WP: Democrats Gaining A Foothold in Texas

[kskiska]

Increasing Hispanic Population Is Credited With Diversifying Winners of Local Races

ALLAS, Nov. 9 -- Lupe Valdez is a woman, a Hispanic, a Democrat and a lesbian -- and, come Jan. 1, she's entering the ranks of Texas good ol' boys. Valdez is becoming Sheriff Lupe.

Any one description -- female, Latina, Democrat and openly gay -- would have qualified Valdez's election as Dallas County sheriff for the local history books. But all four?

"Who would've ever imagined . . .?" editorialized the Dallas Morning News, which endorsed Valdez. Valdez, who faced three opponents in a March Democratic primary and then advanced to an April runoff, last week edged out Republican Danny Chandler, a 30-year veteran of the Sheriff's Department.

(snip)

It speaks also of a political trend in one of Texas's largest urban counties: a growing Democratic and Latino electorate. In one of the most Republican states four years ago and this presidential election, President Bush's margin of victory was relatively small in Dallas County. In 2000 an unknown, underfinanced Democratic candidate for district judge lost by less than a percentage point, and in 2002 two female Hispanic Democratic candidates for district judge fell just short of winning. Then, last week, more than 600,000 voters turned out, electing Dallas County's first Hispanic district judge and its first Hispanic sheriff, both Democrats and both women.

"Dallas has been viewed as the beachhead, where we start turning the state back Democratic," said Susan Hays, chairwoman of the Dallas County Democratic Party.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37994-2004Nov9.html

[yellowdogintexas]

1. Takin back Texas

Wish I could have voted for her, but I am next door in Tarrant County.

[newyawker99]

20. Hi yellowdogintexas!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[amber dog democrat]

2. Travis Co did not do so bad either.

Lloyd Doggett gor re elected, Jack Straw went down to Strama and Greg Hamilton, our first black sherrif was elected as well.

We are one of the BLUE counties in Texas, ( god bless the Republic of Travis !).
It won't end here either.

[jobycom]

6. Only one opposed Republican won in Travis, if I recall

And that was by 171 votes out of 68,000, and all the provisionals and mail ins haven't been counted yet.

Bush only got 42% of the vote here.

In every other race the Democrat mopped up the Republican, except for US Representative district 25, where only the western part of the county voted.

Check it out.

http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr1county226.htm

[amber dog democrat]

13. You mean the Scum Weasel, Lamar Smith ?

the Rep rep famed for beating up on illeagel migrants ?
Unfortunately I am stuck with this political amoeba. And Kelly white may yet win over Baxter. We ain't forgetting DeLay's redistricting.
Its payback. and I am proud of this county.
I see fisures widening out and reaching well into the RED counties.
I am so proud of my county.

[jobycom]

3. Dallas is the beachhead? What about Austin, El Paso, San Antonio?

What about the Valley, and Port Arthur? The Democrats have more than a foothold in Texas. Bout time Dallas caught up, now maybe we can get somewhere.

[donachiel]

4. Way to go girl!

See? The "American Dream" lives on. :)

[morcatknits]

5. Tell me that it's true!

I would love nothing better than to see Texas fall right out of Republican clutches. These are real victories.
morcatknits

[jobycom]

7. The governor's not very popular right now

He may have a challenge in his own party in 2006, and if he doesn't, he's poised for a fall.

If we can find someone to run against him.

[Avalon Sparks]

8. At least there's that~

I'm in Dallas - good for Dallas.

That must be why I got so many "thumbs up" for my "Anyone But Bush" shirt I wore proudly during the months leading up to the election.

[jayctravis]

11. Proud Texans.

The People of Texas, it's rumored, "don't take no." They always wanted to be their own country. They are known for intrepid individuality.

If need be, I'm sure they would haul their boy back to his own yard.

You guys rawk! Great food too!

[rainbow4321]

14. Dallas did Texas proud :>

There was a Moms for Kerry rally the Saturday before the election, someone was holding a "honk for Kerry" sign and there was a LOT of honking goin' on in downtown that day..LOUD honking by the time the sounds bounced off of the downtown buildings. Lots of "echo" noises from those horns! So it was not surprising to see that he got 49% in Dallas County.
B-)

[newyawker99]

21. Hi rainbow4321!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[rainbow4321]

25. Thanks!!

Glad to be here!!!!!!!!!!!!

B-)

[pop goes the weasel]

9. We have seen the results of Republican rule

Higher local taxes, stupid laws like requiring all schools to have a US and Texas flag in each classroom, plenty of money to study cattle genetics but no money to care for the mentally ill, a burgeoning prison industry with no end of convicts to fill the cells....and the Republicans have gotten so damned cockey that they have been spouting their racism and classism off in public. Progressive populism will reassert itself in the state of its origin--I think we Texas Democrats may have benefitted from the absence of the DNC because we've all had to go to the well.

Speaking of Texas Democrats, damn, but didn't Bob Scarborough impress in the railroad commissioner race! Nearly 40% of the vote, and without much campaign money. Shows what an old fashioned stump speaker who knows what the hell he's talking about can do. When I heard him speak, I could barely keep from shouting "hallelujah!"

[CBHagman]

10. I would like to think TX and CA will learn from Virginia

Virginia had two GOP governors in a row, with a huge emphasis on cutting taxes. Now they've got a Democratic governor dealing with the mess left over, fiscally speaking. Stay tuned for how that works.

Anyway, the eventual fate of California, Texas and the dear old U.S. of A. is to discover what a fiscal nightmare the 'cans leave for others to clean up. Just a thought...

[rainbow4321]

16. You hit the nail on the head...

Back when chimpface was still ruining/running Texas, someone asked him what he was going to do when the TX legislators convened in January 2001 and were met with a tanking TX economy that had happened on shrub's watch.....asswipe's response "I hope not to be here then".
So, yeah, this is not the first time he has left a mess in his wake. The difference is now his fuck ups are leaving 1,000's of soldiers dead, 3,000+ dead on 9/11, and 100,000 + Iraqui dead. Kinda miss the days where all he screwed up was our Texas economy and air quality...why the HELL did no one listen to us Texans when we were saying in 2000 that shrub should not go and run with the big dogs???
;(

[rainbow4321]

12. Yay! Yay! Yay! for Texas

Finally TX is NOT seen as neon red! I haven't read the whole article but from local stats, Kerry took 49% of Dallas County and won Travis County and El Paso County. Even in shrub's Harris County <Houston area> he got 44 to shrub's 54. Down near the TX/Mexico border it was pretty much 50%-50%.
Maybe between now and 2008 the national Dems will start to notice the TX Dems????!!!

[fidgeting wildly]

23. I'm beginning to taste it.

Kerry only lost Dallas County by around 10,000 votes, and I'm thrilled to see Lupe Valdez getting national attention. I've been saying for years that the tide will turn in Texas, and I'm starting to feel vindicated for all my "crazy talk." :) We have a lot of hard work to do, and we need to pack the state legislature with Dems, but I think we're finally making some headway. And I think we've got a real shot at the governorship if we put up the right candidate.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

15. I have seen this trend even in the rural county I live in.

One of the towns has a lesbian mayor. We are just outside of Travis County, however. People are also tired of the poor air quality (thank you Bush) and the financial irresponsibility that has been running rampant through Texas.

I think they would have a good shot if the right Democrat were to run for Gov.

[lpricanprynces]

17. I predict, Texas will be the first Red state to turn Blue.

Bush won the state in 2000 with 59%, he won 2004 with 62%, but democrats have made HUGE surges in urban counties. Plus, lots of blue staters, like me, have moved to Texas and will continue to do so.

[Dr Fate]

18. Democrats better not blow this- voter reach-out will be essential

n/t

[callous taoboy]

22. I second that.

The Mepublican machine has tentacles which will wrap themselves around this emerging voting population and exploit them in a New York minute. We have to beat them to it, and I've already begun in my town.

[girl gone mad]

19. Dallas has a popular..

populist Democrat for a mayor, Laura Miller. She won over a lot of Republicans in order to win against the pro-corporate Dem. candidate Dunning.

All Democrats coud learn a lesson from winning Texas Democrats: get back to your populist roots.

[CookieD]

24. Here's the real story.

Dallas Dems did well despite having Bush at the top of the ballot. Bush carried Texas by 61% - 38%.

Think how well the Dems will do across Texas when there is probably no Texan on the presidential ballot and the Repugs carry the state by only 55% - 45% or even less. My math tells me we have a chance to make a lot of gains at the county and state levels.

Hope is on the way.

:P