Special Election Will Be Called for Farenthold Seat

[RandySF]

Gov. Greg Abbott got the go-ahead Monday from Attorney General Ken Paxton to suspend state law so the governor can call a special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, as soon as possible.

Responding to a request from Abbott submitted Thursday, Paxton issued a non-binding opinion saying a court would agree Abbott could set aside the election rules under a part of Texas law that lets the governor suspend certain statutes if they interfere with disaster recovery. Abbott said last week he wanted Farenthold's former constituents to have new representation "as quickly as possible" because the Coastal Bend-area's Congressional District 27 is still reeling from Hurricane Harvey.

"If the Governor determines the situation in Congressional District 27 constitutes an emergency warranting a special election before November 6, 2018, a court would likely conclude that section 41.0011 of the Election Code authorizes calling an expedited special election to fill the vacancy in that district," Paxton wrote.


https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/23/ken-paxton-greg-abbott-green-light-special-election-blake-farenthold-seat/

[Wwcd]

1. Cool! Who are the Dems jumping in this one?

Have to tell MaddogPac!!

[Gothmog]

26. There are two democrats in a runoff for the Nov. general election

I suspect that both of these candidates will run https://ballotpedia.org/Texas%27_27th_Congressional_District_election,_2018

Candidate Vote % Votes
Raul (Roy) Barrera 41.22% 8,733
Eric Holguin 23.31% 4,939

[Wwcd]

27. Thanks. !

[Eliot Rosewater]

2. So this benefits the traitors, obviously. This way there is no election in November?

I am so tired of trying to keep up with their treason.

[bearsfootball516]

3. Have you been following the special election trends this year?

[Eliot Rosewater]

4. GOP never, not once, not EVER does something for the right reason or to follow the law

or to be constitutional , NEVER

If he is going out of his way to do something, there is a reason that is NOT related to the benefit of the country.

[bearsfootball516]

6. I'm not saying they do, but Democratic swings in special elections have been overwhelming this year.

This is a prime swing opportunity.

[Eliot Rosewater]

8. That would be great, but if that prick is going out of his way for this, it means

something.

Does the special election mean NO election for that seat in November?

[bearsfootball516]

10. I think so, yeah.

The last paragraph of the article makes out sounds like it's a gerrymandered district, and the Texas courts are currently deciding if the districts need to be redrawn. This could be Abbott's attempt to get the election done before the ruling so that if they do have to redraw the districts, they don't have to have the election under the new districts.

[Eliot Rosewater]

11. BINGO, that must be it. Remember when dealing with ANY non liberal, ANY

they never, not once, not EVER tell the truth.

[bearsfootball516]

15. That's a gross generalization, but I can understand your concern.

I know a number of non-liberals who are very good individuals.

[Eliot Rosewater]

16. I thought before i typed it, and I will be honest I usually wouldnt say that but

I put anyone who is not intentionally working to remove the nazis in that camp and they are working against human survival.

Either intentionally or by neglect.

I cant talk about my opinion of many progressives, not here.

LIBERAL means truth, first and foremost. So you are right, it is not accurate to say ALL non liberals NEVER tell the truth. Some do on occasion.

[mythology]

25. Um, how would that work?

The entire House is up for election every two years. So whether or not the district is changed, the seat will still be up in the 2018 election.

[brooklynite]

22. NO it doesn't...

This is a special election for the remainder of the current term.

[WhiteTara]

12. You've caught on

you'll need to be eliminated under the new rules. They are so new, they haven't been made up yet. but may not be far from future truth.

[Hortensis]

17. Yes. I was just going to go read what that was.

It's a sped-up election also in a currently solid red-rated district.

Apparently Texas Hispanics had not been receiving the same hurricane aid white Texans have, and this district's heavily Hispanic. Only 6 months to November 6.

Abbott and the Kochs have a very mutually beneficial relationship, of course. They helped elevate him from AG to the governor's office in return for serving them at the expense of Texans, and if he continues to do well the Kochs may back him for president.

Notably, although they do need the support of Texas Republicans, little Puerto Rico went heavily Democratic in 2016. A discard.

[tazkcmo]

5. That's what I was thinking

Okay, if they're calling for a special election right now then there must be some way that they benefit. If the Democrats could benefit from a special election or even appear to benefit then there is no way in hell this would be taking place. In fact, just the opposite would be happening with the AG appearing in court to stop a special election.

[Eliot Rosewater]

7. Of course. There is ALWAYS a party over country reason when they do ANYTHING

[tritsofme]

19. Huh? There will be 435 House elections in November

It doesn’t matter when the last special election was.

[MineralMan]

20. No. There will still be an election in November for the seat.

This will be just a special election to fill the seat in the interim.

[Eliot Rosewater]

21. OH yeah, that is right. Thanks, so there HAS to be a reason they are doing this.

[beachbum bob]

28. come november the seat is up for another election...a state can't stop constitutional law

[LanternWaste]

9. That district is slightly less than 50% Hispanic, and was also ruled unconstitutional last year

That district is slightly less than 50% Hispanic, and was also ruled unconstitutional last year by a three-judge panel that unanimously ruled it violated the federal Voting Rights Act. as it displaces a Hispanic-opportunity district. The 27th was held by Solomon Ortiz from '83-2011, followed by Farenthold.

[WhiteTara]

14. So does that mean the district lines have

been remade? Or are they working under the old map?

[dsc]

13. His seat is R + 13

which puts it in the middle of the Texas pack. I would imagine they are certain the GOP will win or else they would be delaying the election.

[Ilsa]

18. One previous Dem that ran was a retired Army colonel, I think.

He was solid as a candidate, but the gerrymandering killed his chances, even with lots of active and retired military in the district.

[brooklynite]

23. Not getting my hopes up about this...

This is an R+13 "Safe R" District. In the Primary for the November Election (this Special is only for the remainder of his term), there were 230,000 Republican votes and 32,000 Democratic ones.