Endorsement, Ad, Poll and Lawsuit News for September 9

SD30 special (Safe Republican): The Texas Oil & Gas Assoc. PAC endorsed Rep. Drew Springe (R-Muenster). HD96 open (Toss Up): Gov. Greg Abbott (R) endorsed Republican nominee David Cook. HD138 open (Lean Democratic): The Texas State Teachers Assoc. endorsed...

Home Stretch Begins for the 2020 General Election

Early voting clerks must give voters a “meaningful opportunity” to confirm their identity before rejecting an absentee ballot because of a “perceived signature mismatch.” Under current law, voters must be informed that their ballot has been rejected within 10 days...

DMN/UT-Tyler Poll: Trump 48, Biden 46

President Trump leads Democratic challenger Joe Biden, 48%-46%, among respondents “most likely to vote,” according to a new Dallas Morning News/UT-Tyler poll (PDF). Biden leads Trump by a point, 44%-43%, among all registered voters and “likely voters.” Biden led...

Ads, Polls and a Disavowal for September 4

A new Data for Progress survey (PDF) conducted entirely online finds Democratic challenger Joe Biden leading President Trump, 48%-45%, with 8% unsure. Biden leads among “independents,” 47%-33%. Within 34 “battleground” Texas House districts, Biden leads Trump,...

Judges Rule Three More Green Candidates Ineligible

A state district judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the certification of two Green Party candidates for the November general election. David Collins, the party’s nominee for U.S. Senate, and CD21 nominee Tom Wakely cannot be certified until at least...

Poll: Trump +7, Cornyn +7

President Trump leads presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, 48%-41%, among “all voters” and by a slightly smaller 49.5%-44% margin among voters who indicated they were “extremely likely to vote,” according to a new YouGov poll (PDF) conducted for the Texas...

Postal Service Warns of Mail Ballot Delays

The U.S. Postal Service warned Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughes that there is a “significant risk” that lawfully requested mail ballots will not be returned in time to be counted. Voters “should submit their ballot request early enough so it is received by their...

Analysis of Competitive Tarrant Co. House Districts

When former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso) edged out U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R), 49.9%-49.2%, in Tarrant Co., he became the first Democrat to win countywide since 1994. Despite the narrow loss, Cruz won every Republican-held district in 2018. Some of them were very...

College Turnout in Question and Other News for August 4

One of the impacts COVID-19 may have on the general election is a potentially significant drop in turnout among college students. Univ. of Texas Interim President Jay Hartzell estimated roughly 40%-50% of the student body has opted for an online-only fall semester....

27 Texans Among Obama’s ‘First Wave’ of Endorsements

Former President Barack Obama released his “first wave” of 2020 endorsements, which included 27 Texas House and U.S. House incumbents, challengers and open-seat candidates: House incumbents Erin Zwiener (HD45), James Talarico (HD52), Jessica González (HD104), Terry...