(Updated) TX-23: Why the Wait? I'll Tell You

Update [2006-11-14 17:6:24 by KTinTX]:More information also in this post I made at Burnt Orange Report.

Of the 10 US House seats still not called, 2 of them are because they are actual run-off elections. Of the two, one is between 2 Democrats. The other, here in Texas, is between former Netroots candidate Ciro Rodriguez and Rep. Henry Bonilla, who is soon to lose his seat because of court ordered redistricting changes.

On November 7th, the Republican vote total was 48%. The combined Democratic total was 49% though only 20% was Ciro's. The seat is ready to be taken but some ask why there has been a wait.

A couple things. Right now I can tell you that there have been talks between the DCCC and folks in San Antonio. Someone has been asked to draw up a mail/TV/field budget for a one month long run-off campaign.  They have asked around in the district to see if there is someone to run a field program, one possibility being a friend of mine who just spent the last year helping to elect a Democratic state Senator and then hold his open state House seat last Tuesday.

In a couple days, I have been made aware that new online tools will become available for Democrats across Texas (and beyond) to call Democrats in TX-23 in a system very much like MoveOn's call for change. They were built by former state Rep. Glen Maxey who nearly took over the chairmanship of the Texas Democratic Party this June and just got done successfully running the Austin area coordinated campaign that picked up 1 state house seat, 1 Justice of the Peace, and 1 3rd Court of Appeals seat.  These are www.TrueBlueAction.com and www.OnlinePhoneBanking.com.

Netroots candidate John Courage, who just wrapped up his campaign this afternoon is in the process of transferring his San Antonio volunteers and staff to help out Ciro in any way they can. Former TX-23 candidate Lukin Gilliland has apparently offered up his campaign staff and team (whom I'm familiar with and are good folks) to help out Ciro as well.

Of course, the district won't be won without a lot of money and volunteer investment. As of now, that major commitment hasn't been declared yet. But I wanted to let folks know, that things are in the works.

Tags: Ciro Rodriguez, Henry Bonilla, TX-23 (all tags)

Comments

7 Comments

How we can help?

Of course money is laways useful.  Ciro has very little and Bonilla has a lot.  But what else is new?

More fun would be to go there.  If you can afford to pay your own way, just let the campaign know you are coming and arrive.   I suggest you work for 4 solid days (Saturday through Election Day) or a week if you can take off that long.  I did this for Hackett in Aug '05 and for Melancon in Dec. '04.  You will learn about the district, meet the candidate, and make a difference.

If you can't pay your own way, ask DCCC to fund you.  They are likely to send hundreds for an independent effort, and are more likley to do this if enough people tell them you want to go.  That is mostly Hill staffers, but others are welcome.  

If you have special skills and experience, try to sign on as paid staff.  My guess is that fundraising and blog expertise would be especially needed.  Since it is a runoff they can go back to every contributor who maxed out and ask for more contributions.

by lawyerDan 2006-11-13 04:04AM | 0 recs
Re: TX-23: Why the Wait? I'll Tell You

If the DCCC has any $$ left, they should spend it here. It's uphill, but if Rodriguez had more resources he could win it. No one expected Bonilla not to get 50%; it shows that a lot of the voters in this new district aren't sold on him yet.

by raginillinoian 2006-11-13 07:39AM | 0 recs
Re: TX-23: Why the Wait? I'll Tell You

Even if we don't win this, there is merit in making Bonilla spend some of his warchest to defend his seat.

I don't want Republicans feeling safe in Texas. Period.

by boadicea 2006-11-13 08:07AM | 0 recs
The DCCC is rich! Rich, I tell you!

Just imagine all those checks from lobbyists
and their corporate clients, backdated Nov. 6
or earlier, that have arrived in the DCCC's
P.O. Box since the election returns came in!
The DCCC can well afford to fund Ciro now.

Ciro entered this primary either $55,000 or
merely $15,000 in the hole, depending on
which news report you trust. So, broke again,
like the good liberal Texas Democrat he is,
without even the backing of the AFL-CIO,
Ciro Rodriguez was still able to pull away
from a crowded field and win this primary.

Now Ciro deserves full support from the
newly flush DCCC.

by Woody 2006-11-14 05:31PM | 0 recs
When is the runoff?

Is it December 9th, like in Louisiana?

by corncam 2006-11-13 10:09AM | 0 recs
Re: When is the runoff?

not yet decided.  I think votes need to be certified first

by lawyerDan 2006-11-13 10:30AM | 0 recs
Re: When is the runoff?
Correct and then the Secretary of State has to set it. Possible dates would be Dec 12 and 19th
by KTinTX 2006-11-13 08:02PM | 0 recs

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