TEXAS CONGRESSIONAL HIT LIST

TEXAS CONGRESSIONAL RACES (Democrat Challengers to Incumbent Republicans)

By Thom Palmer 

May 16, 2016

If you're in Texas, or you know someone in Texas, please share via email and social media. FB friends and groups are a great way to spread the word, and ask them to re-share as well. See links at bottom for other states. We'll be getting to all the states over the next week, so check back. Special Thanks to Elissa Schwarz for compiling the candidate list. 

"With an approval rating of 10%, 90% of the House races and 91% of Senate races were won by incumbents.".  

This is a list of TEXAS House of Representative races where the incumbent Republican is being challenged in November. Currently, money available to the Republicans for spending on their campaign averages 87% to Democratic challengers 13%. This is where we come in. Democrats need donations as well as a massive social media campaign in order to improve name recognition, and to highlight the positive positions of the Democratic challenger. A link to the Democratic challenger web site is included. Email, Facebook, Twitter are great ways to share your candidate, and in addition, you should contact the campaign and pick up a lawn sign. Ask them what you can do to help. We're all busy people, but there is always a great way to help a campaign without too much of a commitment. We have a rare opportunity, as Trump crumbles and Hillary rises, to take control of the House and Senate.  

Each and every one of these Republicans have voted against increases in minimum wage, against the Jobs Act, against background checks for guns, and just about anything else that is good. Every one promotes tax cuts to the very wealthy while putting additional burden on the middle class. They have acted in treasonous fashion against our President, and broken with the Constitution of the United States on many issues. They promote oil wars and windfall profits for weapons manufacturers. They are "flat-earth" climate change deniers, bought and paid for by the oil industry. Year after year, they pull our nation closer to a fascist state through fear, intimidation, voter suppression, voter fraud, and a long list of other tactics. Time for them to go. Stand up and fight. 

WHAT'S MY DISTRICT? https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/map

If your district is not on this list, it is already Democrat. Help your candidate, and if you're able, help one or more of the candidates below as well.

DIST	GOP INCUMBENT	DEM CHALLENGER	WEB SITE
TX-01	Louie Gohmert R	Shirley McKellar D	http://www.votemckellar.com/
TX-02	Ted Poe R	Pat Bryan D	http://www.patbryantx2.com/
TX-03	Sam Johnson R	Adam Bell D	http://www.voteadambell.com/
TX-04	John Ratcliffe R	Cody Wommack (L)	http://cody4congress.com/
TX-05	Jeb Hensarling R	Ken Ashby (L)	??
TX-06	Joe Barton R	Ruby Faye Woolridge D	http://www.voteforruby.org/
TX-07	John Culberson R	James Cargas D	http://www.jamescargas.com/
TX-08	Kevin Brady R	No Democrat	none
TX-10	Michael McCaul R	Tawana Cadien D	http://www.tawanacadienforcongress.com/
TX-11	Mike Conaway R	Nicholas Landholt L	https://ballotpedia.org/Nicholas_Landholt
TX-12	Lau Gramger R	Bill Bradshaw D	No Web Site
TX-13	Mac Thornberry R	No Democrat	none
TX-14	Randy Weber R	Michael Cole D	http://www.mikecole4texas.org/
TX-17	Bill Flores R	William Matta D	http://www.billmatta.com/
TX-19	Neugebauer (ret)	No Democrat	none
TX-21	Lamar Smith R	Tom Wakely D	http://www.wakely2016.com/
TX-22	Pete Olsen R	Mark Gibson D	http://www.markgibsonforcongress.com/
TX-23	Will Hurd R	Pete Gallego D	http://petegallego.com/
TX-24	Kenny Marchant R	Jan McDowell D	http://www.janmcdowell.com/
TX-25	Roger Williams R	Kathi Thomas D	http://www.kathiforcongress.com/
TX-26	Michael Burgess R	Eric Mauck D	http://mauck2016.wix.com/mauck2016
TX-27	Blake Farenthold R	Roy Barrera D	http://www.electraulroybarrera.com/
TX-31	John Carter R	Mike Clark D	http://www.votemikeclark.com/
TX-32	Pete Sessions	Gary Stuard G (no dem)	https://ballotpedia.org/Gary_Stuard
TX-36	Brian Babin R	Hal Ridley Jr. (G)	https://ballotpedia.org/Hal_Ridley_Jr.

Congressional approval rating in 2012 was about 15%, and by 2013, approval rating was as low as 10% according to Gallup.  In 2014, 435 House members and 33 out of 100 Senators were up for election. With an approval rating of 10%, 90% of the House races and 91% of Senate races were won by incumbents. I give Democratic voters a 17% approval rating in 2014, because only about 17% of Democratic registered voters showed up at the polls. The result, in spite of a 10% congressional approval rating, was that the Republican majority in the House and Senate, the "do nothing congress" gained seats. In the House of Representatives, Republicans are getting very close to a super-majority, or 2/3 control, which would allow them to over-ride Presidential vetoes, and pass anti environmental legislation, etc. Think  of the veto as our only firewall against environmental disaster. In addition, voter suppression will increase, gerrymandering continues, and the progressive agenda is quashed in blue states with red leadership. 

House of Representatives Election Results

After 2008 GENERAL election : Democrats 257, Republicans 178. Net gain for Democrats +21

After 2010 Mid-Term election : Republicans 242, Democrats 193. Net gain for Republicans +63

After 2012 GENERAL election : Republicans 234, Democrats 201. Net gain for Democrats +8

After 2014 Mid-Term election : Republicans 247, Democrats 188. Net gain for Republicans +13

Senate Election Results

After 2008 GENERAL election : Democrats 57, Republicans 41. Net gain for Democrats +8

After 2010 Mid-Term election : Democrats 51, Republicans 47. Net gain for Republicans +6

After 2012 GENERAL election : Democrats 53, Republicans 45. Net gain for Democrats +2

After 2014 Mid-Term election : Republicans 54, Democrats 44. Net gain for Republicans +9

I assume everyone sees a pattern here? Democrats need to begin promoting the 2018 mid-term elections beginning now and continuing through November, while the electorate is engaged, and keep the peddle to the metal throughout the next two and a half years. Progressives complain about the republican extremism and obstructionism, and then fail to make the change. 

Remember, 1/3 of the Senate go up for re-election every two years. 100% of the House of Representatives go up for election every two years. If Democrats concede elections every mid-term, you end up automatically increasing Republican numbers with a 66% advantage.   Having the moral high ground means nothing if you freely give up the elections to Republicans. It's like scratching and saving money for years, and then freely giving access to your savings account to a known thief, and then complaining that the thief stole your money.

CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL RACE HIT LIST 
OHIO CONGRESSIONAL RACE HIT LIST

VOTE BLUE AND LET'S GET THIS THING DONE