Women Nominees in 11 of the 15 most competitive Texas House Districts

By Faith Chatham - May 5, 2018
Women won the Democratic Party's nomination for Texas House in 11 out of the 15 districts where GOP incumbents are the most vulnerable. The nominees in two of these districts (47 and 23) will be decided in the Democratic Primary Run-off on May 22nd. Both run-off candidates in each of these districts are women.

House District 105 ranks as No. 1. Attorney, Civil Rights activist Terry Meza won the nomination and will face the state's most vulnerable Republican Incumbent (Rodney Anderson) in November. Meza is a former public school teacher, and will fight to fix the state's broken public education financing.

Texas slashed the public school budget several sessions ago.  Many teaching positions were slashed and more students were crammed into the classroom. The state does not adequately fund the Teacher's Retirement and only contributes a meager $75 a month toward the escalating health care medical insurance premium. Deductibles have escalated rapidly and many teachers cannot afford to use their health insurance. The State Legislature continues to "kick the can down the road" instead of addressing the tough questions of how to revamp the State's tax code to give equitable tax relief to residential property owners and adequately fund public education. The Lt. Governor and Freedom Caucus demand that school choice (tax credits for private school tuition) is a a prerequisite for considering the complexities of school financing.


Meza prioritizes education, and will help offset the stranglehold of the Freedom Caucus.   Contribute to Meza's campaign  /

 House District 134 - R. Incumbent Sarah. Davis is ranked as the second most vulnerable Republican incumbent. She will face Democratic Nominee  Allison Lami Sawyer in November. This district ranks as the 6th most Democratic on the Partisan Index. It led the state in having the most voters for Hillary Clinton in 2016.  The Houston Chronicle Editorial Board wrote: "Democrats in this race have a qualified and impressive alternative in Allison Lami Sawyer."

"Sawyer says Davis voted for the big state school funding cuts that have caused property taxes to soar and was a sponsor last session for SB4 — the so-called "show me your papers" bill — as well as the Blue Tarp bill, which made it harder to receive just compensation from insurance companies after Hurricane Harvey." 

Sawyer is a business woman who earned her MBA from Rice. She runs an international business which uses "Optics to detect gas leaks at oil and gas installations in the USA and abroad."  The 134th  district includes Rice University and the Texas Medical Center 

 To donate to Allison: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/134sawyer

House District 102 - R - Incumbent Koop is ranked as the 3rd most vulnerable GOP Incumbent in the Texas House. This district is ranked 2th in Partisan Index (most Democratic) and is 4th as the Republican district having the lowest number votes cast for Donald Trump in 2016.  Ana-Maria Ramos is the Democratic Nominee.

Ana-Maria is an attorney, professor and strong advocate for school safety and public education. She prioritizes the safety of school children and denounces the intrusion of the NRA into school politics. She pledges not to place loyalty to the NRA above the safety of our school children.

The Texas Legislature has cut back on school funding and placed the future of this generation in peril. The current House refuses to address the tough questions and find equitable ways to fund public education. Ana-Maria will prioritize education, affordable health care.  Her son is a public school student and her daughter is a Science Teacher who teaches in the Dallas Independent School District. She will be a good match for this North Dallas district which is bounded on the South by LBJ and which also includes Garland, Addison and Richardson.

House District 136 ties with District 113 for the 4th most likely district to go blue. R incumbent Dale will face Democratic Nominee John H. Bucy III in November in a district which is ranked the 4th most Democratic district of districts with GvOP incumbents and as 7th with the lowest number of voters for Donald Trump in '16.

House District 113 - An Open Seat (R Burkett) iis ranked as tied with District 52 for the 5th most likely seat for a Democrat to claim in 2018.  Rhetta Andrews Bowers is the Democratic Nominee. This district is ranked as 3rd on the Partisan Index (3rd most Democratic) and was ranked 11th in the seats controlled by Republicans with the fewest voters for Trump.

House District 52 - An open district which was represented by R. Gonzales is tied with District 113   as the 5th most likely district to go blue. The Democratic Nominee is James Talarico. This district is the 7th most Democratic on the Partisan Index and ranked 8th in the lowest number of voters for Trump in '16/

House District 114 is an open district and is ranked  as the 6rh Most Vulnerable Texas State House District for a GOP Candidate to win., The Democratic nominee is John Turner. This district ranks had the third fewest vote for Trump in '16 and ranks as the 13th most Democratic out of the top 15 Republican controlled Texas House Seats.

House District 115 - R Incumbent Rinaldi is ranked as the Republican incumbent who is the 7th most likely to lose his seat to his Democratic opponent in November. The Democratic Nominee is Julie Johnson.

 It is surprising to see Carrollton included in a district where the Republican incumbent is ranked as vulnerable. Multi-term GOP incumbent Rinaldi is ranked as the 7th most vulnerable Republican in the Texas House of Representatives.

In 2016, this district ranked 5th in having the fewest votes cast for Donald Trump and  is currently ranked as the 9th most Democratic district in the Texas House on the partisan index. The Democratic Nominee is Carrollton attorney Julie Johnson.  Julie is a solid pro-public education advocate and is needed in Austin to help break the stranglehold of the Freedom Caucus.  To learn more about Julie Johnson: https://www.juliejohnsonfortexas.com/

House District 43 - Four term R Incumbent Lozano is ranked as the 9th most vulnerable Republican in the Texas House. He will face Democratic Nominee  Dee Ann Torres Miller in the General Election. This district ranks as the second most Democratic on the Partisan Index, Torres is an attorney who practices law in partnership with her brother in Corpus Christi.

House District 47 - This is a central Texas Austin area swing district which was drawn to favor conservative candidates. This year R incumbent Workman is ranked as the 10th most vulnerable Republican in the Texas House. Democratic business woman Vikki Goodwin faces Elaina Fowler in a May 22nd Run-off for the Democratic Nomination. This district ranked 9th in having the fewest votes cast for Trump and is the 11th most Democratic on the partisan index. To donate to Vikki Goodwin https://secure.actblue.com/donate/47goodwin

House District 112 - R incumbent Chen Button is ranked as the 11th most vulnerable Republican in the Texas House. This district ranks as the 12th most Democratic on the Partisan Index and was tenth in having the most votes cast against Donald Trump. Button will face Democratic Nominee Brandy K. Chambers in the General Election

House District 108 - R Meyer is ranked as the 12th most vulnerable member of the GOP delegation the Texas House. This district ranked 6th in having the fewest votes cast for Donald Trump. The Democratic Nominee is Joanna Cattanach.

House District 23 - An open district (R- Faircloth) is ranked as the 13th most likely Republican seat to go Blue in 2018. The Democratic Nominee is Amanda Jamrok. This district is the 10th most Democratic on the partisan index.

House District 45 - An open district (R- (Isaac) is ranked as the 14th most likely red seat to go blue in 2018.  It is the 8th most Democratic on the Partisan Index. Rebecca Bell-Metereau faces Erin Zwiener in the May 22nd Democratic Primary Run-off for the Democratic Nomination.

House District 138 - Incumbent Bohc is ranked as the 15th most vulnerable Republican in the Texas House. The district was 12th in having the least votes cast for Donald Trump. The Democratic Nominee is Adam Milasincic.

Why do voters like Mary Wilson?

By Faith Chatham - April 23, 2018

More voters in Texas’ District 21 chose a woman who has always actively served people than any of the slicker, better financed candidates for Congress.

How shocking! The majority of the votes in the primary went not to the candidates with the most money or slickest campaign, but to Mary S. Wilson, a woman known in the community for serving people!

In a 4-way contested primary, she received 30.90% of the vote. She faces Joseph Kosper (20.3%) in a May 22nd Run-off for the Democratic Nomination for the open U.S. 21st District's Congressional seat being vacated by Lamar Smith.  This district includes part of Austin and San Antonio and many small towns in between, and runs west to Kerrville..

Why do folks like Mary Wilson?

She is a true progressive.

There is nothing Republican-lite about her. She has always worked for social justice. She has always lend a hand when folks needed one in whatever way she was able. She has always said people not having health care in a society such as ours, is stupid and unacceptable. She has always extended a welcoming hand to people, without classifying them superior or inferior according to immigration status, race, or the size of their bank accounts.

People in the District know what she stands for because they have seen her live it for years.

She is trusted to serve people in Washington because she always serves people here at home..

Donate at: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/marystreetwilson

I like her because she is the absolute opposite of the man who currently occupies that seat. Give what you can.

She knows how to stretch resources. Investing in her campaign is a demonstration that we believe that decency and kindness has value, that society can work for everybody, that pushing others down to make a buck is not the ideals we choose to live by.

Never heard of her? Neither had the Texas Observer. 

Learn more by visiting her website.

To donate to her campaign: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/marystreetwilson

She faces Joseph Kopser,, a former Republican, in the May 22nd Run-off. 

In a district surgically gerrymandered to favor Republican candidates, it is doubtful that Mr. Kopser can pull out a sufficient progressive base in November to defeat a Republican nominee. Why should a Republican vote for a "moderate Democrat"? They have choices within their own party whose positions lean toward the middle. Granted, moderates rarely win, because they have moderates of their own, should they favor them.

It will be an uphill battle for any Democrat running in that District. Mary Wilson has several things going for her: 1) Deep ties in the community. 2) Appeal to progressives who are mobilized in Texas this year, unlike previous election cycles. 3). She is a woman. For the first time, it is an advantage to be a Democratic woman running for Congress in Texas.  

Texas has Congressional candidates running in all 36 US House Districts this year Many districts, where GOP incumbents previously ran unopposed in the General Election, had contested Democratic Primaries. In every District where a woman was on the ballot for US Congress, the woman either won the Democratic Nomination without a run-off, or is one of the candidates in the run-off. In some districts where there were several men and two women candidates, the women are in the run-off. 

Texas US House candidates running in GOP controlled districts in Texas are raising money this year. Even the candidates with the smallest war chest have surpassed  most of the 2014 and 2016 Democratic Nominees's entire Primary and General Election fundraising totals combined already this year. For the first time in decades, we saw several US House challengers running in red districts raise $200,000 before the first of the year.

US Senate candidate, Beto O'Rourke is outraising GOP incumbent Ted Cruz!

More money was donated to Democratic candidates running in the District 21 Primary this year than has occurred in decades. Mary Wilson was third from the bottom in fundraising. Derrick Crow raised $177,695 and Joseph Kosper raise over a million. However, despite his war chest, the voters were not that greatly impressed with him.  

Now that Wilson has astounded herself, and most District 21 watchers, with her incredible 30.2% turnout with a cost per vote of $3.25 compared to her closest competitor's (Kosper) cost per vote of  $6.76 per vote, and she has made the Run-off, her financial prospects have significantly improved.

Derrick Crow spent $8.52 per vote. It is probable that now that Crow and others are out of the race, Wilson's fundraising will pick up. Donors rarely flock to candidate's unless they anticipate that they will be the front runner. If she comes through the Run-off on top, her "underdog not expected to win but did" momentum will probably capture volunteers, and some donors.

A Democrat does not have to match a Republican dollar for dollar to win. One has to run in a campaign cycle when voters are inspired to turn out, and to be able to appeal to the electorate. Mary Wilson has demonstrated that she has voter appeal.  More voters, candidates and activists are engaged in Texas this year than I have witnessed in my many years of political activism. Many are young people who are more progressive than the old "norm" for Texas voters. A candidate needs enough money to let the voters know she is in the race and has positions which work for them.

There is more than a Donald Trump factor at play in the Lone Star State. Texas activists were engaged in the Hillary Clinton campaign and propelled her to within 8 points of carrying the state, with the national Hillary campaign devoting  little leadership or investment into Texas. Hillary supporters organized themselves, acquired their own Hillary swag and yard signs, raised money for her campaign and defied the pundits to shut them down despite the tired old talking points of "how unenthusiastic" people were about her. In Texas, her supporters were determined and prepared to turn out the state for her, with or without resources from the national party. Experience gained during the 2016 General Election, when Texans astounded the nation by being "in play", despite being discounted by many within, and outside of the state, has created an army of experienced GOTV activists who are engaging more to join their ranks in 2018. 

In 2017, the largest number of demonstrators in the history of the state, turned out in Austin for the Women's March. In 2018, the number was less in Austin, but statewide participation in the Women's Marches in cities and towns throughout the state probably exceeded the number who marched in Austin in 2017. The movement moved from the State Capitol into communities all over the Lone Star State.

There is a saying: "Beware of a pissed off woman" In Texas the climate of oppression,  attacks on women's health care, decades of the state refusing to fund rape kits processing, cuts to teachers pay, escalating health insurance premiums for teachers, and Republicans voting down equal pay for equal work on April 9, 2014, and shootings in schools and other venues, has been bringing formerly passive women to the streets.

 Trump was merely the match that lit an already smoldering fuse among women in Texas. We are seeing women step out to run for office in record numbers on the Democratic ticket. We are seeing donors give to women this year, and in many instances giving more than they gave to men running for the same offices in previous election cycles, or who are running against them this year.. 

I will not predict the outcome of the US Texas 21st District race. This is by no means a "normal election cycle." Getting voters to turn out for a run-off is not easy. 

 We have a contested Governor's race on the ballot.  I lean toward believing that Mary Wilson will be the nominee. . 

Districts were gerrymandered to favor Republicans. The majority of people who are marching in these large marches are young people who   not registered to vote prior to 2016,  and women. Many  young people are turning voting age this year, and are involved in the March 4 Our Lives movement.  Many middle age, and older women, are becoming activists for the first time in their lives.

These districts were drawn with traditional Republican and Democratic turn-out and there is nothing normal these days about the numbers of traditional Republican versus Democratic voters. The rate of growth of Democrats in Texas is much higher than the rate of growth of Republican. Maybe we should say: "Beware of a pissed off woman and beware of pissed off teenagers who are tired of being targets for deranged shooters at school and shopping malls and movie theatres!"

It is possible that an underdog, a woman who did not expect to get into the run-off, who spent much less per vote in the primary than most of her competitors, may pull it off and flip the seat vacated by Lamar Smith from Red to Blue in 2018. Her supporters are engaged. The strongest force in an election is supporters who truly LIKE and TRUST and prefer their candidate to win. That describes the people who LIKE Mary Wilson.

To donate to her campaign: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/marystreetwilson