroller to get out of the Senate race and run for Lt. Governor. Criss, as you might imagine, is supporting Houston Mayor Bill White for the U.S. Senate.
Bill White's campaign has named Joe Hamill to be their Central Texas Regional Field Director. Hamill, an Austin native and Austin High graduate, was the Field Director for the Travis County Democratic Party's Coordinated Campaign last year. Austin area supporters for White will also be registering voters at First Thursday on South Congress tomorrow (Facebook event info)
While Whole Foods CEO John Mackey's health care editorial from the WSJ inspired a small protest outside the store's Austin headquarters it also apparently got Russell Verney, a former advisor to Ross Perot, thinking Mackey could be a solid candidate for the Senate. Unsurprisingly, a Whole Foods spokesperson tells the Statesman "there is absolutely no truth to that rumor."
Gardner Selby had a story a few days ago about Austin area legislators taking sides in the U.S. Senate race. Diana Maldonado and Valinda Bolton are hosting Sharp's event tonight while Patrick Rose, Mark Strama and Dawnna Dukes are backing White.
All this and yet, thanks to the indecisive mind of Kay Bailey Hutchison, no election date.
Former Henderson County Justice of the Peace Bill Burton will seek the Democratic nomination for Texas State Land Commissioner, the Malakoff News reported.
According to a recent article from the Athens Daily News, Burton has long had his eye on running for Land Commissioner. With his announcement, Burton becomes the first Democrat to enter the race but may not be the last.
If he wins the nomination, Burton will likely face Republican incumbent Jerry Patterson, who was first elected Land Commissioner in 2002.
In an interview with the Athens Daily News, Burton conceded it would be difficult to defeat Patterson in a conventional campaign given that the incumbent will have millions of dollars to spend.
“We’ve been in several counties already, and we plan to contact every county in Texas,” he said. “It will be a grass roots approach.”
Burton plans to make use of technology, too.
“The computer is my best friend,” he said. “I’m going to take advantage of the information age. I have a web site under construction.”
He wants to make the General Land Office a “household word.”
“I love the state of Texas, and I feel it’s my duty to serve the people of this great state,” Burton said.
Whether Burton ultimately becomes the Democratic nominee or not, it is good to see somebody step up to fill an important spot on the statewide ticket.
In the first few days of his candidacy for Governor, it has been notable how Hank Gilbert has signaled his intention to recruit an entire slate of statewide candidates. What is perhaps more notable, of course, is that the Gubernatorial candidates who have been running since the spring were not already doing that.
Hank Gilbert will formally begin his campaign for the Democratic Gubernatorial nomination on Monday, September 21, according to a campaign e-mail. Gilbert, the 2006 Democratic nominee for Agriculture Commissioner, plans to raise $100,000 before his official announcement. If Gilbert's campaign meets their September 21 fundraising goal, it will equal the entire amount that Gilbert raised in 2006.
In the e-mail, Gilbert makes what will be part of his pitch to Democratic primary voters:
In the 2006 race for Texas Agriculture Commissioner, we came awfully close to defeating an entrenched politician, garnering 43% of the vote. That was 7% higher than any other statewide Democrat seeking a statewide executive position.
The amazing part: We were the least known at the beginning of the election cycle back then. We were outspent in that race 25-to-1. $2.5 million to $100,000. And in that same election cycle, we actually earned more than 43,000 more votes than did Governor Rick Perry.
This next round of statewide elections in 2010 will be the most critical for Texans and Texas Democrats. The statewide officials that we elect in 2010 will have the task of re-drawing the state's voting districts. If we do not get statewide Democrats elected this cycle, the Republicans will draw the lines in their favor, making it even harder to elect Democrats for the next 10 years.
We can't let that happen.
Gilbert is trying to present himself as a progressive and electable alternative to the likes of Tom Schieffer, Mark Thompson and Kinky Friedman.
Gilbert ran a tough (albeit underfunded) campaign against then-State Sen. Todd Staples in 2006. While he is not very well-known statewide, neither are the other current. Democratic candidates. Gilbert has the advanatge of high name ID among Democratic activists resulting from his 2006 race which included a memorable state convention speech. Gilbert has also had a high profile as a leader in the efforts to stop the Trans-Texas Corridor.
