Texas Primary Results

The state of Texas held its Democratic and Republican primaries last night, and the results were expected, disappointing, and downright scary, with about 85% of the vote counted.

GOVERNOR (DEMOCRATIC)
Wendy Davis...............79%
Ray Madrigal...............21%

GOVERNOR (REPUBLICAN)
Greg Abbott...............91%
Lisa Fritsch...............5%
Miriam Martinez...............3%
SECEDE Kilgore...............1%

This was expected  -- in both parties. Neither Davis nor Abbott faced any real competition, and now they will face off in the general election.

SENATOR (DEMOCRATIC)
David Alameel...............48%
Kesha Rogers...............22%
Maxey Scherr...............17%
Harry Kim...............9%
Michael Fjetland...............5%

SENATOR (REPUBLICAN)
John Cornyn...............59%
Steve Stockman...............19%
Dwayne Stovall...............11%
Linda Vega...............4%
Chris Mapp...............3%
Ken Cope...............3%
Reid Reasor...............2%

The Democratic side here is very disappointing for progressives. It's looking like a run-off between a rich Blue Dog and a LaRouche supporter, neither of which will make a credible choice for Texas voters next November. I can see a lot of progressives just voting Green in this race.

On the Republican side, incumbent Cornyn coasted to an easy victory -- and he will probably do the same in November. Ted Nugent's candidate (Stockman) never stood a chance in this primary race.

LT. GOVERNOR (DEMOCRATIC)
Leticia Van De Putte................100%

LT. GOVERNOR (REPUBLICAN)
Dan Patrick...............42%
David Dewhurst...............28%
Todd Staples...............18%
Jerry Patterson...............12%

Van De Putte had no opposition. What's good about this race is that it looks like she'll be running against a real nut-job right-winger (of the ilk of Gohmert, Stockman, Cruz, etc.).

The scary part is that this race shows the stranglehold the teabaggers have on the Texas Republican Party. Patrick (a truly scary teabagger) easily bested the incumbent Dewhurst. There will probably be a run-off, but I now expect Patrick will win. I just can't see the voters for right-wingers Staples and Patterson opting for Dewhurst at this point.

LAND COMMISSIONER (DEMOCRATIC)
John Cook...............100%

LAND COMMISSIONER (REPUBLICAN)
George P. Bush...............73%
David Watts...............27%

Cook had no opposition, so his win is anything but a surprise. The scary part here is that the Republicans launched the career of another member of the Bush family. Obviously, Texas teabaggers haven't had enough of the infamous Bush incompetence. Cook will have a hard time winning this one.

AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER (DEMOCRATIC)
Jim Hogan...............40%
Kinky Friedman...............38%
Hugh Fitzsimons III...............23%

AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER (REPUBLICAN)
Sid Miller...............35%
Tommy Merritt...............21%
Eric Opiela...............17%
Joe Cotten...............15%
J. Allen Carnes...............12%

For me, this was the most disappointing race of the night (except for the senate race). I was hoping Friedman would win, and bring some new voters to the Democratic ticket. He still might, but it looks like a substantial portion of party regulars are afraid of him because he doesn't toe the party line. Whoever wins will probably face teabagger Miller (almost as scary a guy as Patrick, who's the GOP favorite for Lt. Governor).

RAILROAD COMMISSIONER (DEMOCRATIC)
Steve Brown...............64%
Dale Henry...............36%

RAILROAD COMMISSIONER (REPUBLICAN)
Wayne Christian...............43%
Ryan Sitton...............30%
Becky Berger...............17%
Malachi Boyuls...............10%

I like the outcome of this race. Nothing against perennial candidate Henry on the Democratic side, but Brown is just a better candidate. Looks like Christian will probably win in the group of no-name GOP candidates.