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Former lawmakers give advice to conquering GOP

WASHINGTON – After a long, expensive slog to Election Day, Republicans will control both chambers of Congress in January.

Now comes the hard part.

Former senator Olympia Snowe (Pat Wellenbach/AP)

That was the message from former lawmakers and Beltway operatives on Wednesday, when the National Journal hosted a panel on the impact of Tuesday’s  midterm elections.

The panelists agreed that the elections were a referendum on President Obama’s policies, and inaction by Congress. But they also emphasized that before pursuing a legislative agenda, Republicans must learn lessons in bipartisanship and compromise.

“It was certainly a broad and sweeping repudiation of the status quo,” said Olympia Snowe, a former Republican senator from Maine. “I think it’s abundantly clear that Congress is going to have to move forward and learn how to legislate and govern.”

Republicans needed to pick up six seats to claim a majority in the Senate. They got seven, with races in Alaska and Louisiana still to be decided.

Republicans also padded their majority in the House, where they’ll enjoy their largest advantage in decades.

On Wednesday, panelists said the midterm results called for a new course of action – or any action at all. With only the lame duck session remaining, the 113th Congress has a chance to be the least productive ever.

“It was an election that sent the message ‘get something done for a change.’ That’s something that people want,” said Celinda Lake, president of the Democratic polling group Lake Research Partners.

Immigration reform could top Congress’ to-do list.

According to Martin Frost, a former House Democrat from the Dallas area, passing immigration reform would be a “true test of bipartisanship.”

“Immigration reform is a horribly complex issue,” he said. “Trying to solve this issue will be a real test to whether you can operate on a bipartisan basis.”

Former Rep. Martin Frost (Tom Gannam/AP)

Any immigration bill will require the president’s signature to become law.

Steve LaTourette, a former Republican congressman from Ohio, said that the president’s willingness to compromise will determine the success of the Republican agenda.

“The president has to dance,” LaTourette said “But if the president dances, you can get a lot of stuff done.”

In a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Obama said that he was “eager to work with the new Congress,” but added that “Congress will pass some bills I cannot sign.”

Before worrying about the president though, Republicans will first need to reach an accord within their own ranks – no easy task, according to Whit Ayres, president North Star Opinion Research, a Republican polling group.

Ayres said that whoever unites the various the factions within the GOP could hold the keys to the party’s presidential nomination.

Its nominee will have to bring together “the Tea Party, libertarians, establishment, social conservatives, and internationalist Republicans all in one coalition.”

“Whoever wins it will…get enough of those groups to build a majority,” Ayres said.

Cornyn sees “opportunity, not a referendum” for Senate GOP majority

Sen. John Cornyn speaks with Steve Munisteri, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, during a visit to the Republican Party of Texas headquarters on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014 in Austin. (AP/Tamir Kalifa)

WASHINGTON — The new deputy majority leader of the Senate, Texan John Cornyn, is taking a humble approach to the whopping victory Republicans scored on Tuesday.

He called it “an opportunity, not a referendum.”

“The message sent last night from the American people is loud and clear: Washington is broken, the big government experiment has failed, and the time has come for fresh leadership and a new direction for the country,” he said.

“Under the leadership of Majority Leader McConnell, we will work with the Republican-led House to focus on pro-growth legislation that strengthens our economy, relieves Americans from the burdens of Obamacare, grows America’s energy industry and secures a better future for the generations ahead.

“It is my sincere hope that the President will heed the message that was sent last night and work with us to put the interests of the American people ahead of partisan politics and put an end to the gridlock that has plagued Washington.”

Cornyn is expected to join other congressional leaders from both parties on Friday at the White House for a meeting with President Obama, who said at a news conference this afternoon that he’s looking forward to finding out what the GOP agenda is in the next Congress.

 

In TX 23, Will Hurd defeats Pete Gallego; other Texans in U.S. House win re-election

Update, 12:58 a.m.: The Gallego campaign has conceded. In a statement, Gallego said he will “embrace the will of the voters in this election” and congratulated Hurd on his win.

“Texans deserve far better than what Congress has been giving them and I intend to provide Will any and all help I possibly can to help him work to correct that problem as he prepares to take office,” Gallego said.

Update, 12:50 a.m.: The Congressional Leadership Fund and the American Action Network — two GOP groups who spent a combined $1.6 million to boost Hurd – said the Republican’s victory sends a strong message to “stop runaway government in Washington.”

“Texans can look forward to Will’s leadership as he supports center-right solutions for creating jobs, protecting Americans from Obamacare, and increasing opportunities for all Americans,” the groups said in a statement.

Update, 12:39 a.m.: In a statement, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Greg Walden congratulated Hurd on a “hard-earned victory.”

“Will ran a fantastic campaign that focused on the issues Texans care about. Will truly has dedicated his life to helping his country and this is yet another proud chapter,” Walden said. “I’m honored to call him a friend and colleague.”

Update, 12:29 a.m.: Hurd has unseated Gallego, the freshman Democrat from Alpine, according to the Associated Press. The pickup means that the Texas delegation will now have 25 Republicans and 11 Democrats, including three freshmen.

Hurd won 50 percent of the vote to Gallego’s 48 percent, or by a little more than 2,000 votes, with nearly all precincts reporting.

Update, 12:24 a.m.: With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Hurd leads by 2,124 votes.

Update, 12:05 a.m.: Gallego is trailing Hurd by 3,050 votes, with 90 percent of precincts reporting.

Update, 11:33 p.m.: Hurd is clinging to a lead of 3,559 votes, with 85 percent of precincts reporting.

In northeast Texas, Ratcliffe said he’s humbled by the trust voters have placed in him.

“My future job title will be United States Representative, and I take that very seriously,” he said in a statement.  “It means that I work for the people and not the other way around.”

Update, 11:04 p.m.: Hurd is still leading 50 percent to 47 percent, or by 3,361 votes. So far, 84 percent of precincts have been reported and counted.

Update, 10:44 p.m: Hurd’s lead over Gallego has widened to 3,596 votes. He’s up 50 percent to Gallego 47 percent, with 81 percent of precincts reporting.

Update, 10:23 p.m.: It’s become an even closer race. Gallego trails Hurd now by just 535 votes, with 60 percent of precincts reporting.

In another U.S. House race in Texas, Corpus Christi Rep. Blake Farenthold, fresh off his re-election, vowed to continue to try to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cut government spending.

“Tonight’s results show our dedication to meeting the needs of the people of Texas, our message of securing the border, making government accountable to the people, ensuring our veterans receive the benefits they have earned, and providing conservative leadership resonates with the voters of the 27th Congressional District of Texas.” the Republican said in a statement.

Update, 10:01 p.m.: The race could go down to the wire. Hurd continues to lead Gallego, but his margin his shrinking. Just 832 votes separate the candidates, with 58 percent of precincts reporting.

Update, 9:30 p.m.: With 39 percent of precincts reporting, Hurd is up 51 percent to Gallego’s 46 percent.

Meanwhile, Sam Johnson, R-Plano, who sailed to re-election, called his win a “true blessing.”

“I want to thank everyone for their belief in me and for their vote,” Johnson said in a statement. “It’s humbling and I vow to continue to fight for you.”

Update, 9:05 p.m.: Hurd leads by about 2,200 votes, out of almost 62,600 cast. One-fifth of precincts have been counted.

Update, 8:36 p.m.: Hurd still retains an edge over Gallego, 52 percent to 46 percent, with 10 percent of precincts reporting.

In other House races in Texas, there aren’t any surprises: All incumbents appear headed for re-election.

After winning Tuesday night, Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, said he was “honored” to be re-elected.

“I am hopeful that we will expand our Conservative presence in the House and win a Republican majority in the Senate,” Barton said in a statement. “The American people have spoken and I urge the President to work with us so we can accomplish the things we were elected to do.”

Update, 8:01 p.m.: Hurd leads Gallego 54 percent to 44 percent, with 4 percent of precincts reporting.

The Associated Press has called several other U.S. House races in Texas, all in favor of incumbents.

Democratic Reps. Marc Veasey, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Sheila Jackson Lee and Lloyd Doggett all cruised to another term. On the Republican side, Reps.  Blake Farenthold, Michael Burgess, Mike Conaway, Mac Thornberry, Kay Granger, Pete Olson, Pete Sessions, John Culberson, Michael McCaul, Kenny Marchant and Bill Flores were re-elected. Babin’s victory has also been sealed.

Original post:

WASHINGTON —  There are 36 U.S. House elections in Texas today — but only one that’s truly competitive.

In West Texas, Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, is taking on Republican challenger Will Hurd, a former CIA operative. The famously volatile 23rd District, which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso, has elected four congressmen in the past 10 years.

Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine (AP Photo)

Republican Will Hurd, a former CIA operative (Hurd campaign)

Gallego and his team are watching returns tonight at Don Pedro, a Mexican restaurant in San Antonio. Hurd and his campaign are at the Eilan Hotel, also in San Antonio.

In two other U.S. House races in the state, newcomers are poised to win: Dr. Brian Babin in suburban Houston and John Ratcliffe in northeast Texas. No other seats are expected to change hands.

Babin, a Republican, is set to replace Rep. Steve Stockman, who gave up his seat in an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate. Ratcliffe, also a Republican, defeated 17-term incumbent Rep. Ralph Hall in a primary runoff in May.

Tea Party activist Konni Burton will replace replace Democrat Wendy Davis in state Senate

Konni Burton (left) greets supporters at her election party at the Stockyards Museum in Fort Worth (Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News); Libby Willis (right and in blue) at an election-returns event at Mamma Mia's restaurant in Fort Worth (Brandon Wade/Special Contributor)

Update at 11:25 p.m.

With few precincts left, Republican Konni Burton has the state Senate District 10 race in hand. Democrat Libby Willis was trailing by nearly 13,000 votes.

This will give the district back to the Republicans for the first time since Wendy Davis won it in 2008 from Kim Brimer.
The 53 percent to 45 percent spread was much larger than the last two elections when this appeared more like a swing district. Davis won both by less than 3 percentage points.
Still this was by far the closest state Senate race in Texas. The next closest race was Houston Democrat John Whitmire’s re-election race. He was leading his challenger by roughly 20 percentage points.

Update at 9:53 p.m.
Republican Konni Burton, a former vice president of the NE Tarrant Tea Party, has extended her lead over Democrat Libby Willis. The seat has been held by Democrat Wendy Davis since 2008 but now appears to be heading back to the Republican column.

With all but a few dozen precinct reporting, Burton held a 52 percent to 45 percent lead. That was close the margin she held with only early voting ballots counted.

Update at 9:38 p.m.
With more than half the precinct’s reporting, Republican Konni Burton is holding on to her lead over Democrat Libby Willis.
Willis made some progress when the first batch of precincts were released. That’s stalled as the latest votes were tallied with Willis trailing by nearly 6,800 votes.
Update at 8:56 p.m.
Democrat Libby Willis is starting to move on Republican Konni Burton. But it’s going very slowly.
Burton still leads 51 percent to 47 percent. The Republican’s lead is about 1 percentage point smaller than it was after early voting.
Slightly more than 10 percent of the district’s 357 precincts have reported.

Update at 7:30 p.m. Burton has taken a solid lead in early voting, 52 percent to 46 percent. The Libertarian and Green Party candidates make up the rest. To put this in perspective, Davis and her GOP challenger Mark Shelton were almost dead even after early voting in 2012. Davis pulled ahead by winning nearly 55 percent of the Election Day ballots.

Original post A large majority of Texas political races tonight were decided in the March primary thanks to the drawing of safe Republican and Democratic districts. The rare exception is expected to be state Senate District 10, the seat previously held by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis. Republican Tea Party activist Konni Burton and Democrat Libby Willis are running high-dollar campaigns to win that seat. Combined, they’ve raised more than $4.14 million from Republican and Democratic donors hoping to sway the only swing district among the 31 Texas Senate seats. Davis won the seat in 2008 from longtime Republican incumbent Kim Brimer and held off a GOP challenger in 2012. In both elections, Davis won by less than 3 percentage points.

Proposal to increase Dallas council pay maintains a narrow lead

Evening sun sets over Dallas City Hall Friday, January 24, 2014. (G.J. McCarthy/The Dallas Morning News)

Update at 11:45 p.m.: With 99 percent of precincts reporting, the proposition to raise Dallas council pay is in the clear by a 51-49 margin.

Update at 11:15 p.m: Dallas City Council members appear poised to receive a substantial pay raise.

It’s not over. But with 95 percent of precincts reporting, the margin is still 51-49 in support of the council raise.

Update at 9:40 p.m.: With 20 percent of precincts reporting, the margin remains 51-49 in favor of the council raise. So still too close to call.

But Mayor Mike Rawlings did weigh in on the early returns:

“If this narrow count holds for the rest of the night, the citizens of Dallas are sending a clear signal … to the City Council that we respect the work you are doing and that we think you are worth us investing in,” he said.

“But that we expect you to live up to doing what’s right by the citizens and that you need to improve the path you are on,” he continued.

Original post: It’s too close to tell if Dallas voters will approve a 60 percent pay raise for City Council members and a 33 percent boost for the mayor.

The proposition to increase council members’ annual pay to $60,000 from $37,500 and the mayor’s salary to $80,000 from $60,000 has a narrow lead after early voting. The raises would go into effect after the next municipal election in May.

Supporters stressed the notion that serving on the City Council in a city of 1.2 million people is a full-time job — and that the salary needs to match. They pushed the increase as a way to attract a more diverse and more qualified pool of candidates.

“We need to get great City Council people,” Mayor Mike Rawlings said leading up to the election. “And the only way we are going to do that is get a living wage.”

The proposal to increase Dallas council members’ pay grew out of a once-a-decade review of the city charter. The City Council approved in total nine proposed charter amendments – covering bond elections to redistricting – to put before voters.

Save for a complicated proposal related to the city’s thoroughfare plan, the slate of propositions was winning the early vote on Tuesday.

But the council pay proposition was considered the most contentious, as proponents had to overcome the public’s knee-jerk opposition to paying politicians more.

Voters have rejected nine of the last 10 attempts to increase council pay in Dallas – the lone exception coming in 2001. And though there was no organized opposition this year, some remain adamant that it’s a part-time job that should be more about public service.

A political action committee supportive of this year’s measure conducted polling that found a slightly negative attitude toward such a raise. But that changed when survey respondents were given reasons why the increase was necessary, a group spokesman said.

On Election Day, Belinda Sweeny proved that as she walked out of the Oak Cliff Sub-Courthouse.

Sweeny, a paralegal who works downtown, initially said she was “totally against it.”

“Considering the quality of work they are putting out these days, I think – I won’t even begin to say what I really think,” said Sweeny, who planned to vote later in the day in her precinct.

But asked about supporters’ argument that higher salaries would produce a more qualified pool of candidates, Sweeny paused.

“That does make sense,” she said. “Let me reverse that thought.”

Poll: Patrick entered Tuesday losing Hispanic vote by 39 points — so he won landslide among non-Hispanics?

Texas GOP lieutenant governor candidate Dan Patrick speaks to the media before his watch party in Houston Tuesday. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

An election eve poll sponsored by national Hispanic groups suggests — at least, by inference — that Republican Dan Patrick captured a towering percentage of Tuesday’s non-Hispanic vote in the race for lieutenant governor. And that Hispanics probably didn’t vote in increased numbers, as Democratic diehards hoped.

The Latino Decisions pollshowed Hispanics in Texas broke decisively in favor of Patrick’s Democratic rival, fellow state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte. She had 68 percent to his 29 percent, in the poll sponsored by the Latino Victory Project, National Council of La Raza and America’s Voice.

The poll was conducted Thursday through Monday among Hispanics who had already voted or were certain to vote. Texas was among 10 states in which pollsters interviewed a larger number of Hispanic voters, to obtain a statistically reliable sample. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

So Van de Putte’s 39-point margin among Hispanics theoretically could have been as small as 29 percent.

Meanwhile, with three quarters of precincts reporting Tuesday, Patrick was beating Van de Putte by 21 points — 59 percent to 38 percent.

update: GOP wins Senate as Sen. John Cornyn cruises to 3d term

Sen. John Cornyn speaks with Steve Munisteri, Texas GOP chairman, during an Election Day visit to party headquarters in Austin. (AP/Tamir Kalifa)

update 10:30

North Carolina has put Republicans over the top. They will control the Senate, thanks to victory by state House Speaker Thom Tillis. He has ousted Sen. Kay Hagan in the costliest Senate race of the year.

Moments later, AP has called Iowa for tea partier Joni Ernst. The GOP majority stands at 52 and potentially climbing.

update 10:08pm

Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, a Republican, has survived. With that, Republicans now stand at 50 seats. They need one more to claim the majority in the 114th Congress.

update 9:40pm

Republican David Perdue has won the open Senate seat in Georgia — one of the few potential bright spots and firewalls tonight for Democrats. He beat Michelle Nunn, daughter of former Sen. Sam Nunn. That keeps the Georgia seat in GOP hands after the retirement of Sen. Saxby Chambliss, quashing Democrats’ best hope of flipping a seat.

“We couldn’t be happier with what’s been happening around the country,” RNC chairman Reince Priebus told reporters moments ago.

 

update 8:55pm

Louisiana’s Senate race is headed to a Dec. 6 runoff between three-term Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu and GOP Rep. Bill Cassidy. Neither topped the 50 percent needed to win.

In Colorado, GOP Rep. Cory Gardner is leading Sen. Mark Udall by a wide margin and Fox News has already called him the winner.

That puts Republicans two seats away from a majority.

update 8pm

Just in from the White House: the president has invited the House and Senate leaders from both parties to the White House for a meeting on Friday. Presumably that would be to clear the air and try to set a tone going forward.

Also, no surprise, Cornyn has been declared the winner in Texas.

And in New Hampshire, Democrats have claimed victory for Sen. Jeanne Shaheen over Scott Brown, a former senator from Massachusetts. That won’t be enough, by itself, to stave off a Republican takeover. But GOP victory there would have signaled near-certainty of that.

update 7:40pm

Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas is the first night’s first Democratic casualty. Rep. Tom Cotton has defeated him. No surprises so far as Republicans close in on their magic 51. McConnell’s victory in Kentucky looked iffy a few months ago but he’d been pulling ahead.

original post

WASHINGTON — Sen. John Cornyn is heavily favored to win a third term tonight. The suspense for him is whether he’ll remain deputy leader of the Senate minority — or whether he’ll get a promotion to deputy leader of the majority.

That depends on whether Republicans can pick up enough seats around the country to tip control of the Senate. Control hinges on the 10 tightest contests, in North Carolina, Iowa, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Colorado, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Alaska and Arkansas.

Kentucky is especially relevant to Cornyn. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. — projected to win his race the moment polls closed — would replace Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., as majority leader if Republicans wrest control of the Senate.

Control of the Senate has far-reaching implications — for Cornyn, his fellow Republicans, and for President Obama and his agenda.

Democratic challenger David Alameel on Oct. 21. (LM Otero/AP)

In his own race in Texas, Cornyn never broke a sweat this fall. That left him plenty of time and money to help with the Texas Republicans’ voter targeting efforts, and trying to elect more Senate Republicans around the country.

His own challenger David Alameel, a Dallas investor, had never run statewide before. He collected hardly any donations for the effort to topple Cornyn, and didn’t spend nearly as lavishly as some Democrats had hoped, from a personal fortune estimated at $50 million. At last count Alameel pumped about $5.5 million into the campaign — only $1 million more than he spent on a failed congressional primary bid two years ago, his only previous bid for office.

Cornyn, eager for change in the new Senate, raised more than $14 million — a bargain compared to more hard-fought races elsewhere.

Spending this fall has hit staggering levels, commensurate with the high stakes.

The five most contested Senate races – North Carolina, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky and Georgia — each commanded upwards of $65 million in totally outlays by candidates, parties and outside groups.

In North Carolina, where Republican Thom Tillis was trying to oust Sen. Kay Hagan, spending hit $108 million.

Nationwide, outside groups have poured more than $771 million into Senate races, according to the Sunlight Foundation, a watchdog group. Nearly half of that has come in the last three weeks, fueling a deluge of attack ads from Alaska to Georgia.

The spigots may stay open in Louisiana and Georgia, where the winner needs to top 50 percent and runoffs were viewed as likely. Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat, would face a runoff Dec. 6. In Georgia, Republican businessman David Perdue would face Democrat Michelle Nunn in a runoff Jan. 6 – three days after the new Congress is sworn in.

Updated: Lieutenant governor-elect Patrick says liberals “picked wrong battleground”

Dan Patrick and Leticia Van de Putte, Texas Senate colleagues and rivals for lieutenant governor (AP pool photo, Sept. 29 KLRU debate)

Update at 9:45 p.m.: Dan Patrick said his election reaffirms the state’s conservative tilt.

“Texas voters sent a powerful message to the rest of the country – the liberal, Washington-style agenda my opponent so proudly boasted simply has no place in Texas,” he said in a written statement. “Tonight’s decisive victory proves they picked the wrong battleground.”

Van de Putte told supporters that she called Patrick and offered “sincere congratulations on a well-disciplined campaign.” Van de Putte, who didn’t have to give up her Senate seat to run statewide, added that she assured Patrick “I would continue in my public service.”

Update at 8:28 p.m.: Van de Putte has conceded, congratulating Patrick for “running a disciplined campaign.”

In a statement, she thanked supporters and said she looks “forward to continuing to serve my community and this great state.” See note below about how she retains her Texas Senate seat.

“This campaign and my service have always been about securing the future for the next generation, para mis hijos y nietos,” Van de Putte concluded.

Update at 8:16 p.m.: AP has called the race for Patrick.

Original item at 8:08 p.m.: Republican and tea party darling Dan Patrick established a solid lead over Democrat Leticia Van de Putte in Tuesday’s tally of the early vote for lieutenant governor.

With more than 2.1 million early votes counted, Patrick is leading Van de Putte with 56 percent to her 41 percent.

Playing rope-a-dope in the fall contest, Patrick avoided gaffes and lowered his public profile. This was after he ran a highly combative campaign to capture the GOP nomination earlier this year.

But while Patrick coasted through the general election, he didn’t tone down his staunchly conservative views.

Au contraire.

Seizing full advantage of the summer’s influx of unaccompanied children from Central America, the rise of the Islamic State in the Middle East and the arrival of Ebola in Dallas, Patrick hewed to his hard line on immigration and border security.

He raised the prospect of Islamic terrorists crossing the Texas-Mexico border in his fall TV ads.

In other ads and his single televised debate with Van de Putte, he also stood firm against abortion, under any circumstance; and for school voucher-like proposals to shake up public schools.

Van de Putte, not well-known beyond her San Antonio base, didn’t raise the big money that fellow state Sen. Wendy Davis did in the governor’s race.

But as Patrick’s senior colleague in the Texas Senate, Van de Putte soon could be in an interesting position: Last year, she drew a four-year Senate term and thus did not have to give up her seat to run for lieutenant governor. If she loses to Patrick, she can sit back and watch him preside — and offer critiques, if she chooses.

Denton mayor Chris Watts: ‘Hydraulic fracturing … will be prohibited in the Denton city limits’

Though Denton County’s still a long way from counting all its votes, Mayor Chris Watts says it looks pretty, pretty clear that a ban on hydraulic fracturing is in the cards based on early voting results. Moments ago Denton’s public information officer, Lindsey Baker, sent a statement from the mayor concerning the fracking ban.

“As I have stated numerous times, the democratic process is alive and well in Denton,” says Watts. “Hydraulic fracturing, as determined by our citizens, will be prohibited in the Denton city limits. The City Council is committed to defending the ordinance and will exercise the legal remedies that are available to us should the ordinance be challenged. The City Council is committed to continuing the review of our gas well ordinance to ensure the utmost health, safety, and welfare of our residents, and we will continue to work with industry representatives to ensure full compliance with our gas well drilling ordinance.”

Obviously we will have much, much more.

Motley concedes to Anderson after bizarre District 105 race

Update 10 p.m.: With nearly all precincts counted, Motley left a voice mail concession for Anderson.

“I wished him luck and asked him to represent the district well,” she said.

Anderson left her a voice mail back, Motley said. “He said there was a band playing and he couldn’t hear the phone,” but asked her to call back if she needed anything.

About a week ago, after I reported on the many problems with Anderson’s accusations against Motley, his campaign strategist told me that I had “lost access to a Dallas County soon-to-be-elected official.” Anderson, who campaigned on his accessibility to the public, hasn’t responded to me since. I’ll update if he does.

Update 9 p.m.: After a long delay, Election Day results are finally chugging in. And with nearly half the precincts counted, Anderson is still up 15 points. It’s hard to see any way for Motley to make up a 2,500 vote deficit at this hour. I’ve put calls in to the candidates.

“I’m not yet ready to say its game over. We certainly understand he’s got a big lead,” Motley told me as she watched the results roll in. She said she planned to speak to her opponent later tonight.

Asked to look back on her first race for office, and on Anderson’s attacks on her, Motley said: “We don’t have any regrets about the way we ran this race. I’m not sure Rodney Anderson can say the same thing.”

Update 7 p.m.:

Show’s over for Motley unless Election Day turnout is massive, and massively different from the early vote totals that just arrived. Those show Anderson up by 15 points.

Original post:

Rodney Anderson and Susan Motley

The District 105 race has been one of the weirdest this cycle, ever since Republican Rodney Anderson launched a botched attack on Susan Motley that ultimately prompted the state GOP to apologize to her.

But will any of the mayhem matter in the first open race since the district was created? Did Anderson’s allegations that Motley was breaking the law harm the Democrat before they collapsed? Or might the attacks backfire on Anderson after his party retreated from them and he blamed a botched fax for the whole mess?

Chances are, we’ll never know. It’s not like there are any public polls of the race. But the results should start trickling in soon, and we’ll at least know which of the two candidates is the next House rep for the Irving-Grand Prairie area.