Posts Tagged ‘Ernest Bailes’
Thursday, March 14th, 2024
Remember Colony Ridge, the illegal alien land development that’s suffering from a host of problems (weird mortgage instruments, cartel ties, poor infrastructure)? Well, the Texas Attorney General just filed a lawsuit against the developer.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) announced a new lawsuit against Colony Ridge on Thursday, alleging its owners have engaged in deceptive practices in lending and marketing their plots of land.
Filed in a Houston federal court, the State of Texas’ lawsuit accuses the Liberty County development of misleading buyers about the conditions of those homes and plots, their connectedness and access to utilities, and the methods of financing.
It largely mirrors a lawsuit by the Department of Justice alleging similar misconduct by the development’s owners, Trey and John Harris.
“Colony Ridge has been flagrantly violating Texas law. The development profited from targeting consumers with fraudulent claims and predatory lending practices,” Attorney General Ken Paxton said of the suit.
“Their deceptive practices have created unjust and outsized harms. Nearby communities have borne a tremendous cost for the scheme that made Colony Ridge’s developers a fortune.”
The OAG’s release accuses the developers of intentionally targeting Spanish-speaking individuals with poor financial records, then foreclosing on them when payments aren’t made, and starting the cycle again. When the properties are foreclosed on, the suit alleges, Colony Ridge repurchases them and sells the plots to another buyer at a higher price.
“In fact, CR Land often resells a foreclosed lot to the very same consumer at a significantly higher price. The more foreclosures CR Land initiates, the higher likelihood it will acquire residential lots with free improvements which make the foreclosures profitable. Thus, Colony Ridge’s business model incentivizes foreclosures,” the filing asserts.
The filing also highlights the development’s flooding problems: “[Even] though there have been two suits filed against one or more Defendants related to the severe flooding that occurs at the Development, Colony Ridge and John Harris continue to falsely represent to consumers at the time of sale that the residential lots in the Development are not subject to repeated flooding.”
Colony Ridge, also referred to as “Terrenos Houston,” is a 50,000-person development in Liberty County, an exurb of Houston, that’s inhabited by a large but not exactly known number of illegal immigrants. After a report from the Daily Wire shone a spotlight on the development, it found itself in the crosshairs of the political right, both officials and mediasphere, for presenting a “magnet” for illegal immigrants.
The issues in Colony Ridge are largely that of a massive development airdropped into a rural county that doesn’t have the resources to cope with the massive population growth. The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and other emergency services are stretched thin, as is the local school district, Cleveland ISD.
After it made national headlines, the Texas Legislature debated responses to the development, ultimately settling on earmarking $40 million to fund additional overtime for Texas Department of Public Safety patrols assisting local law enforcement in the development.
The development has become a contentious political football thrown about in the recent Texas primary; Gov. Greg Abbott accused state Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-Shepherd) of “creating” Colony Ridge by way of a 2017 bill that created two special purpose districts, an argument first made by Paxton last year.
You may remember Bailes from such hits as I lost my primary this year.
Obviously something has gone badly wrong in Colony Ridge, and suing the developers for their myriad (accused) crimes is a way to start addressing those problems. But there are still tens of thousands of illegal aliens there who a sane government would start deporting.
Hopefully something about that can be done in 2025…
Tags:Border Controls, Cleveland ISD, Colony Ridge, Crime, Ernest Bailes, fraud, Greg Abbott, John Harris, Ken Paxton, Liberty County, Texas, William Trey Harris III
Posted in Austin, Border Control, Crime, Texas, Waste and Fraud | 1 Comment »
Thursday, March 7th, 2024
Now that the dust has settled a bit, here are some more election tidbits from Tuesday’s primary, most gleaned from The Texan’s tracking page.
President Trump got more than twice as many primary votes as Joe Biden.
Ted Cruz got more than twice as many votes (1,979,327) as all the Democratic Texas Senate candidates combined (964,250). And even more votes than Trump (1,808,823).
Trump and Cruz both won all 254 Texas counties. Joe Biden lost sparsely populated Loving County to Frank Lozada one vote to zero, and King County (small and overwhelmingly Republican) either hasn’t reported Democratic votes or didn’t hold a Democratic primary. (Both Trump and Cruz got over 70 votes in Loving County.)
Republican incumbent Christi Craddick won her Railroad Commissioner’s race without a runoff at 50.4%.
If you compare the topline race primary results of 2022 (Texas Gubernatorial race) to the Presidential primary results of 2024, Republican votes are up just over 365,000 (2,323,754 in 2024 vs. 1,954,172 for 2022), but Democrats are down over 96,000 votes (979,179 for 2024 vs. 1,075,601 for 2022).
The Ken Paxton slate for the Court of Criminal Appeals (David Schenck, Gina Parker, and Lee Finley) all won over their respective incumbents fairly handily.
The previously reported Gonzalez/Herrera runoff was the only Texas U.S. House race where the Republican incumbent was pulled into a runoff; all the others won with ease.
2022 saw Republican Monica De La Cruz beat Democrat Michelle Vallejo in U.S. House District 15, the only swing district in Texas after redistricting, by nine points. November is going to see a rematch between the two, as both won their primaries. Given the ongoing border crisis (TX15 runs down to Rio Grande Valley) and both Texas Republican and Trump inroads into Hispanic voters, I would not expect Vallejo to improve on her previous showing.
Harris County DA Kim Ogg lost her Democratic Party primary to the more radical, Soros-backed Sean Teare. “Although Ogg had financial support from billionaire donor and criminal justice reform activist George Soros during her first campaign in 2016, Soros did not assist Ogg in her 2020 re-election bid and threw his support to Teare this election cycle. The Soros-funded Texas Justice and Public Safety PAC spent over $1.5 million in the final weeks of the campaign to help Teare unseat Ogg.” Democrats also seethed that Ogg let investigations of corruption among Judge Lina Hidalgo’s staffers go forward. How dare she not treat Democrats as above the law? Teare will face Republican nominee Dan Simons, a former assistant district attorney and defense attorney, in November. Bonus: Ogg had trouble voting because her lesbian girlfriend already cast her ballot for her. As commentor Leland noted, does Harris County not follow Texas voter ID laws?
Travis County residents are evidently delighted with more rapes and murders, as they just voted to keep Jose Garza DA.
School choice was a big winner Tuesday.
The 2024 primary election was a major success for school choice advocates in Texas. Several opponents of education reform lost outright, others went to runoffs, and still more were electorally weakened.
Corey DeAngelis, a school choice advocate and head of the American Federation for Children Victory Fund, released a statement touting six wins and four forced runoffs in the 13 races where his PAC was engaged.
Throughout multiple called special sessions in 2023, the Republican-led House alternatively delayed and killed Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to create school choice in Texas. Ultimately, these efforts culminated with 21 Republicans voting for an amendment by John Raney (R-College Station) to strip school choice from an omnibus education measure.
Accounting for retirements and with the runoffs still to be decided, only a handful of incumbent Republicans who sided with the teachers’ unions to kill school choice during the legislative session will be returning to Austin in 2025.
As covered yesterday, anti-school choice incumbents defeated include Reggie Smith, Travis Clardy, Glenn Rogers, Ernest Bailes and Steve Allison, while those driven into run-offs include Justin Holland, John Kuempel, Gary VanDeaver and DeWayne Burns
Some State Board of Education news. “Pat Hardy, a former teacher and a veteran representing District 11, which covers parts of Fort Worth, lost her seat to challenger Brandon Hall, a youth pastor.” Also: “Another incumbent, Tom Maynard of District 10, which includes Williamson and Bell counties, will go into a May 28 runoff against Round Rock school board member Mary Bone, who describes herself as a conservative champion for Texas kids.” If Bone wins, she’ll probably make a good State Board of Education member, but Round Rock ISD desperately needs more conservatives on the board.
Williamson County primary results. I didn’t see any surprises there.
Things that make you go “Hmmmm”: “Potential Speaker Candidate Hired by Bank with Ties to Bonnen and Phelan.”
A lawmaker rumored to be eyeing the speakership in the Texas House is employed by a bank that has connections to current House Speaker Dade Phelan and disgraced former Speaker Dennis Bonnen.
State Rep. Cody Harris, a Republican from Palestine, was first elected to the House in 2018. At the time, he was a real estate broker for Liberty Land & Ranch LLC.
In August of 2021, however, Harris added a new item to his resumé—Vice President of Business Development for Third Coast Bank.
The career change is notable given the bank’s ties to the current and former speaker.
In late 2019, Third Coast Bank acquired Heritage Bank, where Bonnen had served as President, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. He currently sits on Third Coast’s Board of Directors.
Phelan’s brother Lan Phelan was a director of Third Coast from 2013 until at least 2016, according to filings with the secretary of state. A 2021 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed that the bank’s Beaumont location was leased from Phelan’s family investment firm.
Additionally, the most recent personal financial statement from Dade Phelan shows that he owns shares in Third Coast.
Tags:2024 Election, 2024 Presidential Race, 2024 Texas Senate Race, Brandon Hall, Cody Harris, Corey DeAngelis, Dade Phelan, Dan Simons, David Schenck, Democrats, Dennis Bonnen, DeWayne Burns, Donald Trump, Elections, Ernest Bailes, Frank Lozada, Gary VanDeaver, Gina Parker, Glenn Rogers, Joe Biden, John Kuempel, John Raney, Jose Garza, Justin Holland, Ken Paxton, Kim Ogg, King County, Lan Phelan, Lee Finley, Lina Hidalgo, Loving County, Mary Bone, Michelle Vallejo, Monica De La Cruz, Pat Hardy, Reggie Smith, Republicans, Round Rock ISD, Sean Teare, State Board of Education, Ted Cruz, Texas, Texas 15th Congressional District, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Third Coast Bank, Tom Maynard, Travis Clardy, Travis County
Posted in Elections, Global Warming, Texas | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, March 6th, 2024
Lots of gratifying results came out of yesterday’s primaries. Perhaps the most gratifying is that the Straus-Bonnen-Phelan Axis, which has thwarted conservative priorities for decades, finally had a stake driven through its heart.
First statewide and national office races:
President Trump crushed Nikki Haley in Texas with over 76% of the vote.
Indeed, Trump won every Super Tuesday primary save Vermont, where Haley eked out a win.
Former president Donald Trump seems poised to breeze to the Republican presidential nomination after nearly sweeping the party’s Super Tuesday contests.
By 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Trump had won the Republican presidential contests in at least twelve of the Super Tuesday states: Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Maine, Alabama, Massachusetts, Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, and delegate-rich California.
Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, meanwhile, earned her first — and likely only — win of the night in Vermont.
Results from caucuses in Alaska and Utah were still outstanding around 11:30 p.m. ET.
The results were so crushing that they managed to drive establishment catspaw Haley from the race.
Ted Cruz cruised to a victory with just under 90% of the vote, and will face Democrat Collin Allred in November. Allred won a clear majority in a five-way race, with Roland Gutierrez coming in at very distant second that was more than 40 points behind.
U.S. Representative Tony Gonzalez is headed into a runoff with YouTuber and gun rights activist Brandon Herrera.
In the Republican primary race for Texas Congressional District 23, Brandon Herrera has taken incumbent Congressman Tony Gonzales to a runoff.
According to unofficial totals, Gonzales captured 46 percent of the vote to Herrera’s 23 percent.
Leading into the election, much of the discussion centered on Gonzales’ multiple censures from Republican organizations.
The congressman had been censured by the Medina County Republican Party, which was followed by a censure from the Republican Party of Texas (RPT).
The RPT censure was only the second time in history the party had used the maneuver for a sitting politician, the first being in 2018 with then-House Speaker Joe Staus (R-San Antonio). House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) then became the third sitting member to be censured by the State Republican Executive Committee when they approved the official resolution in February.
Gonzales’ censure came after RPT found that he had violated the multiple tenets of the party platform with his votes in Congress.
The incumbent Gonzales had also been criticized for his stance on border security.
In December, he penned a letter to both Democratic and Republican federal leadership stating that he believes the border crisis could reach a “point of no return” if lawmakers do not act soon.
The letter came after a disagreement with Congressman Chip Roy (R-TX-21) over a border security bill Roy introduced to require the detention or expulsion of illegal immigrants, which would prohibit “all asylum” claims. Gonzales has also labeled some of his GOP colleagues “insurgents” and accused 20 Republicans of planning to push “anti-immigrant” legislation under the guise of border security policy.
The leading issue for voters statewide leading into the primary election is border security and immigration, which is represented by the vote totals in this race.
Herrera describes himself as a “Second Amendment activist, and social media personality,” known online as “The AK Guy.”
He proclaimed, “Texas is done with RINO’s,” during the night of the primary election.
“The war starts now.”
(Previously.)
But in Texas, the big news was that Dade Phalen, the latest in the Joe Straus/Dennis Bonnen cabal that has stayed in power with Democratic Party backing to thwart conservative priorities, is headed into a runoff with David Covey for Texas House District 21, with less than half a point separating the two.
The Speaker of the Texas House Dade Phelan will be heading to a runoff, after failing to receive the support of a majority of Republican voters in his district.
Phelan, who was first elected to the House in 2014 and has been speaker since 2021, will face off against former Orange County GOP chairman David Covey in a runoff election that is certain to garner attention from across the state.
Phelan had been criticized by conservatives for failing to pass conservative priorities, placing Democrats in leadership positions, and leading the charge to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton last year. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Covey, calling any Republican who backed Phelan “a fool.”
Phelan received 45.8 percent of the vote with Covey earning 45.3 percent.
Alicia Davis, a Jasper County activist, took 8.9 percent of the vote.
“The people of House District 21 have put every politician in Texas, and the nation, on notice,” said Covey. “Our elected officials are elected by the people and work for the people, and when they don’t, there will be consequences.”
“Since 1836, Texans have answered the call to defend liberty and fight for our freedoms. I have every intention of continuing that tradition,” he added.
Covey was joined by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at his election night watch party. Patrick, who has been a vocal critic of Phelan, had not officially endorsed Covey.
But it wasn’t just Phelan! A whole bunch of the Republican state reps who backed Phelan either lost outright or are headed to runoffs:
Mike Olcott thumped incumbent Glenn Rogers in Texas House District 60.
The runoff rematch between state Rep. Glenn Rogers (R-Graford) and Mike Olcott went entirely unlike the first round two years ago, with Olcott defeating the incumbent in a landslide.
Once Palo Pinto County returns came in, it was clear which way the bout would go. Olcott won Rogers’ home county by 365 votes and cleaned up in the rest of the district.
Last go-around, Rogers nipped Olcott by a few hundred votes, thanks in large part to support from Gov. Greg Abbott. This time in the rematch, the governor switched sides after Rogers voted against his education savings account plan — opposition to which the incumbent has remained steadfast. On Monday, state Sen. Phil King (R-Weatherford) announced his support for Olcott in the race.
Rogers outlasted his previous two stiff primary challenges, the first in 2020 for the open seat against Jon Francis, the son-in-law of conservative mega-donors Farris and JoAnn Wilks. Then in 2022 Olcott challenged Rogers, the incumbent, and narrowly lost.
This time, Abbott has made multiple trips to the district, stating at one that, “There are many reasons we are here today, and one of those is that I made a mistake last time in endorsing Glenn Rogers. And I’m here to correct that mistake. I’m here to make sure everyone knows, I’m here to support Mike Olcott to be your state representative.”
Olcott swept the top-level endorsements with Abbott, Donald Trump, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).
Joanne Shofner absolutely destroyed incumbent Travis Clardy in Texas House District 11, 63% to 37%.
uring the 88th Legislative session last year, Clardy was one of the House members who voted in favor of stripping education savings accounts from the November education omnibus bill.
Leading into the election a central issue was how each candidate landed on school choice, as both Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) have based their candidate endorsements on support for education freedom.
Clardy was also issued a cease and desist letter by Abbott for “representing to the public that Governor Abbott has endorsed you in your bid for re-election,” when in fact Abbott had endorsed his opponent Joanne Shofner, whom the letter called “a true conservative.” Clardy has continued to express vocal opposition to school choice: “Right now, the price to get his endorsement was I had to bend the knee and kiss the ring and say that I will vote for vouchers[.]”
Shofner, along with both Abbott and Cruz’s support, also had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
Janis Holt defeated Ernest Bailes in Texas House District 18, 53% to 39%. Colony Ridge was a hot topic in the race.
Shelley Luther defeated incumbent Reggie Smith.
Conservative activist Shelley Luther has won her rematch against incumbent Republican State Rep. Reggie Smith of Van Alystne to represent House District 62 in North Texas.
House District 62 includes Grayson, Fannin, and portions of Delta and Franklin counties.
Smith, who has served in the Texas House since 2018, is part of the House leadership team, serving as chair of the House Election Committee under House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont). As chair, Smith either slow-walked or killed several Republican priority measures addressing election security.
Smith’s record from the past year also includes voting to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton—who was later acquitted by the Senate—and voting against school choice legislation.
Luther, who made state and national headlines in 2020 when she was jailed after refusing to close her salon during the COVID-19 shutdowns, said previously she looks forward to working with the governor to pass school choice this next session.
Marc LaHood defeated incumbent Steve Allison in Texas House District 121, 54% to 39%.
Allison voted with Democrats to strip a school choice measure from a school spending measure.
His opposition to school choice drew the ire of Gov. Greg Abbott, who endorsed LaHood.
During Allison’s two terms, he has earned an “F” rating on the Fiscal Responsibility Index for his votes on fiscal issues. He was also one of the 60 Republican House members who voted to impeach Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Hillary Hickland defeated incumbent Hugh Shine in Texas House District 55, 53.1% to 39.5%.
Belton mom and pro-family advocate Hillary Hickland has won the Republican Primary Election for House District 55, unseating incumbent State Rep. Hugh Shine of Temple.
HD 55 encompasses part of Bell County.
School Choice has defined the HD 55 race, as Shine voted against Gov. Greg Abbott’s proposed school choice package.
Hickland meanwhile accumulated endorsements from Abbott, former President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, Attorney General Ken Paxton, Texas Home School Coalition, and Young Conservatives of Texas.
Matt Morgan defeated incumbent Jacey Jetton in Texas House District 26, 53.8% to 38.6%.
Businessman Matt Morgan has defeated State Rep. Jacey Jetton of Richmond in the Republican Primary.
House District 26 includes part of Fort Bend County.
The failed impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton featured prominently in the race.
Jetton was among the Republicans who voted to impeach Paxton.
Morgan—who fell short to Jetton in a runoff in 2020—quickly earned the endorsement of Paxton. He also had the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, who called Jetton a “liberal.”
During his two terms in office, Jetton earned an “F” rating on the Fiscal Responsibility Index for his votes on fiscal issues.
Brent Money unseated “incumbent” Jill Dutton in Texas House District 2, reversing the results of the January runoff between the two.
Former Trump spokeswoman Katrina Pierson takes a narrow lead over incumbent Justin Holland into the Texas House District 33 runoff.
State Rep. Justin Holland (R-Rockwall) and challenger Katrina Pierson will duke it out for another three months after neither eclipsed 50 percent, both advancing to the runoff.
The pair were neck and neck in the Rockwall County and Collin County portions of the district.
Holland’s clash with Pierson and London was highly-anticipated. Pierson has the largest profile of any challenger in this 2024 primary, having served as a Donald Trump campaign spokeswoman in 2016. On top of that, London challenged Holland in the 2022 primary, giving him some level of ballot name ID.
Despite that Trump affiliation, Pierson was omitted from the former president’s endorsement list in Texas races.
The incumbent found himself in the political right’s crosshairs after three consequential votes: impeaching Attorney General Ken Paxton, striking down Gov. Greg Abbott’s school choice plan, and advancing through committee a proposal to raise the age of purchasing certain semi-automatic rifles to 21.
Holland far outraised and outspent his two opponents, who combined raised $337,000 to the incumbent’s $1.2 million.
He was the beneficiary of around $170,000 from Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont), $225,000 from the Charles Butt Public Education PAC, $50,000 from the casino group Texas Sands PAC, $40,000 from Texans for Lawsuit Reform, and $115,000 from the Associated Republicans of Texas.
Alan Schoolcraft took a small lead against incumbent John Kuempel in the Texas House District 44 race. “Following election night results, Alan Schoolcraft and John Kuempel will go head to head in a runoff election scheduled for May 28. Schoolcraft received 48.13% of votes while Kuempel received 45.02% of votes.” Schoolcraft was endorsed by President Trump.
Mitch Little, Ken Paxton’s impeachment lawyer, appears to have won Texas House District 65 over incumbent Kronda Thimesch . “Little, with Paxton’s backing, defeated State Rep. Kronda Thimesch, who had the backing of Governor Greg Abbott, by about 300 votes.” Which means a recount is likely.
In Texas House District 1, Chris Spencer forced incumbent Gary Vandeaver into a runoff, with less than 2.5% separating them.
Helen Kerwin takes a seven point lead over incumbent DeWayne Burns into the Texas House District 58 runoff, and only missed an outright win by 1.2%. Kirwin was also endorsed by President Trump.
Challenger Keresa Richardson takes a seven point lead over incumbent Frederick Frazier into the Texas House District 61 runoff. Looks like I’ll have to wait until May to use the “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!” joke…
Challenger Andy Hopper takes a narrow lead over incumbent Lynn Stuckey in the Texas House District 64 race into the runoff.
Challenger David Lowe was only two points behind Stephanie Klick going into the Texas House District 91 runoff.
Given the usual run of only one or two incumbents getting knocked off in primaries (and those usually involved in prominent scandals), having 17 reps meet that fate is a political earthquake on par with Newt Gingrich-lead Republicans capturing the House after 40 years of Democratic rule in 1994. All the outside gambling and other special interest money was on the Phelan Axis side, and they still got stomped. I credit this in large measure to Trump, Paxton, Abbott and Cruz getting involved in statehouse races.
The Phelan Axis decided that killing school choice and the Paxton impeachment were the hills they wanted to die on, and a large number of them did.
But not every rep who voted for the Paxton impeachment and/or against school choice lost or got taken to a runoff:
Keith Bell defeated Joshua Feuerstein in District 3.
Cole Hefner defeated Jeff Fletcher in District 5.
Jay Dean defeated Joe McDaniel in District 7.
Cody Harris stomped Jaye Curtis in District 8.
Trent Ashby thumped Paulette Carson.
Steve Toth defeated Skeeter Hubert in District 15.
Stan Gerdes beat Tom Glass in District 17.
Ellen Troxclair won against Kyle Biedermann in District 19.
Terry Wilson beat Elva Chapa in District 20.
Greg Bonnen destroyed Larissa Ramirez in District 24.
Gary Gates beat Dan Mathews in District 28.
Ben Bumgarner won a three-way race in District 63.
Matt Shaheen beat Wayne Richard in District 66.
Jeff Leach beat Daren Meis in District 67.
David Spiller beat Kerri Kingsbery in District 68.
Stan Lambert beat Liz Case in District 71.
Drew Darby defeated Stormy Bradley in District 72.
Dustin Burrows defeated Wade Cowan 2-1 in District 83.
Stan Kitzman defeated Tim Greeson by a similar margin in District 85.
John Smithee defeated Jamie Haynes in District 86.
Ken King walloped Karen Post in District 88.
Candy Noble edged Abraham George in District 89.
Giovanni Capriglione beat Brad Schofield in District 98.
Charlie Geren defeated Jack Reynolds in District 99.
Morgan Meyer edged Barry Wernick in District 108.
Angie Chen Button decisively Chad Carnahan in District 112.
Briscoe Cain stomped Bianca Gracia in District 128.
Mano Deayala defeated John Perez in District 133.
Lacey Hull defeated Jared Woodfill in District 138.
That’s 31 Republican reps that could theoretically reconstitute the Phelan axis, but I’m not sure they have the stomach for it.
Of those, Bell, Dean, Lambert, Darby, King and Geren were the only ones to vote both for the Paxton impeachment and against school choice. Michael Quinn Sullivan (who I’m pretty sure is ecstatic at the numbers of Phelan enablers taken down yesterday) has identified Burrows and Harris as the two most likely Phelan axis members to attempt to take the gavel next year, and Geren and Capriglione have always struck me as among the biggest supporters of the axis. But a lot of those other names strike me as “soft” axis supporters who might be persuaded to support an actual Republican for speaker, least the same fate befall them as all the other Phelan backers taken down.
All in all, it was a very, very good day for Texas conservatives.
Tags:2024 Election, 2024 Presidential Race, 2024 Texas Senate Race, Abraham George, Alan Schoolcraft, Angie Chen Button, Barry Wernick, Ben Bumgarner, Bianca Gracia, Brad Schofield, Brandon Herrera, Brent Money, Briscoe Cain, Candy Noble, Chad Carnahan, Charlie Geren, Chris Spencer, Cody Harris, Colin Allred, Colony Ridge, Dade Phelan, Dan Mathews, Dan Patrick, Daren Meis, David Covey, David Spiller, Donald Trump, Drew Darby, Dustin Burrows, Elections, Ellen Troxclair, Elva Janine Chapa, Ernest Bailes, Frederick Frazier, Gary Gates, Gary VanDeaver, Giovanni Capriglione, Glenn Rogers, Greg Abbott, Greg Bonnen, Guns, Hillary Hickland, Hugh Shine, Jacey Jetton, Jack Reynolds, Jamie Haynes, Janis Holt, Jared Woodfill, Jeff Leach, Jill Dutton, Joanne Shofner, John Perez, John Smithee, Joshua Feuerstein, Justin Holland, Karen Post, Katrina Pierson, Keith Bell, Ken King, Ken Paxton, Keresa Richardson, Kerri Kingsbery, Kronda Thimesch, Kyle Biedermann, Lacey Hull, Larissa Ramirez, Liz Case, Mano Deayala, Marc LaHood, Matt Morgan, Matt Shaheen, Michael Quinn Sullivan, Mike Olcott, Mitch Little, Morgan Meyer, Nikki Haley, Reggie Smith, Republican Party of Texas, Republicans, Shelley Luther, Stan Gerdes, Stan Kitzman, Stan Lambert, Steve Allison, Stormy Bradley, Super Tuesday, Ted Cruz, Terry Wilson, Texas, Texas 23rd Congressional District, Texas House District 1, Texas House District 11, Texas House District 18, Texas House District 2, Texas House District 21, Texas House District 24, Texas House District 26, Texas House District 33, Texas House District 44, Texas House District 5, Texas House District 55, Texas House District 60, Texas House District 61, Texas House District 62, Texas House District 65, Texas House District 7, Texas House District 8, Tim Greeson, Tom Glass, Tony Gonzales, Travis Clardy, Wade Cowen, Wayne Richard
Posted in Austin, Democrats, Elections, Global Warming, Guns, Republicans, Texas | 20 Comments »
Monday, March 4th, 2024
Tomorrow is primary day for Texas and the rest of Super Tuesday states, so now would be a good time to locate your voter registration card. Here’s a roundup of election news (Texas and otherwise).
The Supreme Court unanimously restores Donald Trump to the Colorado ballot.
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday to overturn the Colorado supreme court decision removing Trump from the state primary ballot, just one day before voters in the Centennial State and 14 others go to the polls to select their Republican nominee.
The unanimous ruling holds that only Congress has the authority to restrict ballot access based on a candidate’s alleged violation of Section three of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which prohibits individuals who have engaged in an insurrection from holding federal office.
“This case raises the question whether the States, in addition to Congress, may also enforce Section 3. We conclude that States may disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office. But States have no power under the Constitution to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the Presidency,” the Supreme Court ruling asserts.
“For the reasons given, responsibility for enforcing Section 3 against federal officeholders and candidates rests with Congress and not the States. The judgment of the Colorado Supreme Court therefore cannot stand.”
A look at Janis Holt’s primary challenge against incumbent Ernest Bailes for Texas House District 18.
A controversial residential development, a vote to kill school choice, and the impeachment of the Texas attorney general have all drawn big endorsements for a well-funded challenge to incumbent state Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-Shepherd) in an East Texas state House district just north of Houston.
Longtime Republican activist and trustee for the Silsbee Independent School District, Janis Holt ran unsuccessfully against Bailes in 2022. But this year the wind seems to be at her back, as she has drawn endorsements from former President Donald Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
“As a State Representative, Janis will help us Secure the Border, Champion Parental Rights, Protect the Second Amendment, and Stand Up to the Woke Mob destroying our Country,” Trump wrote on social media. “Janis Holt has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
Snip.
As with a slew of other Republican primary contests around the state, the debate over school choice is a central issue in the House District (HD) 18 race. Bailes was one of 21 Republicans who voted to strip education savings accounts (ESA) from an education omnibus bill during last year’s fourth special session, drawing the ire of Abbott, who had vowed to bring some form of school choice to the state during the 88th Legislature.
Bailes has defended his vote as an effort to “stop a school voucher scam,” and claimed that illegal immigrants would have been eligible for the state ESAs. Saying that he had fought tirelessly to “increase border security,” Bailes added that he was committed to voting for the interests of “my friends and neighbors in San Jacinto, Hardin, Liberty, and East Montgomery Counties.”
While the vote against ESAs contributed to Abbott’s and Cruz’s decision to back Holt, Bailes has also been tied to the Colony Ridge development in Liberty County, especially for his role in crafting the Municipal Management District and Municipal Utility District for the development in 2017.
Accused of providing a haven for illegal immigrants, Colony Ridge made headlines last year after revelations surfaced that developers Trey and John Harris targeted advertisements for the development under the name Terrenos Houston and offered lots for sale with no credit check. While the number of illegal immigrants living in the sprawling 33-acre development is unknown, Liberty County Sheriff Bobby Rader has warned that he does not have enough staff to patrol the community of nearly 50,000.
Speaking of Holt, her’s is one of the races a DC group has waded into.
A political action committee named American Values First PAC registered $92,000 spent in the latest eight-day campaign finance reports. The group is registered to a Washington, D.C. PO box. Its treasurer is Dustin McIntyre, who did not offer comment when contacted by The Texan.
The group has sent text messages and mailers into various Texas House districts, and gotten involved in a handful of statewide races. Its list of registered support and opposition is a curious one, with no discernible trend.
Opposed
- Jill Dutton – House District (HD) 2
- Janis Holt – HD 18
- State Rep. Reggie Smith (R-Sherman) – HD 62
- State Rep. Steve Allison (R-San Antonio) – HD 121
- Bianca Gracia – HD 128
Supportive
- Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick
- Justice John Devine — Texas Supreme Court
- State Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-Shepherd) – HD 18
- David Schenck – Court of Criminal Appeals, Presiding Judge
- Gina Parker – Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7
- Lee Finley – Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8
- Eight Liberty County local races
HD 18 encompasses Liberty County, which, connected to the various local races, is the only visible connection between them.
Of the expenditures, most of the money went to direct mail and text messaging services from The Stoneridge Group, a Georgia-based political firm.
The group’s $125,000 raised came from only two donations: $25,000 from the Affordable Energy Fund (AEF) PAC, also treasured by McIntyre, and $100,000 from the Revitalization Project. Both are based in Virginia.
The AEF PAC raised and spent more than $1 million in the 2022 cycle, and almost every one of the expenditures went to Majority Strategies, a national direct mail firm based in Florida.
Seems a little swampy, but Schenck, Parker, and Finley were also endorsed by Gun Owners of America.
Michael Quinn Sullivan says that no matter what happens Tuesday, Dade Phelan is out of time.
Whatever happens on Tuesday, Dade Phelan’s speakership is over. Everyone knows it.
In multiple conversations with Republican lawmakers, including those Phelan considers to be loyalists, every single one believes his speakership is not only a distraction but a detriment. Now, do not read this as some sudden conversion of “RINOs” to stalwart conservative champions.
The concerns they raise about Phelan are pragmatic.
Most importantly, they see Phelan as a symptom of the problem they describe as “Dennis Bonnen.” When the disgraced former House Speaker was forced to resign from office in 2019, he and his cronies installed Phelan as their patsy. His performance has reflected that reality. The Democrat committee chairs stayed in place, and conservative priorities were stalled.
Old boss, meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
The problem is that the Bonnen-Phelan clan has been playing House members against the Senate and the governor as the former speaker builds up his lobby practice.
Few of the House members were particularly bothered by Phelan’s apparent intoxication at the dais late in the session. But they don’t like the stone-sober blame he has cast on them for the death of the comprehensive border security bill… a death Phelan oversaw with parliamentary zeal.
Why kill it at all? Because the Bonnen-Phelan partnership requires the support of Democrats. It is why Bonnen-Phelan orchestrated the 2021 reduction in election crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. When the pressure to undo that damage in 2023 became too much to bear, Bonnen-Phelan gave the Democrats the impeachment of Ken Paxton and the death of House Bill 20.
To a man and woman, House members have noted Phelan’s internal constitution is such that should he win the primary and return in 2025 as speaker, he will be on a scorched-earth mission against the priorities of Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
They are, bluntly, tired of it.
Thanks to Bonnen-Phelan, a significant number of members have had to deal with expensive primaries based on those fights. Sure, most will win… but in working to gain re-election, they lose face in their communities in a way not even a victory can makeover.
But some will not win. And some, like Glenn Rogers of Graford, have engaged in a very public (and very embarrassing) emotional and mental breakdown in confronting their primary challenges.
That’s not the bargain a speaker—or a speaker coalition—makes with the rank-and-file members. Internally, the number one job of any Speaker of the Texas House is to protect the members, especially the members of the speaker’s party. Not a single Republican feels protected. They are exposed, like the proverbial king in the invisible cloak.
Sullivan also says that “Dustin Burrows of Lubbock and Cody Harris of Palestine are being positioned to take up the gavel on behalf of the Bonnen-Phelan machine in 2025.”
“Texas Early Voting Data Shows GOP Turnout More Than Double Democratic. Republican early vote turnout is higher than 2020 but Democratic turnout is 40 percent below four years ago.”
So Nikki Haley finally won a primary…for Washington D.C. Way to convince people you’re not a swamp creature, Nikki!
Haley also says that she’s no longer bound by her pledge to support the Republican nominee. Swamp creatures gonna swamp creature. I stole this from Reddit:
Tags:2024 Election, 2024 Presidential Race, Bianca Gracia, Christi Craddick, Cody Harris, Colorado, David Schenck, Donald Trump, Dustin Burrows, Ernest Bailes, Gina Parker, Holly Hansen, Janis Holt, Jill Dutton, John Devine, Lee Finley, Nikki Haley, Reggie Smith, Republicans, Steve Allison, Super Tuesday, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas House District 18, Washington D.C.
Posted in Democrats, Elections, Republicans, Supreme Court, Texas | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, February 28th, 2024
I hadn’t intended to use so much of this week talking about Texas elections, but a lot of news is dropping and the primary looms next week, so let’s tuck in:
Vegas bets on Dade Phelan.
After mainly remaining on the sidelines ahead of the primary, casino companies seeking to turn Texas into a piggy bank are spending big to back the current House Speaker and his allies.
Chief among these out-of-state interlopers is Las Vegas Sands, giving through its “Texas” Sands PAC. The largest beneficiary of Sands’ money in the latest filing period is embattled House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont).
The casino outfit gave $200,000 to the Speaker, his second-largest donation in the latest filing period. Another gambling behemoth, Penn Entertainment Inc., gave Phelan $20,000. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma donated $10,000.
Gambling special interests have long targeted Texas but have been rebuffed for decades following failed promises of the Texas Lottery. During the 2023 legislative session, the Texas House advanced gambling measures that the Texas Senate ignored.
In this latest period, Sands gave $1.8 million to Texas politicians. This money went exclusively to members of the Texas House, with Republicans taking $1.34 million and Democrats $457,500. This is potentially a preview of a deluge of money that big gambling may spend in the lead-up to the 2025 legislative session.
State Rep. John Kuempel (R-Seguin), a key proponent of growing the gambling footprint in Texas, received the second-highest total from Sands at $110,000. Like Phelan, Keumpel finds himself up against a field of challengers, including Alan Schoolcraft who enjoys the endorsement of Gov. Greg Abbott and heavy financial backing.
Speaking of Phelan, it seems that a state agency paid millions in above-market rates for real estate rental to Phelan’s company.
Texas Republican Party Chairman Matt Rinaldi says the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has paid a company House Speaker Dade Phelan manages three times the market value.
On February 16, 2023, an exclusive Texas Scorecard investigative report examined a lease between HHSC and 3105 Executive, LLC—a company Phelan and members of the Phelan family manage and direct. From December 2017 to December 2023, state taxpayers paid this company $2.3 million through HHSC. The original lease ran from January 2014 to December 2023 but has been extended to August 2029. Phelan was first elected to the Texas House in 2014 and began serving in 2015. He was elected Speaker by fellow House members in 2021.
On February 17, Rinaldi took to social media platform X, noting that the 2023 rent HHSC paid Phelan is three times the market value.
“This looks like a $268,000 windfall to the Speaker’s business paid for money appropriated by the House, which is a big deal,” he wrote. “My next question would be how many other income streams are there like this one?”
President Trump just endorsed a bunch more Texas candidates.
Trump endorsed the following House candidates:
- Brent Money for House District 2, a seat only recently filled by Jill Dutton in a special election
- Joanne Shofner, who is challenging State Rep. Travis Clardy (R-Nacogdoches) for House District 11
- Steve Toth (R–Conroe), who is the current representative for House District 15
- Janis Holt, who is challenging State Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-Shepherd) for House District 18
- Gary Gates (R–Richmond), who is the current representative for House District 28
- Wes Virdell for House District 53, which is an open seat following the retirement of State Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Junction)
- Hillary Hickland, who is challenging State Rep. Hugh Shine (R-Temple) for House District 55
- Stormy Bradley, who is challenging State Rep. Drew Darby (R-San Angelo) for House District 72
- Don McLaughlin for House District 80, which is an open seat following the retirement of Tracy King (D-Uvalde)
- John Smithee (R–Amarillo), who is the current representative for House District 86
- Caroline Fairly for House District 87, which is an open seat following the retirement of Four Price (R-Amarillo)
- Barry Wernick, who is challenging State Rep. Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas) for House District 108
Bailes, Darby, Shine, and Meyer all voted to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton—a close ally of Trump. Gates also voted for impeachment but later apologized and contributed $15,000 to Paxton’s campaign fund.
Bailes, Darby, Clardy, and Shine all voted against Gov. Greg Abbott’s school choice program. Abbott has endorsed Trump’s 2024 presidential bid.
Money, Virdell, Hickland, and Bradley have also been endorsed by Gun Owners of America.
A consensus is forming among a broad front of Republicans (Trump, Abbott, Patrick and Paxton) on who to vote for on Tuesday, and Phalen’s pals ain’t it.
And Paxton is out on the campaign trail supporting challengers to the Phelan-aligned reps who voted for his impeachment.
“State Rep. Gary VanDeaver Faces Stiff Challenge One Decade After Ousting Previous Incumbent.”
Ten years into his career in the Texas House, state Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) now faces the very same challenge he mounted a decade ago — a newcomer hoping to unseat an incumbent.
VanDeaver faces two challengers — the Gov. Greg Abbott-backed Chris Spencer and Attorney General Ken Paxton-backed Dale Huls — in his bid for a sixth term in the Legislature.
He is one of 15 House Republicans seeking re-election who voted both for Paxton’s impeachment last May and to strip education savings accounts (ESA) from the House education omnibus bill last November, and for those he’s become a top target. Abbott and the pro-school choice groups wading into Texas House races have an eye toward flipping the seat, and Paxton is bent on exacting retribution.
Snip.
VanDeaver is in a dogfight, primarily against Spencer, the former chairman of the Sulphur Springs River Authority who loaned himself $300,000 at the campaign’s outset and is benefitting greatly from outside money.
According to ad buy data provided to The Texan from Medium Buying, a national GOP placement agency, Spencer and the groups backing him have reserved $116,000 of ad space on cable and broadcast television from Monday through the election next week. That dwarfs the $12,000 spent by VanDeaver’s camp during the same period.
Most of Spencer’s ad space was purchased either by Abbott’s campaign or the School Freedom Fund, a PAC affiliated with the national group Club for Growth.
As of the eight-day reporting period, VanDeaver has $450,000 cash-on-hand after raising $684,000 from January 26 through February 24. During that same period, Spencer raised $257,000 and has $166,000 left on hand. Huls is far behind the other two with $16,000 raised and $7,000 remaining in the bank.
A brief look at Republican ballot propositions.
Tags:2024 Election, Alan Schoolcraft, Andrew Murr, Barry Wernick, Brent Money, Caroline Fairly, Choctaw, Chris Spencer, Dade Phelan, Dale Huls, Don McLaughlin, Donald Trump, Drew Darby, Endorsements, Ernest Bailes, gambling, Gary Gates, Gary VanDeaver, Greg Abbott, Hillary Hickland, Hugh Shine, Janis Holt, Jill Dutton, Joanne Shofner, John Kuempel, John Smithee, Ken Paxton, Las Vegas Sands, Morgan Meyer, Penn Entertainment Inc., Republicans, Steve Toth, Stormy Bradley, Texas, Texas House District 108, Texas House District 11, Texas House District 15, Texas House District 18, Texas House District 2, Texas House District 53, Texas House District 72, Texas House District 80, Texas House District 86, Texas House District 87, Tracy King, Travis Clardy, Wes Virdell
Posted in Democrats, Regulation, Republicans, Texas, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, February 20th, 2024
Today marked the start of early primary voting, so here’s a roundup on Republican state house races.
I’ve posted several times on the need to primary and defeat every one of the Dade Phelan toadies who voted to kill school choice or who voted to impeach Ken Paxton. Every candidate who voted to kill school choiceretired or draw a primary challenger.
So here is a list of every contested Republican state House race, whether the incumbent voted to kill school choice or impeach Paxton, and who their challengers are:
District 1: Gary VanDeaver:
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Dale Huls
Chris Spencer
District 2: Jill Dutton
Dutton is listed as the incumbent because she won the special election for the seat of the expelled and disgraced Bryan Slaton. But she wasn’t in office to vote for or against school choice or the Paxton impeachment.
Challenger:
Brent Money
District 3: Keith Bell
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Joshua Feuerstein
District 5: Cole Hefner:
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Dewey Collier
Jeff Fletcher
District 7: Jay Dean
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Bonnie Walters
Joe McDaniel
District 8: Cody Harris
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Jaye Curtis
District 9: Trent Ashby
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Paulette Carson
District 11: Travis Clardy
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Joanne Shofner
District 12: No incumbent (Kyle Kacal retiring)
Challengers:
Ben Bius
John Slocum
Trey Wharton
District 14: No incumbent (John Raney retiring)
Challengers:
Rick Davis
Paul Dyson
District 15: Steve Toth
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Skeeter Hubert
District 17: Stan Gerdes
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Tom Glass
District 18: Ernest Bailes
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Janis Holt
Stephen Missick
District 19: Ellen Troxclair
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Kyle Biedermann
Manny Campos
District 20: Terry Wilson
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Elva Janine Chapa
District 21: Dade Phalen
As Speaker of the House, Phalen voted Present on the school choice gutting and Paxton impeachment votes, but is known to be the motivating factor behind both.
Challengers:
David Covey (Endorsed by President Trump.)
Alicia Davis
District 24: Greg Bonnen
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Larissa Ramirez
District 26: Jacey Jetton
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Jessica Rose Huang
Matt Morgan
District 28: Gary Gates
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Dan Matthews
District 29: No incumbent (Ed Thompson retiring)
Challengers:
Jeff Barry
Alex Kamkar
Edgar Pacheco Jr.
Trent Perez
District 30: No incumbent (Geanie W. Morrison retiring)
Challengers:
Bret Baldwin
Jeff Bauknight
Vanessa Hicks-Callaway
A.J. Louderback
District 33: Justin Holland
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Dennis London
Katrina Pierson
District 44: John Kuempel
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Greg Switzer
David Freimarck
Alan Schoolcraft (Endorsed by President Trump)
District 53: No incumbent (Andrew S. Murr retiring)
Challengers:
Hatch Smith
Wesley Virdell
District 55: Hugh Shine
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Jorge Estrada
Davis Ford
Hillary Hickland
District 56: No incumbent (Charles “Doc” Anderson retiring)
Challengers:
Pat Curry
Devvie Duke
District 58: DeWayne Burns
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Helen Kerwin (Endorsed by President Trump)
Lyndon Laird
District 60: Glenn Rogers
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Mike Olcott (Endorsed by President Trump)
District 61: Frederick Frazier
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Chuck Branch
Keresa Richardson
District 62: Reggie Smith
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Shelley Luther
District 63: Ben Bumgarner
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Carlos Andino Jr. (website shows as expired)
Vincent Gallo
District 64: Lynn Stucky
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Elaine Hays
Andy Hopper
District 65: Kronda Thimesch
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Mitch Little
District 66: Matt Shaheen
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Wayne Richard
District 67: Jeff Leach
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Daren Meis
District 68: David Spiller
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Kerri Kingsbery
District 70: Incumbent Democrat Mihaela Plesa
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Republican Challengers:
Joe Collins
Steven Kinard
District 71: Stan Lambert
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Charles Byrn
Liz Case (Endorsed by President Trump)
District 72: Drew Darby
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Stormy Bradley
District 74: Incumbent Democrat Eddie Morales Jr.
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Republican Challengers:
Robert Garza
John McLeon
District 76: Incumbent Democrat Suleman Lalani
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Republican Challengers:
Dayo David
Summara Kanwal
Lea Simmons
District 80: No incumbent (Democrat Tracy King retiring)
Republican Challengers:
Don McLaughlin
Clint Powell
JR Ramirez
District 83: Dustin Burrows
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Wade Cowen
District 85: Stan Kitzman
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Tim Greeson
District 86: John Smithee
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? No
Challenger:
Jamie Haynes
District 87: No incumbent (John Four Price retiring)
Challengers:
Richard Beyea
Cindi Bulla
Caroline Fairly
Jesse Quackenbush
District 88: Ken King
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Karen Post
District 89: Candy Noble
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Abraham George
District 91: Stephanie Klick
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Teresa Ramirez Gonzalez
David Lowe
District 97: No incumbent (Craig Goldman retired to run for U.S. Congress)
Challengers:
Cheryl Bean
John McQueeney
Leslie Robnett
District 98: Giovanni Capriglione
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Brad Schofield
District 99: Charlie Geren
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Jack Reynolds
District 108: Morgan Meyer
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Barry Wernick
District 112: Angie Chen Button
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Chad Carnahan
District 119: Incumbent Democrat Elizabeth Campos
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Republican Challengers:
Brandon Grable
Dan Sawatzki
District 121: Steve Allison
Voted to kill school choice? Yes
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challengers:
Marc LaHood
Michael Champion
District 128: Briscoe Cain
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Bianca Gracia
District 133: Mano Deayala
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
John Perez
District 138: Lacey Hull
Voted to kill school choice? No
Voted to impeach Paxton? Yes
Challenger:
Jared Woodfill
Sources:
List of Texas state house races
School choice vote role call
Paxton impeachment vote roll call
Ballot information for the 2024 election.
I’m still missing a few candidate websites, so if you note any errors or omissions, let me know in the comments below.
Tags:2024 Election, A.J. Louderback, Abraham George, Alan Schoolcraft, Alex Kamkar, Alicia Davis, Andy Hopper, Angie Chen Button, Barry Wernick, Ben Bius, Ben Bumgarner, Bianca Gracia, Bonnie Walters, Brad Schofield, Brandon Grable, Brent Money, Bret Baldwin, Briscoe Cain, Candy Noble, Carlos Andino Jr., Caroline Fairly, Chad Carnahan, Charles Byrn, Charlie Geren, Cheryl Bean, Chris Spencer, Cindi Bulla, Clint Powell, Cody Harris, Cole Hefner, Dade Phelan, Dale Huls, Dan Matthews, Dan Sawatzki, Daren Meis, David Covey, David Freimarck, David Lowe, David Spiller, Davis Ford, Dayo David, Dennis London, Devvie Duke, DeWayne Burns, Dewey Collier, Don McLaughlin, Drew Darby, Dustin Burrows, Eddie Morales Jr., Edgar Pacheco Jr., Elaine Hays, Elections, Elizabeth Campos, Ellen Troxclair, Elva Janine Chapa, Ernest Bailes, Frederick Frazier, Gary Gates, Gary VanDeaver, Giovanni Capriglione, Greg Bonnen, Greg Switzer, Hatch Smith, Helen Kerwin, Hillary Hickland, Hugh Shine, Jacey Jetton, Jack Reynolds, Jamie Haynes, Janis Holt, Jared Woodfill, Jay Dean, Jaye Curtis, Jeff Barry, Jeff Bauknight, Jeff Fletcher, Jeff Leach, Jesse Quackenbush, Jessica Rose Huang, Jill Dutton, Joanne Shofner, Joe Collins, Joe McDaniel, John Kuempel, John McLeon, John McQueeney, John Perez, John Slocum, John Smithee, Jorge Estrada, Joshua Feuerstein, JR Ramirez, Justin Holland, Karen Post, Katrina Pierson, Keith Bell, Ken King, Keresa Richardson, Kerri Kingsbery, Kronda Thimesch, Kyle Biedermann, Lacey Hull, Larissa Ramirez, Lea Simmons, Leslie Robnett, Liz Case, Lyndon Laird, Lynn Stucky, Manny Campos, Mano Deayala, Marc LaHood, Matt Morgan, Matt Shaheen, Michael Champion, Mihaela Plesa, Mike Olcott, Mitch Little, Morgan Meyer, Pat Curry, Paul Dyson, Paulette Carson, Reggie Smith, Republicans, Richard Beyea, Rick Davis, Robert Garza, Shelley Luther, Skeeter Hubert, Stan Gerdes, Stan Kitzman, Stan Lambert, Stephanie Klick, Stephen Missick, Steve Allison, Steve Toth, Steven Kinard, Stormy Bradley, Suleman Lalani, Summara Kanwal, Teresa Ramirez Gonzalez, Terry Wilson, Texas, Texas House District 1, Texas House District 108, Texas House District 11, Texas House District 111, Texas House District 119, Texas House District 12, Texas House District 121, Texas House District 133, Texas House District 138, Texas House District 14, Texas House District 15, Texas House District 17, Texas House District 18, Texas House District 19, Texas House District 2, Texas House District 20, Texas House District 21, Texas House District 24, Texas House District 26, Texas House District 28, Texas House District 29, Texas House District 3, Texas House District 30, Texas House District 33, Texas House District 44, Texas House District 5, Texas House District 53, Texas House District 55, Texas House District 56, Texas House District 58, Texas House District 60, Texas House District 61, Texas House District 62, Texas House District 63, Texas House District 64, Texas House District 65, Texas House District 66, Texas House District 67, Texas House District 68, Texas House District 7, Texas House District 70, Texas House District 71, Texas House District 72, Texas House District 74, Texas House District 76, Texas House District 8, Texas House District 80, Texas House District 83, Texas House District 85, Texas House District 86, Texas House District 87, Texas House District 88, Texas House District 89, Texas House District 9, Texas House District 91, Texas House District 97, Texas House District 98, Texas House District 99, Tim Greeson, Tom Glass, Travis Clardy, Trent Ashby, Trent Perez, Trey Wharton, Vanessa Hicks-Callaway, Vincent Gallo, Wade Cowen, Wayne Richard, Wesley Virdell
Posted in Democrats, Regulation, Republicans, Texas, Uncategorized | 7 Comments »
Wednesday, December 13th, 2023
Over the last month, I’ve posted several times on the need to primary and defeat every one of the Dade Phelan toadies who voted to kill school choice. It looks like we’re off to a good start, as the close of the filing period saw every one of them retire or draw a primary challenger.
Every Republican who opposed school choice in the Texas House now finds themselves facing a challenger in the upcoming Republican primary.
Despite being a priority of the Republican Party of Texas and Gov. Greg Abbott, last month 21 Republicans joined Democrats in voting to remove a school choice program from a school spending proposal.
Now each of those 21 members are either leaving the legislature or facing intraparty opposition.
Retiring reps are:
Kyle Kacal
Andrew Murr
Four Price
John Raney
Ed Thompson
Reps who have drawn primary opponents, and the opponents they’ve drawn (plus the opponent’s campaign website, where known), are:
Steve Allison: Marc LaHood, Michael Champion
Ernest Bailes: Janis Holt, Stephen Missick
Keith Bell: Joshua Feuerstein
DeWayne Burns: Helen Kerwin, Lyndon Laird
Travis Clardy: Joanne Shofner
Drew Darby: Stormy Bradley
Jay Dean: Bonnie Walters, Joe McDaniel
Charlie Geren: Jack Reynolds
Justin Holland: Dennis London, Katrina Pierson
Ken King: Karen Post
John Kuempel: Greg Switzer, David Freimarck, Alan Schoolcraft
Stan Lambert: Charles Byrn, Liz Case
Glenn Rogers: Mike Olcott
Hugh Shine: Hillary Hickland, David Ford
Reggie Smith: Shelley Luther
Gary VanDeaver: Dale Huls, Chris Spencer
If you’re a Texas conservative in a position to donate to campaigns (a tough ask for some here in the Biden Recession), now would be a good time to check out these candidates and help defeat some of Dade’s toadies.
Tags:2024 Election, 88th Texas Legislative Session, Alan Schoolcraft, Andrew Murr, Bonnie Walters, Charles Byrn, Charlie Geren, Chris Spencer, Dade Phelan, Dale Huls, David Ford, David Freimarck, Dennis London, DeWayne Burns, Drew Darby, Ed Thompson, Ernest Bailes, Four Price, Gary VanDeaver, Glenn Rogers, Greg Switzer, Helen Kerwin, Hugh Shine, Jack Reynolds, Janis Holt, Jay Dean, Joanne Shofner, Joe McDaniel, John Kuempel, John Raney, Joshua Feuerstein, Justin Holland, Karen Post, Katrina Pierson, Keith Bell, Ken King, Kyle Kacal, Liz Case, Lyndon Laird, Marc LaHood, Michael Champion, Mike Olcott, Reggie Smith, Republicans, Shelley Luther, Stan Lambert, Stephen Missick, Steve Allison, Stormy Bradley, Texas, Travis Clardy
Posted in Regulation, Republicans, Texas | 4 Comments »
Saturday, November 18th, 2023
If you were wondering if the left-leaning cabal behind Dade Phelan would ever let any form of school choice pass the Texas house, now you know.
Following a year of anticipation and four special sessions, the hopes of school choice being passed on the floor of the Texas House have been dashed after an amendment stripped education savings accounts (ESAs) from this special session’s education omnibus bill.
The amendment offered by Rep. John Raney (R-College Station) was initially signed by 16 other members before being passed by a vote of 84 to 63.
Members then voted to lock that change in and prevent the removal from being reconsidered at a later time, a motion which passed by the same margin as Raney’s amendment.
Of the 85 Republicans in the House, those voting in favor of the ESA removal amendment included:
Rep. Steve Allison (R-San Antonio)
Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-Shepherd)
Rep. Keith Bell (R-Forney)
Rep. DeWayne Burns (R-Cleburne)
Rep. Travis Clardy (R-Nacogdoches)
Rep. Drew Darby (R-San Angelo)
Rep. Jay Dean (R-Longview)
Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth)
Rep. Justin Holland (R-Rockwall)
Rep. Kyle Kacal (R-College Station)
Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian)
Rep. John Kuempel (R-Seguin)
Rep. Stan Lambert (R-Abilene)
Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Junction)
Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo)
Rep. John Raney (R-College Station)
Rep. Glenn Rogers (R-Graford)
Rep. Hugh Shine (R-Temple)
Rep. Reggie Smith (R-Sherman)
Rep. Ed Thompson (R-Pearland)
Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston)
The ESA removal amendment was supported by all 64 House Democrats.
The names of some of those Republicans voting against school choice should be familiar, as they’ve thwarted Republican priorities in the past:
Allison, Kacel, King, Kuempel, Lambert, Price and Raney all voted to create a “Office of Health Equity Policy” in the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Allison, Bailes, Clardy, Kacel, King, Lambert, Raney and VanDeaver all voted against banning taxpayer-funded lobbying.
Geren was Joe Straus’ righthand man for years, and once had an aide file a false child protective services act against his primary opponent, and was one of the main instigators of the vendetta against Ken Paxton.
All of them except Clardy, Price and Thompson voted in favor of the Paxton impeachment.
Primarying everyone on that list (and, of course, Phelan) would be a good start.
Following the vote, Governor Greg Abbot declared that “the small minority of pro-union Republicans in the Texas House who voted with the Democrats will not derail the outcome that their voters demand,” but it remains unclear how he can move his school choice agenda after this gutting.
Abbott has said he’ll veto and education bills without ESAs. He’s also threatened to keep holding special sessions until school choice passes. We’ll see if he follows through.
Tags:2024 Election, Andrew Murr, Charlie Geren, Dade Phelan, DeWayne Burns, Drew Darby, Ed Thompson, education, Ernest Bailes, Four Price, Gary VanDeaver, Glenn Rogers, Greg Abbott, Hugh Shine, Jay Dean, John Kuempel, John Raney, Justin Holland, Keith Bell, Ken King, Ken Paxton, Kyle Kacal, Reggie Smith, Republicans, school choice, Stan Lambert, Steve Allison, Texas, Travis Clardy
Posted in Republicans, Texas, unions | 12 Comments »
Saturday, August 17th, 2019
I haven’t been following the Texas Speaker Dennis Bonnen/Empower Texans head Michael Quinn Sullivan meeting controversy due to lack of time (like I’ve said, the past weeks have been a bear), but this Texas Monthly piece provides an overview of the meeting, which took place June 12. “Bonnen appears to have offered to take an official action if Sullivan would use his political organization to go after ten legislators whom Bonnen found objectionable while avoiding attacks on Bonnen.” Depending on the applicability of various statutes, that’s very possibly illegal.
Here’s Sullivan’s description of the meeting:
I was surprised when I got to Bonnen’s office to also be greeted by the GOP Caucus chairman, State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R–Lubbock).
The meeting started off pleasantly enough. And, indeed, there was a little tongue-lashing. The notoriously thin-skinned Burrows didn’t like a tweet from the session in which I wrote he was “moronic” for floating a proposal that would have gutted property tax reform. For his part, Bonnen said he wants to fight the Democrats—offering amusing (if slightly vulgar) comments about Reps. Michelle Beckley (D-Carrollton) and Jon Rosenthal (D-Houston).
But the thrust of the meeting took me by surprise. Bonnen invited me there to make me an offer.
A little context: Given my news background, Empower Texans has long operated as a news-media entity. Our focus on providing information that empowers citizens to exercise their rights as a self-governing people has taken the form of reporting on the actions of lawmakers—especially in exposing the difference between what they say and what they do.
For the past two sessions, our Texas Scorecard Capitol bureau has applied for House media credentials. Despite falling clearly inside the boundaries of the House’s criteria, and despite being granted credentials by the Texas Senate, those applications have been repeatedly denied. The 2019 session was no exception. We filed a federal lawsuit on the matter, which is going up before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Sitting in his Capitol office on June 12, Speaker Bonnen was adamant he wanted to do something for me. I told him I didn’t need anything from him or Burrows. But he really wanted me to listen to what he “wanted to do for me.”
Bonnen insisted: He would ensure Texas Scorecard reporters received House floor access in 2021 if we would lay off our criticism of the legislative session, not spend money from our affiliated PACs against certain Republicans, and—most shockingly—go after a list of other Republicans in the 2020 primary elections.
Spending political money was the issue, Bonnen said. Not just refraining from spending it against his pals. He wanted us to spend it against Republicans he saw as not being helpful.
What strikes me most about this, beyond the rank impropriety, is what a shoddy deal Bonnen is offering. Spend time and money attacking Bonnen’s preferred targets in exchange for…media credentials to the Texas House? That’s it? It’s not only underhanded and unethical, it’s insultingly tacky. “Hey, if you help me whack this guy, I promise there’s a six-pack of Bud Light in it for you!”
Yesterday, meeting participant Burrows reigned as House Republican Chair. “Following Burrows’ resignation as Chairman, Fort Worth Republican State Rep. Stephanie Klick has confirmed with a North Texas news outlet she has assumed the role of Chairman of the caucus and expects the members to fill her, now vacant, role as vice chair according to House Republican Caucus rules.”
Cahnman also has some pungent commentary, such as:
The hardest part to wrap your head around is that the substance of Bonnen’s ask isn’t necessarily crazy. While he’s doing it for the wrong reasons, Bonnen basically asks Sullivan to focus on rural members instead of suburban ones. There’s a certain logic to that strategy. Unfortunately, there’s no logic that suggests one make oneself a party to a felony in the process.
The most surprising part is the degree to which Bonnen’s talking out of both sides of his mouth on his alleged “no campaigning” edict. Bonnen spends nearly a quarter of the meeting telling Sullivan how he plans to vigorously enforce the edict against Democrats, but casually look the other way with Republicans. At this point, the Democrats have every right to tell Bonnen to pound sand.
Snip.
Bonnen, and especially Dustin Burrows, are super thin-skinned about criticisms of the session. They spend a quarter of the discussion trying to spin the results to Sullivan. At one point, Burrows laughably accuses Sullivan of gaslighting the members.
Snip.
Burrows claims the list is about members who voted against the ban on taxpayer funded lobbying, but Ken King and Gary van Deaver also voted against the ban and didn’t make the list.
The list: Steve Allison, Trent Ashby, Dirty Ernie (Bailes), Travis Clardy (“the ringleader of all opposition” according to Burrows), Drew Darby, Kyle Kacal, Stan Lambert, Tan Parker, John Raney, Phil Stephenson.
Cahnman also thinks that Burrows is a dead speaker walking.
There was widespread belief that Bonnen would be easier to work with than former speaker Joe Straus (even by Sullivan), but this year’s legislative session seemed to have just as many conservative bills die in the process as they had under Straus.
With Burrows down, it’s hard to see how Bonnen survives the scandal as Speaker.
Tags:Dennis Bonnen, Drew Darby, Dustin Burrows, Empower Texans, Ernest Bailes, John Raney, Kyle Kacal, Michael Quinn Sullivan, Phil Stephenson, Stan Lambert, Stephanie Klick, Steve Allison, Tan Parker, Texas, Texas House of Representatives, Travis Clardy, Trent Ashby
Posted in Republicans, Texas, Uncategorized | No Comments »