Primary Post Mortem, Part IV: Major Non-Statewide Democratic Races In Texas

For Texas Democrats, Tuesday night amounted to purge, of sorts, by which voters turned out or forced into runoffs incumbents who had voted against the ideals and principals of their party and their constituants’ interests.

Also, it was a night were mainstream Democrats were able to hold their ground against right-leaning candidates put up to run, in this case by the House leadership.

First, let’s look at the SD 19 race, where Sen. Frank Malda was defeated as much by a video clip in which he claimed he locked Democrats in his trunk when he got to the Legislature as he was by Rep. Carlos Uresti.

Here are the numbers:

Madla 18,330 43.10%
Uresti 24,199 56.90%

Again, I would have predicted a bit more of a squeaker than this. However, it seems as though Malda’s anti-CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) votes cost him in a district that has 23 percent of its population living in poverty. That, and the fact that the Netroots heavily circulated the “trunk” video no doubt added to Uresti’s margin of victory.

Turning to House races, the most watched Democratic race was by far HD 146, where incumbent Al Edwards was forced into a runoff with Borris Miles in the Houston/Harris County district.

Here’s how that one shaped up:

Bennett 1,249 19.05%
Edwards 3,157 48.15%
Miles 2,150 32.79%

Edwards, was, of course, the only Democrat who didn’t vote against a GOP school finance bill and the only Dem to vote for a GOP tax bill that increased Texans’ tax burden during the 2005 session. That, and his “sexy cheerleader bill” became a national laughing-stock.

This primary, where one of the House’s longest serving legislators will now face a runoff, was another example of Democrats seeking to be represented by Democrats who don’ tow the Republican line more than they do the Democratic one.

Moving on to nearby HD 147, we have an example of Democrats supporting—in large number—an incumbent who has stood up to the GOP leadership and represented Democratic interests. Here’s how incumbent Rep. Garnett Coleman faired against two challengers tacitly backed by GOP House Speaker Tom Craddick:

Armitige 316 7.40%
Coleman 3,810 89.21%
Smith 145 3.39%

No Contest there.

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