May 2013 Election Results Liveblog and Open Thread

by: Burnt Orange Report

Sat May 11, 2013 at 06:12 PM CDT

9:53 pm: Looks like Ramos Jr. will go to a run-off against Vasquez in Fort Worth. A citizen-led effort in Grapevine to add term limits to the City Charter has unfortunately failed.

Equality scored a victory in Pflugerville, where two incumbents who voted for domestic partner benefits for employees as members of the Pflugerville ISD board have been re-elected. A local Baptist Minister preached against voting for the two incumbents because of their support of domestic partner benefits.

No E-Day votes have come in from Farmer's Branch yet. We'll keep hitting refresh on those county and city clerk sites for now.

9:19 pm: AISD Props 1 and 3 now over 50%. Props 2 and 4 within 2%. In other news, YNN reported that all bonds had failed when only 366 Election Day votes had been counted. As Rick Perry said, "Oops."

8:44 pm: Confusion abounds about AISD vote totals due to the switch to vote centers on Election Day. From the Clerk's website:

ATTENTION: Because voters from all precincts can vote at any Election Day polling location, all reports issued throughout the night will show 100% of precincts reporting, even though not all polling locations have turned in their results. Once all locations have turned in their results, you will see an advisory that says ALL TRAVIS COUNTY VOTES ARE COUNTED.

Results not final yet. Stay tuned!

8:29 pm: The AISD bonds are rebounding on Election Day, with all four over 55% in votes cast today. Will it be enough to close the gap and pass the bonds?

7:40 pm: Down in San Antonio, Mayor Julian Castro is cruising to an easy re-election with 66% of the early vote despite six challengers. Place 5 has all candidates under 50% with Shirley Gonzales (33%) and David Medina (40%) leading the pack. In Place 8, Ron Nirenberg (49.82%) is facing close competition from Rolando Briones (44.9%).

7:25 pm: A big surprise up in Fort Worth ISD: challenger Jacinto A. Ramos Jr. is currently leading incumbent Carlos Vasquez. BOR readers may remember Vasquez from his failed primary challenge to Democratic State Rep. Lon Burnam in 2012. The race has plenty of local drama.

7:20 pm: Early Vote totals are coming in. All four AISD bonds are currently below 50%. Ana Reyes is up big percentage-wise in Farmers Branch, though only 383 votes were cast early. Up in Grapevine a charter amendment election to institute term limits is down.

6:50 pm: In Farmers Branch, a community in northwest Dallas County, Ana Reyes has the opportunity to become the first Latina on the City Council. Farmers Branch has had a turbulent recent history emerging from an anti-immigrant ordinance that passed and was upheld by voters. After a successful Voting Rights Act lawsuit, the DOJ forced Farmers Branch to institute single-member districts. Read more here.

Earlier updates below the jump.

Friday Wrap: County Judge, Lotto Numbers, Socialism, and the Future of Humanity

by: Burnt Orange Report

Fri May 03, 2013 at 04:30 PM CDT

Vote for Joe!

BOR staff writer Joe Deshotel is in the running for a Democracy for America scholarship to attend Netroots Nation in San Jose this summer. The top five vote getters win. Help send a Texas progressive to the blogger convention!

Vote for him here, and please share the link on Facebook and Twitter!

Below the jump, catch up on the race for Travis County Judge, get your lotto numbers, name that Socialist, and explore the future of humanity.  

Burnt Orange Report Endorsements: YES on AISD Bonds 1-4

by: Burnt Orange Report

Mon Apr 29, 2013 at 10:31 AM CDT

These bonds will address a number of pressing needs faced by AISD, from building new elementary schools to address overcrowding to funding basic repairs to our existing infrastructure. Our children deserve the best educational environment we can provide, and this bond project

Furthermore, AISD will keep 100% of the bond money (rather than return a share to the state via the Robin Hood recapture rule, as it does with property tax revenue) and will enable the district to take advantage of low interest rates. Bonds also allow districts to fund one-time maintenance projects that are currently going undone due to systematic efforts to defund public education at the Legislature.

There are four propositions, each of which addresses critical infrastructure needs.

Prop 1 -- Health, Environment,  Equipment & Technology: provides food service campus improvements, facility maintenance and equipment improvements, transportation district-wide, technology district-wide, classroom and science lab fixtures and equipment, energy conservation district-wide.

Prop 2 -- Safety and Security, Relief from Overcrowded Schools: including New Schools and New Construction: safety and security district-wide, additions to several schools, three new elementary schools, land acquisition, feasibility and design of a new high school, fine arts and gymnasium additions.

Prop 3 -- Academic and Building Infrastructure Renovations to Safeguard Investments in District Campuses: facility systemic repairs, individual campus plans, libraries campus improvements.

Prop 4 - Academic Initiatives, Fine Arts and Athletics: new career and technical eduction programs, fine arts, physical education and athletics, special education, School for Young Men.

Burnt Orange Report unanimously endorses a YES vote on all four propositions.

Early Voting: April 29-May 7 | Election Day: Saturday May 11
Click for maps of voting locations

Endorsements are made based on a weighted consensus of the staff, which guides the type and tone of endorsement. Members of the Burnt Orange Report staff employed by campaigns abstain from voting on those races.

Join Us This Friday for Burnt Orange Report's 10th Anniversary!

by: Burnt Orange Report

Thu Apr 25, 2013 at 10:30 AM CDT

Please Join Us Friday, April 26 and Celebrate 10 Years of BOR

by: Burnt Orange Report

Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 03:30 PM CDT

Burnt Orange Report was founded in April 2003, and since then over 40 bloggers have helped write over 13,000 posts and rack up over 12 million page views. We have a lot to celebrate, so please join us next Friday, April 26th.

Burnt Orange Report's 10th Anniversary Party Friday, April 26 | 6:00-8:30 p.m. ~ on the patio at ~ McGinnis, Lochridge, & Kilgore LLP 600 Congress Avenue, Suite 2100 Suggested Donation: $50 Activist / Staffer Rate: $25 RSVP on Facebook Purchase Tickets Securely Online via ActBlue

Thanks To Our Generous Sponsors: Senator Kirk Watson Senator Leticia Van de Putte Jade Chang Sheppard Rep. Rafael Anchia * Rep. Joe Deshotel * Rep. Donna Howard Rep. Elliott Naishtat * Rep. Joe Moody Rep. Chris Turner * Rep. Hubert Vo Judge John Lipscombe & Judge Jan Breland Hon. Mike Martinez * Hon. Chris Riley Hon. Andy Brown * Hon. Ramey Ko Garry Brown * Kelly & Tom Musselman * Richard Jung * Randall Slagle Jan Soifer & Pat O'Connell * Brian Thompson * Todd Wong For more information about sponsorships, please contact katherine@burntorangereport.com

Friday Wrap: Fundraising Schemes, Global Warming Denials, and Fetal Pain

by: Burnt Orange Report

Fri Apr 12, 2013 at 04:00 PM CDT

Vote for Joe! BOR staff writer Joe Deshotel is in the running for a Democracy for America scholarship to attend Netroots Nation in San Jose this summer. Vote for him here, and please share the link on Facebook and Twitter!

Also if you're in Austin, head on over to tonight's Austin Young Democrats happy hour at Shangri La, starting at 5:30 p.m. Details are on Facebook.

Below the jump, catch up on this week's Republican wrongdoings of biblical proportions.

Friday Wrap: Marriage Equality, More Ted Cruz, The Economy, Water, and Not the Onion

by: Burnt Orange Report

Fri Mar 29, 2013 at 04:45 PM CDT

But first, Facebook did some nifty analysis about users changing their profile pictures in support of marriage equality. Look at the map below, and note the deep red dot Deep in the Heart of Texas, Travis County!

Below the jump: Marriage Equality, More Ted Cruz, The Economy, Water, and Not the Onion!

Save the Date for our 10th Anniversary Party!

by: Burnt Orange Report

Fri Mar 29, 2013 at 11:00 AM CDT

But wait! All is not lost. Democrats have demonstrated that we can fight and win in major races across the state. We have rising stars in our party, and a renewed investment in Texas Democrats that promises a better 10 years ahead.

Save the date and please join us Friday, April 26 as we celebrate the 10th year of Burnt Orange Report keeping our eyes on Texas politics!

Burnt Orange Report's 10th Anniversary Party

Friday, April 26 | 6:00-8:30 p.m.
~ on the patio at ~
McGinnis, Lochridge, & Kilgore LLP
600 Congress Avenue, Suite 2100

Sponsorship Levels:
$2000 | $1000 | $500 | $250

For more information contact katherine@burntorangereport.com

Suggested Donation: $50
Activist / Staffer Rate: $25

We're excited to mark the first 10 years of Burnt Orange Report, and we're committed to keeping our eyes on Texas politics for the next decade.

Save the date for Friday April 26 and celebrate with us!

Friday Wrap: SNAP, Pew, CPAC, Stockman, Rummy, and a Bass Below 50%

by: Burnt Orange Report

Fri Mar 22, 2013 at 04:00 PM CDT

Kicking things off, under the "everything's bigger in Texas" rubric, the Texas Lottery is attempting to set a Guinness World Record -- for number of people in Star Trek costumes.

It's not clear why the Lottery is involved, but regardless it's a bad idea to scratch the Trekkies with a quarter in an attempt to win a prize. The event is a week from Saturday in Dallas.

Below the jump, find out what's up with SNAP, Pew, CPAC, Steve Stockman, Donald Rumsfeld, and a Bass below 50%.

Friday Wrap: Perry Boo'ed at CPAC, Cruz's Selective Understanding, and a Fainting Couch

by: Burnt Orange Report

Fri Mar 15, 2013 at 10:44 AM CDT

Leading off, Congressman Pete Gallego LiveTweeted President Barack Obama's meeting with Congressional Democrats yesterday. It's worth a read:

Below the jump, find out who got boo'ed, who has a selective understanding of the 2nd Amendment, who came out for marriage equality, and who made our editor look for some pearls to clutch and a couch to faint on.