Early voting has concluded in most jurisdictions holding elections on Saturday.
Single-punch Repeal: A bill that would end the practice of voting for every candidate of one political party using a single punch or other action is on the House calendar for Friday. House Bill 25 by Rep. Ron Simmons (R-Carrollton) was approved by the House Elections Committee on a 5-2 party-line vote in March. Voters would still be able to vote a straight ticket by casting votes for each candidate of their chosen party individually.
Note: Jeff Blaylock, publisher of Texas Election Source, is on record as being in favor of House Bill 25.
Empower Texans’ Best/Worst List: The conservative group Texans for Fiscal Responsibility/Empower Texans is asking its followers to vote for the best and worst lawmakers of 2017. Web site visitors may select up to 10 of each. The group has nominated 22 legislators for the best category and 24 for the worst category, though voters may fill in the name of someone else. Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) is in both groups “because he talks out of both sides of his mouth.” No Democrats appear on either list.
Empower Texans' Nominees for Best Lawmaker
Sen. Dawn Buckingham (R-Lake Travis)*
Sen. Konni Burton (R-Colletville)
Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood)
Sen. Don Huffines (R-Dallas)*
Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock)
Sen. Van Taylor (R-Plano)
Rep. Kyle Biedermann (R-Fredericksburg)*
Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock)
Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park)*
Rep. Stephanie Klick (R-Fort Worth)
Rep. Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth)
Rep. Mike Lang (R-Granbury)*
Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano)
Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)
Rep. Matt Rinaldi (R-Irving)
Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler)
Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano)
Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R-Bedford)
Rep. Valoree Swanson (R-Spring)*
Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington)
Rep. Bill Zedler (R-Arlington)
* indicates serving first regular session in Legislature
Empower Texans' Nominees for Worst Lawmaker
Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls)
Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston)
Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo)
Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio)**
Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin)
Rep. Cindy Burkett (R-Sunnyvale)**
Rep. Travis Clardy (R-Nacogdoches)
Rep. Byron Cook (R-Corsicana)**
Rep. Drew Darby (R-San Angelo)
Rep. Sarah Davis (R-Houston)**
Rep. Dan Flynn (R-Van)**
Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth)**
Rep. Larry Gonzales (R-Round Rock)
Rep. Dan Huberty (R-Humble)
Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi)
Rep. Kyle Kacal (R-College Station)
Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian)
Rep. Linda Koop (R-Dallas)
Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)
Rep. Larry Phillips (R-Sherman)
Rep. J.D. Sheffield (R-Gatesville)**
Rep. Hugh Shine (R-Temple)**
Rep. Jason Villalba (R-Dallas)**
Rep. John Zerwas (R-Richmond)
** indicates the group endorsed a primary opponent in 2016
The worst lawmaker nominees may provide an early glimpse into the group’s primary election targets for 2018.
Pasadena: The U.S. Dept. of Justice is expected to send monitors to observe Saturday’s election.
San Antonio: Mayor Ivy Taylor reported more than $90K in contributions and $273K in expenditures for the period March 28 to April 26. She reported having $159K on hand. Council member Ron Nirenberg reported $60K in contributions and $163K in expenditures. He has $103K on hand. Manuel Medina reported just over $18K in contributions and $151K in expenditures. He has $105K on hand with $350K in loan balances.
