Democrat Dan Barrett led in all voting for the race to replace Rep. Anna Mowery in House District 97. You can see the full numbers from my post on the race, and I've reproduced the important results below:
Candidate
Early Vote
Percent
Total Votes
Percent
Dan Barrett (D)
1918
32.48%
5575
31.54%
Mark M. Shelton (R)
1138
19.27%
4047
22.89%
Bob Leonard (R)
1287
21.8%
3294
18.63%
Craig Goldman (R)
956
16.19%
2947
16.67%
Total Votes Cast
5905
17678
Given those results, let's look at the "price per vote" based on the 8-day out report -- therefore not even counting the cash-on-hand that was spent in the final days, the $25,000 contribution to Leonard in the final days, or the $50,000 Shelton loaned to his own campaign:
Candidate
Total Votes
Expenditures
Average "Price-per-vote"
Dan Barrett (D)
5575
$35,877
$6.44
Mark M. Shelton (R)
4047
$37,096
$9.17
Bob Leonard (R)
3294
$83,096
$25.23
Craig Goldman (R)
2947
$107,327
$36.42
Totals
15368
$263,396
$17.14
Democrat Dan Barrett got almost twice as many votes as Craddick's top candidate, Craig Goldman, and he did so by only spending 17.7%as much per vote. IMAGINE what can be done with a well-funded campaign!
Barrett leads going into the runoff, and that's with spending the least amount of cash of any competitor. Now that he's proved he can compete, Barrett is sure to get the attention of Democrats across the state. And who knows what will happen in the run-off, especially given the stakes.
Barrett is on the right side of many of the issues, too. He's an unquestionable supporter of CHIP, and is opposed to the expanding boondoggle that is the Trans-Texas Corridor. And, perhaps most importantly, he is clearly opposed to Speaker Craddick -- successfully using Craddick in the "6 pawns" direct mail piece. And running against Craddick, as the numbers showed us tonight, is a successfuly strategy.
Craig Goldman, who finished fourth, was strongly backed by Speaker Craddick and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. Craddick even showed up and hosted a fundraiser for Goldman in Austin. And what did Craddick's support earn him? Fourth place. Craddick's support automatically taints any candidate it touches -- actually harming candidates in the process.
This very well could prove the different for Barrett, and allow him to win the special election. Shelton, who is heading for the run-off, is also a strong supporter of Craddick. Is he just as doomed to meet his fate? Only time will tell, but a year out from one of the most important election cycles in the history of the Texas House, the Republican Speaker is performing terribly.
Some across the state might be writing off Democrat Dan Barrett's campaign against six Republican Craddick clones, but the Texas GOP clearly see's him as a threat, and their internal polls must reflect what we see and hear on the ground...Dan's message is resonating.
Evidence to support this assertion comes from the press release today by Hans Klinger and the Republican Party of Texas:
"Mr. Barrett's Washington style, negative mailer clearly hides the fact that he is a liberal Democrat running in an overwhelmingly Republican district. He lost his race in 2006 because HD 97 wants conservative leadership not liberal Democrat trial lawyers who stand for nothing like we saw in Hillary Clinton's flip-flopping debate performance," said Hans Klingler, Texas GOP Spokesman.
Ah yes. We see the Texas GOP's strategy centers around labeling Democrats as Hillary Clinton liberals. How shocked I am.
So instead of focusing on new leadership and bold change in Austin the Texas GOP resorts to the same old tried and true negative and divisive attacks.
Dan Barrett is proudly representing Democrats and our Party values throughout House District 97 in Fort Worth. His message is resonating. Drop in some change, for change, in Austin.
Voters in House District 97 received an outstanding mailer emblazoned with the title, "Six Pawns for the Texas House Leadership."
The message is obvious. There is only one candidate in this special election race to fill the Anna Mowery seat who is actively campaigning for real change in Austin, while the other pawns embrace the current Republican leadership. As we block walk voters are commenting positively about this message.
Dan Barrett's message is resonating with voters in Fort Worth and he's the only candidate who wants far less of the same type of divisive politics synonymous with Tom Craddick and his Republican pawns.
Chip in some change, for change, and help Dan defeat the Republican status quo that these six stooges are offering HD 97 voters. November 6th is right around the corner.
Over the weekend I had the chance to sit down with Dan Barrett, the only Democrat out of a field of seven candidates, vying to fill the vacancy left by Anna Mowery's resignation in House District 97 in Fort Worth.
Dan has lived in Tarrant County for 28 years and ran against Anna Mowery in 2006. He was the only candidate to ever force Mowery below a 60% victory, in fact she only got 55%, while Dan picked up 41%.
Dan has served as a director of both the Texas Association of Defense Counsel and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, as well as the Tarrant County Bar Association. In the past, Dan was President of the Fort Worth Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, as well as both the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers and the Tarrant County Civil Trial Lawyers Associations. Dan was a Trustee on the board of Shakespeare in the Park from 1990 through 1997, a Director of Volunteers of America, Texas from 1996 to 2000 and has been active in Leadership Fort Worth from 1996 until the present. He was on the TTLA Legislative Analysis Committee for the 77th, 78th, and 79th Legislatures.
BOR community, meet Dan Barrett. And if you are so moved by this candidate, and realize this is the only state house race taking place in the entire state, then drop some change into his Act Blue account. Help take back the house in 2008!
What are the voters in HD 97 hungry for, Dan? What do they want from there state representative?
Change. That is what voters are asking for in this race. That is what block walkers like you and others are reporting back. They don't like the disrespect the leadership is showing voters down in Austin and the waste of time and dollars under the current leadership. Issues that continue to be brought up are rising utility rates, public education, and the failure of the current legislature with respect to the CHIP program and the Trans-Texas Corridor.
The Mid-Cities Democrats fundraising challenge on behalf of Dan Barrett's race in House District 97 has been met, and in just THREE days time! Thanks to all who donated towards this effort. Because of you, Dan will receive $1000 from the Mid-Cities Democrats this weekend when we block walk for him, and more than $500 from individuals all over the state through online donations.
The important thing is we have to keep up the momentum! If you haven't donated yet, considering doing so on Act Blue today! Your donation will go a long way towards securing another Democratic victory heading into 2008.
Dan Barrett participated this week in a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. Although I didn't attend, reports from many who did tell me that he received the loudest applause from the audience to his answers, was charismatic, commanded the stage, and truly set himself apart from the rest of the Craddick-loving pack. Vintage Barrett if you ask me.
If you are in North Texas and want to help send another Democrat to Austin, come block walk with Dan Barrett this weekend.
We have raised almost $200 for Dan Barrett so far, that is just $300 away from getting the Mid-City Democrats to fully match our efforts. So as you donate for the HD-97 special election, tell us what races you are watching.
This is your chance to talk U.S. Senate, Congressional, Rail Road Commissioner, or any other race that inspires you!
As I've already written before, Fort Worth attorney Dan Barrett is the only Democrat running against six Republicans in a special election November 6th to fill the vacancy left by Anna Mowery in House District 97.
This race represents an extraordinary opportunity to continue the momentum created by the pick up of six House seats in 2006, the recent party switch by Kirk England, and voter disenchantment with Republican leadership leading into 2008. Dan represents the only House campaign taking place across Texas and no matter where you live you too can help win this seat!
The Mid-Cities Democrats will match $1 for $1 up to $500 to the Barrett campaign if you will chip in and raise another $500 online. Your donations, coupled with the Mid-Cities contribution of $1000, will give Dan a much needed financial boost in the crucial month of October.
You may feel that Fort Worth is miles away from you but your donation will go a long way to securing another seat in the Texas house for Democrats and continue to whittle that Republican lead. Together we can build on momentum our party has established statewide and make Dan Barrett an incumbent Democrat heading into 2008. Dan has the advantage being the only Democrat in the race while six Republicans abuse each other till November. Having block-walked out in HD 97, I know that Dan's message is resonating with voters.
(Blockwalk for Dan this weekend or drop some dollars into the campaign bank account and help continue to close the gap in the House. - promoted by Todd Hill)
With Republican Anna Mowery resigning a huge window of opportunity has emerged for Democrats to pick up an early House seat, along with momentum, heading into the 2008 general election.
As has already been reported on BOR, Fort Worth attorney Dan Barrett, who gave Mowery a run for her money in 2006, is the only Democrat running in a field of seven total candidates.
This race represents an opportunity for all of Texas to get involved since it is the only major race taking place across our state. Whether you live in North Texas or other regions of the state, Dan Barrett needs your help financially, as well as enthusiastically.
When Dan wins this race we will have officially cut the lead down in the House and provide Barrett the status of incumbency leading into 2008.
the first declared Democrat candidate for the open HD 97 seat vacated by Anna Mowery is 2006 candidate Dan Barrett. Dan declared, to approving applause, "a Democrat is going to win District 97!".
Dan's a great candidate, excellent lawyer, and gave Mowery a good fight in 2006 picking up 41% of the vote in a strong Republican district. If we can avoid a multiple candidate battle in this November special election you can expect that any and all resources throughout the county will descend upon 97. By the way, Dan's performance marked the strongest by a Democrat against Mowery, who traditionally won by 60% or more, but only managed 55% in 2006.
Looking at the Secretary of State's site today, it seems like the Democrats in HD 97 agree that Dan Barrett is a solid candidate and excitingly he is the only Democrat in the race.
Because of the 6 vs. 1 nature of this race, the race is likely to have a runoff and the Democrat has a great chance of being in that runoff. With a December runoff, turnout will be incredibly low, and anything is possible if Democrats can stay motivated and turnout.
The real trick is going to see how bad the Republicans attack each other, and I bet it gets ugly.
