Introducing The Texas Legislative LGBTQ Caucus

While many people inside and outside the state of Texas were upset that our bid to fire Ted Cruz came agonizingly short, it was a bigger win in other areas in terms of ending the Republican rule in Texas.   

We flipped several populous Texas counties to Democratic control, including my home county of Harris County.  We flipped several Texas state court of appeals districts.   And most importantly, we flipped twelve seats in the Texas House to put in striking distance of flipping that chamber in 2020

With the 2019 session of the Texas Legislature now going into its second week, we had another moment of history happen with the founding of the first officially recognized Texas LGBTQ Caucus!

Rep Mary Gonzalez's office released an announcement  heralding the founding of the new caucus.

"Nearly one million Texans identify as part of the LGBTQ spectrum, signaling a drastic need for representation at all levels of elected office," the press release said.

The founding members of it all identity as members of our community, and they are  Rep. Mary González (D- Clint)  Rep. Celia Israel (D- Austin) , Rep. Jessica González (D- Dallas) Rep. Erin Zweiner (D - Austin) and Rep. Julie Johnson (D - Dallas).

The caucus is open to any member regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.  The goal of the Texas LGBTQ Caucus is to according to Rep Mary Gonzalez is "to advocate for proactive legislation that creates greater equity in Texas.". 

Congratulations on the founding of this new caucus.  May it grow beyond these initial members, and may you be successful in pushing for legislation that does create a better Texas for all of us.


TransGriot note: Photo of caucus by Casey Chapman-Ross

Split Decision In Saturday Democratic Primary Contests

It was a split decision in Saturday's contests for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. 

There were two caucuses in Kansas and Nebraska, and a primary election in Louisiana.  While Sanders won the two Democratic caucuses in once again, predominately white states, Clinton won the Louisiana primary handily fueled by once again, the African-American vote.

The end result was that Sanders lost ground to Clinton despite the two caucus wins.  Blowout win in primary state worth 51 delegates trumps (pun not intended) two caucus wins in state worth combined 55 delegates split proportionately.

Lets look at the math.  Sanders won 37 delegates in Kansas and Nebraska to Clinton's 22.  but because he lost in Louisiana, Sanders only received 12 delegates while Clinton gained 39 delegates

Sanders total delegates add up to 49, Clinton received 61 which means that she increased her lead by another 11 delegates last night.   

Drip, Drip Drip.  And while that was happening, she continued to add to that massive superdelegate lead, with more commitments coming her way in the runup to a critical week of contests starting on Tuesday.

Tuesday's contests will talk place in Michigan (130 delegates), Mississippi (36 delegates) and the Democratic caucus in Maine in which 25 delegates will be available.

And FYI,  Michigan and Mississippi have large Black populations, Maine doesn't.

This is the lead in to the five Democratic primary contests in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio in which 691 delegates will be up for grabs and once again, Sanders supporters, Black voters will have a major say in who wins those states.

And FYI, just another reminder that early voting is happening in Florida right now..

Clinton is inching closer to that magic number of 2.383 delegates, and we'll have a better idea how close she is to the prize that eluded her in 2008 after this weekend.