Note to hopefuls for the next Democratic primary: Craig Watkins might not take your call, but you'd be wise to take his. (Louis DeLuca/Dallas Morning News)
So do we awake today to find Dallas County has a new political boss? And is his name really Craig Watkins?
The short and unstudied answer is maybe so. If Watkins hasn’t made himself the most important Democrat in the county, he has shouldered his way into very strong contention. This is the result of his mostly successful slate of candidates in Tuesday night’s party primary.
Our editorial written last night focused on this point and awarded him a split-decision victory. One could argue that we should have been more generous to the two-term district attorney, even if he fell short of a clean sweep.
Watkins’ 18-candidate slate ended the night with 12 winners. His soldiers challenged 11 incumbents — defeating eight of them — and sought six open seats. With two exceptions, he contained his endorsements to judicial candidates. For what it’s worth, his slate was heavily African-American (15) and female (12). What remains to be seen is how he slates future elections and if he expands outside the courthouse.
The loss that will sting for a while was top assistant Heath Harris taking a beating from county party chair Darlene Ewing by about a 2-to-1 margin. Ewing also is the most successful Democratic chair in a generation, with her party never losing a contested countywide race since her election in 2005.
Still, in all, a winning night for Watkins. For those hoping to run in the next D primary, Watkins might not take your call, but you’d be wise to take his. But what does it really mean going forward? Our editorial offers two clues:
The counterbalance to his slate was a 21-Democrat card from the Lone Star Project, effectively state Sen. Royce West, County Commissioner John Wiley Price and U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson. You’ll recognize them as the longtime Democratic establishment in Dallas County. If Watkins ascended, it would be at their expense.
And this:
For Watkins, all eyes now turn toward November, when he will face ballot opposition. Former Judge Susan Hawk was winning the Republican primary and would pose a respectable test for a district attorney who has had his ups and downs over two eventful terms. Will the entire party rally around Watkins now? Or will his bid as power broker leave lingering wounds?
As the saying goes, “You come at the king, you best not miss.” Watkins didn’t miss, not at all, but a partial hit is far from a direct one.
If nothing else, we can thank Watkins for injecting some life into what is typically a sleepy county primary process. And while some folks had issues with the DA for taking an un-DA like run at political kingmaker, I didn’t. (I have other issues with him, sure, but we can leave that for another day.)
Here’s how the Watkins slate fared in detail (with his endorsees in bold):
– Dallas County Dem chair: Heath Harris lost to incumbent Darlene Ewing.
– Dallas County treasurer: Paul Ingram failed to make a runoff (Pauline Medrano and Bennie Elnora Brown did).
– 101st Civil District Court: Staci Williams beat incumbent Martin Lowy.
– 204th Criminal District Court: Tammy Kemp beat incumbent Lena Levario.
– 255th Family District Court: Kim Cooks beat incumbent Lori Chrisman Hockett.
– 265th Criminal District Court: Jennifer Bennett beat William R. Barr and Anthony Eiland.
– 282nd Criminal District Court: Amber Givens beat incumbent Andy Chatham.
– 283rd Criminal District Court: Justin Lord lost to incumbent Rick Magnis.
– 291st Criminal District Court: Stephanie Mitchell beat Susan Anderson.
– 292nd Criminal District Court: Brandon Birmingham beat incumbent Larry Mitchell (aside: in a race far closer than it should have been).
– 301st Family District Court: Craig Bonham (among others) lost to Mary Brown.
– 304th Juvenile District Court: Andrea Martin beat incumbent William “Bill” Mazur Jr.
– 363rd Criminal District Court: Nigel Redmond lost to incumbent Tracy Holmes.
– County Criminal Court No. 4: Remeko Edwards lost to Nancy Mulder.
– County Criminal Court No. 11: Shequitta Kelly beat Melodee Armstrong.
– Probate Court No. 2: Ingrid Warren beat incumbent Chris Wilmoth.
– Probate Court No. 3: Margaret Jones-Johnson beat incumbent Michael E. Miller.
– Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 2: incumbent Valencia Nash beat Vic Buchanon.