obama supporters less likely to vote down-ballot

According to surveys, twenty-five percent of Texas primary voters only voted for president in the March 4 primary.

Obama supporters were more likely to vote in the presidential race and then skip the other contests than Clinton supporters, who tended to continue voting down the ballot. More than 80 percent of Democratic voters in the Texas counties where Clinton had her largest victory margins went on to vote in the U.S. Senate race, the leading statewide contest on the ballot after the presidential race. By contrast, only 71 percent of voters in Obama's strongest counties did.

I'll leave it up to you to draw your own conclusions about why Barack Obama's voters would be more likely to skip the rest of the races on the ballot, but no matter what the reasoning it's something we need to make sure is fixed by November if Obama is the nominee.

This isn't a condemnation of Obama voters, though, because the number of Hillary Clinton's voters that skipped down-ballot races is too high, as well. We can't have people only interested in the "rock star" presidential race when maintaining control of Congress is critical to the Democratic Party. At the very least, we should be able to convince these people to vote a straight-ticket in the general election rather than skipping out on other races altogether. (Perhaps that was the problem in the primary: long lines and no "straight ticket" option.)

double digits

Hillary won Pennsylvania by ten points.

Here's a message to the media and the other nay-sayers: don't ever count out Hillary Clinton!

Make a contribution to her historic campaign today!

Hillary takes Texas

"We're going to do it for everyone across America who's been counted out -- but refused to be knocked out. For everyone who's stumbled -- but stood right back up. And for everyone who works hard -- but never gives up."
-Hillary Clinton

In an exciting night for Democrats, Sen. Hillary Clinton won primaries in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island. Sen. Barack Obama won Vermont. The race will go on.

Let's not forget the great news for Texas Democrats. With 88% of precincts reporting, almost 3 million Democrats voted in the state of Texas. This is fantastic news for Democrats all over the state: it will help party organizers identify Democrats and get organized for November.

John McCain may have clinched the Republican nomination tonight, but let's hear it for the Democrats!

Vote Twice: It's the Texas Two-Step

This is it, folks.

Election day has finally come to Texas.

If you haven't voted yet, go vote now! Heavy turnout is expected today, so reserve some time on your busy schedules and head down to your polling place and do your civic duty.

Whether you've decided on Hillary or Barack, this is one of the most important presidential elections in history, and Texas gets a say. So don't let it go to waste!

Also, don't forget to do the Texas Two-Step!

After voting ends at 7 tonight, precinct chairs across the state will call to order precinct conventions, where you need to show up again to show support for your candidate! A third of Texas' delegates will be awarded during this integral second step of the process! Be back at your polling location no later than 7:15 p.m. to participate. You must have voted in the primary (early or election day) in order to attend the convention.

Now, go vote!

introducing rick noriega

It's an exciting time to be a Texas Democrat. 2008 could be the year that we finally turn Texas blue. An entire slate of candidates is ready to make that happen, and that's why they are vying for a spot on the ballot by campaigning in the Democratic primary.

One such candidate is Rick Noriega. Lt. Col. Noriega is running against Mikal Watts, Emil Reichstadt, and anyone else that throws their name in the race between now and the deadline, in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate race. Isn't it nice to have some choices?

Noriega seems ready to take on John "Box Turtle" Cornyn. Here's a recent television ad from the Noriega campaign. Let us know what you think. Is he your candidate?

election day

Well, the long-awaited day has arrived. Today we will know who the Democrats will present as their candidates for Lt. Governor and United States Senator. We at NTL have endorsed Barbara Ann Radnofsky for U.S. Senate and María Luisa Alvarado for Lieutenant Governor.

You are eligible to vote in the Democratic runoff if you are a registered voter and did not vote in the Republican primary on March 7. You may vote in the runoff regardless of whether or not you voted in the Democratic primary on March 7. If you vote in the Democratic runoff, you will be ineligible to vote in the Republican runoff which is also held today. You will also be ineligible to sign ballot petitions for independent candidates such as gubernatorial hopefuls Carole Keeton Strayhorn and Kinky Friedman.

Vote today! Click the following links for voting information and locations: Denton County, Dallas County, Tarrant County, or Collin County.

early voting - primary runoff

Early voting has begun for the Democratic and Republican primary runoff elections here in Texas. If no single candidate earned a clear majority (50% +1) in the March primary, he or she will face the next highest vote-earner in that primary.

This runoff will cover two statewide races for the Democrats. First, Democrats will decide who will face incumbent David Dewhurst in November for the coveted position of Lt. Governor. Maria Luisa Alvarado and Ben Z. Grant are the Democratic nominees.

The highly-publicized race will be that for the chance to face Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison for her seat in the United States Senate. Hutchison is up for re-election this November and will face one of the following Democrats in the general election: Gene Kelly or Barbara Ann Radnofsky. Kelly is an 80-year-old retired Air Force lawyer from Universal City. He was the nominee against Kay Bailey Hutchison in 2000 and lost miserably. He refused to campaign... he has never accepted campaign contributions and refuses to speak at public events. He is what we call a "perennial candidate," or someone that puts their name on the ballot every election without giving any real effort to their campaign. Kelly has become a statewide joke. He beat an energetic Charles Gandy in the 2000 Democratic Primary on name recognition alone. Some speculate that Republicans may have crossed over in 2000 to ensure Gandy's defeat. Perhaps the same thing is happening this year. Republicans would not want Radnofsky on the campaign trail because she stands for a stronger Texas. Radnofsky is in clear opposition to Senator Hutchison's corruption and would make a refreshing change in the Republican-controlled Senate. Let's not let fools and fanatics take away our hope of putting a real Democratic voice in the U.S. Senate: vote for Barbara Ann Radnofsky! She has received endorsements from every major newspaper statewide as well as countless Democratic organizations. She is our best bet in November.

Early voting will continue through Friday. Click the following links for voting information and locations: Denton County, Dallas County, Tarrant County, or Collin County. Election day is April 11.

primary results - statewide elections

Chris Bell won the Democratic primary race for governor and will be the Democratic nominee that faces Rick Perry in November. Perry has been called as the winner of the Republican primary, polling at 85%.

Democrats chose former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell of Houston to be their gubernatorial nominee Tuesday, making him at least the second sure candidate on the November ballot.

Bell had 62.8 percent of the vote, while former Supreme Court Justice Bob Gammage had 28.6 percent, according to early returns. Houston store manager Rashad Jafer, who was not raising money, had 8.6 percent.

Bell will face Republican incumbent Gov. Rick Perry in November, while the independent candidates, Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn and singer/writer Kinky Friedman, now face an uphill climb to get enough petition signatures to get on the ballot as well.

Democratic nominees for Lt. Governor Maria Luisa Alvarado and Benjamin Grant will face each other in a runoff election. Alvarado received 40% of the vote, while Grant received nearly 39%. The two will face off to run against Republican incumbent David Dewhurst, who won the Republican primary with about 80% of the vote.

One of the biggest surprises of the night is the Democratic primary race for United States Senate. Many expected Barbara Ann Radnofsky to win in a landslide as she was the only visible candidate during campaign season. However, former nominee Gene Kelly won about 37% of the vote, with Radnofsky in the lead at 45%. The two candidates will take part in a runoff election to decide which of them will face Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison in the general election.

Hank Gilbert has been endorsed by voters and will be the next Democratic nominee for Agriculture Commissioner to attempt to unseat Republican incumbent Susan Combs.

Prop 1 and Prop 2 on the Democratic ballot have both passed, meaning that the state Democratic Party platform will reflect the voters' wishes to raise the minimum wage and restore full rights to a trial by jury in civil cases.

primary results - local elections

The U.S. House District 16 will send incumbent Democrat Silvestre Reyes, who won his primary with 100% of the vote, to election in November.

Art Brender has won with about 60% of the vote and will retain his position as Tarrant County Democratic Chair.

The Dallas County District Attorney's race has been called. The nominees will be Democrat Craig Watkins and Republican Toby Shook.

Denton County Criminal District Attorney Bruce Isaacks seems to have been unseated in the Republican primary. Paul Johnson received nearly 60% of the vote in that race.

The highly contested race in District 47 for State Representative will end with runoff elections for both the Democrats and Republicans. Valinda Bolton and Jason Earle will face each other in a Democratic runoff and Bill Welch and Alex Castano will face each other in a Republican runoff.

The US House District 10 Democratic primary will also see a runoff between Ted Ankrum and Paul Foreman. The winner of the runoff will face Republican Representative Michael McCaul and Libertarian Michael Badnarik (the same person that ran for US President in 2004 against Senator John Kerry and President George W. Bush).

Roger Owen narrowly defeated Duane Shaw in the Democratic primaries and will face Republican incumbent Louie B. Gohmert for US House District 1.

Jim Henley won the Democratic primary for US House District 7 and will face Republican John Culberson for his seat.

Do Your Duty!

Today's the day. GO VOTE!

Click here for a list of Democratic primary voting locations in Denton County. They are sorted by precinct, which is listed above your address on your voter registration card. If you can't find your voter registration card, you can find your precinct here.

For Democratic primary voting locations in Dallas County, click here.
For Democratic primary voting locations in Collin County, click here.
For Democratic primary voting locations in Tarrant County, click here, then click on Election Day Locations.