This afternoon we offer a few “quick hits” from today’s campaign news in lieu of a formal report:
SD4 Special: We’ll have real-time results and analysis tomorrow night. Aside from the $12K in late train contributions reported by Brandon Creighton on 5/5, no late train money has been reported to the Texas Ethics Commission by either the candidates or groups subject to reporting such direct expenditures.
LTGOV: The Dallas Morning News endorsed Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. The Dewhurst campaign repeated its demand that Dan Patrick release his tax returns.
AG: Public Opinion Strategies poll shows Ken Paxton leading Dan Branch, 38%-27%, with 35% undecided. This means that both candidates have lost ground from the primary, which saw Paxton at 44% and Branch at 33% (Barry Smitherman took the remaining 22%). Normally, polls conducted just before a runoff show at least one candidate moving in a positive direction. These results, if accurate, reflect a lack of confidence in some primary voters’ initial votes.
Branch launched a new TV ad, “Ken Paxton Broke the Law,” comprised almost entirely of footage gleaned from a Dallas station’s news story on Paxton admitting violating state securities laws and being fined. The station has since publicly objected to the footage being used by the Branch campaign.
SEN: Kesha Rogers campaigned for votes in her Democratic runoff at the Brownsville Tea Party meeting.
