Federal District Judge Orlando Garcia granted a preliminary injunction sought by Democratic and voting rights groups as part in a case over the state’s compliance with provisions in the federal National Voter Registration Act commonly referred to as “motor voter” registrations.
The court ordered the Texas Dept. of Public Safety, Secretary of State and relevant county officials to process the registrations of three Texans with using the digital signatures they submitted as part of online driver license renewal and change-of-address applications. “Due to strict time constraints, the Court is currently considering only the very narrow temporary relief sought by the three individual plaintiffs” and is holding other issues in abeyance. Texans must be registered to vote by February 3 to participate in this year’s primary elections.
Texas law requires voters to provide an original signature on their registration forms.
This is the second time this federal court has found the state in violation of the federal motor voter law. An appellate court tossed the decision after ruling that the plaintiffs lacked standing.
Campaign Finance: Year-end reports are due tomorrow (Friday) from federal candidates and officeholders. These reports disclose contributions received and expenditures made during the fourth quarter of 2019. We will be updating our Crib Sheets through the weekend and have an analysis Sunday, and we may change our race ratings based on these reports.
CCA3: The San Antonio Express-News endorsed incumbent Judge Bert Richardson (R) in the
HD26 open: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) endorsed Jacey Jetton to succeed the retiring Rep. Rick Miller (R-Sugar Land).
CD26: President Trump tweeted his endorsement of U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Lewisville) for re-election.
CD28: Texas Forward, a Washington, D.C.-based Super PAC that reported no contributions and no cash on hand during 2019, has reported spending $1.2M on media buys to support Jessica Cisneros, the progressive primary challenger of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo). The PAC is affiliated with EMILY’s List.
CD33: The Dallas Morning News endorsed U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth) for re-nomination.
CD36: President Trump tweeted his endorsement of U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (R-Woodville) for re-election.
PRES: Rep. Cesar Blanco (D-El Paso) endorsed Mike Bloomberg for the Democratic nomination. Blanco previously endorsed former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso) and former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro.
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