The Final Stretch: Texas House District 134

[This is an installment in Capitol Annex's 'The Final Stretch' Series.]

||Texas Houst District 134||Map||Demographics||Election Analysis||Ellen Cohen (D) [bio, $$, TV] vs. Martha Wong (R) vs. Mhair Dekmezian (L)||Harris (part)||3rd Party TV||||Debate Footage||

After House District 32 on the gulf coast, HD 134 in the heart of Houston is Democrats’ next best chance for a pickup.

The district includes the Houston neighborhoods of Meyerland, River Oaks, West University Place, the Texas Medical Center, a small portion of Rice/Military and half of Montrose.

And, it’s where incumbent Martha Wong (R-Houston), is in the fight of her political life.

Democrat Ellen Cohen has Wong on the defensive and has built up strong coalitions within the communities in the district, which give her an advantage and has set the district to flip.

Before the Legislative Redistricting Board had its way with Texas’ state rep districts, the “old” HD 134 was solid Democratic territory anchored in Montrose, an area of Houston with a strong GLBT community.

Now, however with the inclusion of the affluant River Oaks area, the district is more red, but not necessarily as far-right wing as areas which may be similarly red.

In this district however, one in which a whopping 66 percent of the population above the age of 25 have a bachelor’s degree, an independent-thinking state representative that votes the interests of her district and the state at large is what’s needed.

And, that’s where Wong’s problems come in. As one of Tom Craddick’s most dependable lock-step Republican votes, Wong has fallen out of step with her district and out of favor.

Wong’s Record: Key problems for Wong include her voting record. In a district where air quality is a major concern (as it is most places in Harris County), Wong has cast several votes against legislation that would have improved air quality. (Wong’s votes put her in the “Toxic 20″).
She’s also voted for the “informed consent” bill which more educated voters such as those in her Montrose district realize is based in part as simply “anti-abortion,” and part on junk science. And, she is a voucher supporter.

Wong also abstained on one key vote which has activated the full force of the Houston GLBT machine against her: she didn’t vote when it came to putting the “defense of marriage” constitutional amendment on the ballot. (HD 134 is one of less than a handfull in Texas that voted against the ballot proposition).
And, for someone that represents a medical district, she has cast votes that are anti-healthcare. Specifically, she’s on the wrong side of the CHIP debate.

She voted to cut CHIP. One of her worst mistakes, however, is that she then touted her support for CHIP and was called on the carpet for being misleading.

Wong has even angered Asian busines leaders in her district for killing the Houston International Management District (sponsored by Rep. Hubert Vo) at the behest of Tom Craddick.

Finally, though many state representatives from Harris County didn’t vote for Governor Perry’s new tax plan in the recent special session, Wong voted for it and it has put her at odds with some in her own party.

The Final Analysis: In the final analysis, this will be yet another close race decided by a few hundred votes. The district has a chance to flip.

Cohen, clearly has the edge. Why? First of all, there is a tremendous amount of GOTV going on in this district which is to Cohen’s benefit. Second, Wong has done herself no favors. Third, she won’t benefit from the general feel of anti-GOP-incumbent sentiment that is present in even in Texas.

In addition, there is a Libertarian candidate, who will pull as much as a percent (perhaps only a half in such an educated district) from Wong’s total.