TransGriot Texas Democratic Party Runoff Endorsement Post

The Texas runoff elections that were scheduled for May were delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but we still have the important task of  selecting who will make it to the November 3 ballot.   

Early voting for the July 14 runoff election starts tomorrow June 29 and runs through July 10, so that means it's time for moi to do the endorsement post for the upcoming primary

I've been made aware by several people in our local trans community that they use my endorsement posts as a guide to help them decide who will get their precious votes when they step in the booth to cast their  ballots. 

No pressure.   These endorsements are made with the thought in mind on what candidate will be the best  for our state, our country, and for advancing the human rights of the trans community.

I looked at the endorsements of various groups like the Houston GLBT Caucus, H-BAD, Stonewall Dems in various cities just to name a few.   I talked to trans folks who pay attention to politics in various Texas cities  to come up with these endorsements.

Like I said, I take this seriously.

For you Republicans who ask me why I don't do them for the Texas Republican primary, it's because your party has made it clear they wish to oppress trans people and you hate Black lives   
And before you open your mouths to protest, check your party platform and the anti-trans planks it has in it. 

Just like the March primary, if you are a resident of Harris County you can vote at any election center within the boundaries of our county.  That's also the case in the other 253 counties in this state.

If you need to check to see if you are registered to vote in this runoff election , you can check your registration or register to vote at this link. 

You have until October 5 to register for the 2020 Presidential election taking place on November 3.   So if you aren't registered for this primary runoff one, you have time to bust a move and handle your electoral business so that you can cast you ballots from POTUS to dog catcher on November 3 . 

And now, the 2020 Texas Democratic Primary Runoff Election Endorsements!

US Senate
Royce West

US House 
District 3- Lulu Seikaly
District 10- Mike Siegel   
District 13- Greg Sagan
District 17- David Anthony Jaramillo
District 24- Candace Valenzuela 
District 31-  Donna Imam

Texas Railroad Commissioner
Chrysta Castaneda

Texas State Board Of Education 
District 6- Michelle Palmer


Texas SenateDistrict 19-  Roland Gutierrez
District 27- Sara Stapleton Barrera


Texas House
District 26- L Sarah DeMerchant 
District 67-  No Endorsement
District 100- Jasmine Crockett
District 119- Jennifer Ramos
District 138- Akilah Bacy
District 142- Jerry Davis
District 148- Penny Morales Shaw 


Justice 14th Court of Appeals
Place 7- Cheri Thomas 

District Judge
164th Judicial District - Cheryl Elliott Thornton
339th Judicial District- Te'iva Bell
505th Judicial District- Surendran Patel

 
Harris County Commissioner
Precinct 3- Diana Martinez Alexander

Harris County Constable
Precinct 2- Jerry Garcia
Precinct 5- Mark Alan Harrison


Fort Bend County Commissioner
Precinct 1- Jennifer Cantu 

Pulling My US House 22 Endorsement

Over the last several election cycles, I have done endorsements for municipal, state and national candidates.   They have bcome sought after ones, and I compiled one for the 2020 cycle.  . 

I originally endorsed Nyanza Moore in the US House 22 race.  But since I published it last week, I've gotten disturbing news of transphobic statements made by Ms. Moore, accompanied with video from Media Matters as a FOX 26 pundit.

That's problematic on a lot of levels for me since in conversations I've had with her over the last year, she expressed to me the desire to want to learn about trans issues and be better at advocating for  them.  The video leads me to question her sincerity in what she expressed to me.

We need peeps who are committed to fighting for trans Texans in the halls of Congress, not ones who dismissively question our very humanity.  I expect Republicans to be that way to us.  I'm not tolerating it from folks who are supposed to be progressive Democrats.

Therefore I'm pulling that endorsement made in the US House District 22 race to make it a No Endorsement race.   

TransGriot 2020 Texas Democratic Primary Election Endorsement Post

You've been asking me for it, and here it is, just before early voting starts in the Texas primary election on  February 18.   For those of you who wish to wait for the actual Texas primary Election Day, that will happen on March 3.

We are the most populous county in Texas, and our ballot is going to reflect that.   It always going to be a long one because of that.  Also bear in mind that no thanks to the TXGOP, we no longer have the option of straight ticket voting.

Every race matters, so vote from POTUS to dog catcher.   Your vote may be the differnce between winning and losing for many candidates in a tight race.

Make Trump, Greg Abbott and the Texas GOP mad by voting either during early voting, which runs from Febuary 18-February 28., on primary day on on the general election day on November 3.

You can also vote at ANY voting center in Harris County during early voting or the general election.

If you aren't registered to do so during the primary, you can still make sure you are registred for the upcoming presidential election in November and the May runoff elections from May 18-22

Vote as if your life depends on it, because frankly, it does.

And now, my TransGriot 2020 Democratic primary endorsements.

President- Elizabeth Warren 

US Senate-  Amanda Edwards

US House-District 2-Sima Ladjevarian
US House District 9- Al Green
US House District 10- Mike Siegel 
US House- District 14- Adrienne Bell  
US House- District 18-Sheila Jackson Lee
US House District 21- Wendy Davis 
US House- District 22- No Endorsement

TX State Board of Education District 4 -Larry McKinzie 
TX State Board of Education District 6- Michelle Palmer

TX State Senator- District 11-Susan Criss 
TX State Senator- District 13- Borris Miles  


TX House- District 26-Sarah DeMerchant  
TX House- District 27- Ron Reynolds
TX House- Dsitrict 28- Lawrence Allen
TX House- District 83- Addison Perry-Franks 
TX House- District 126- Natali Hurtado
TX House- District 131- Alma A Allen
TX House- District 134- Ann Johnson 
TX House- District 135- Jon Rosenthal 
TX House-District 138- Akilah Bacy 
TX House- District 139- Jarvis Johnson 
TX-House- District 141- Senfronia Thompson
TX House- District 142- Jerry Davis 
TX House- District 146- Ashton P Woods 
TX House- District 147- Garnet F Coleman
TX House- District 148-- Penny Morales Shaw 

Chief Justice TX Supreme Court- Amy Clark Meacham
TX Supreme Court Justice- Place 6- Kathy Cheng
TX Supreme Court Justice- Place 7- Staci Williams
TX Supreme Court  Justice- Place 8- Gisela Triana 

TX Court of  Criminal Appeals- Place 3 - William Pieratt Demond
TX Court of Appeals District 14-  Jane Robinson
TX Court of Appeals- 1st District- Place 3- Veronica Rivas Molloy
TX Court of Appeals 1st District- Place 5- Amparo Monique Guerra
TX Court of Appeals 1st District Place 7 - Cheri Thomas
TX District Judge- 80th Judicial District- Larry Weiman 
TX Dsitrict Judge- 164th Judicial District- Alexandra Smoots-Thomas 
TX District Judge- 165th Judicial District- Ursula Hall 
TX District Judge- 176th Judicial District-Nikita 'Niki' Harmon
TX District Judge -179th Judicial District- Ana Martinez 
TX District Judge- 333rd Judicial District- Daryl Moore
TX District Judge- 334th Judicial District- Dawn Deshea Roigers 
TX District Judge- 337th Judicial District- Colleen Gaido
TX District Judge - 339th Judicial District- Te'iva Bell
TX District Judge- 351st Judicial District- Natalia 'Nata' Cornelio
TX District Judge- 367 Judicial District-  Janet Buening Happard
TX District Judge- 505th Judicial District- Surendran K. Patel  
TX District Judge- 507th Judicial District-Julia Maldonado 

Harris County District Attorney- Audia Jones 
Harris County Attorney- Christian Menefee
Harris County Sheriff- Ed Gonzales
Harris County Tax Assessor Collector -Jolanda Jones

Harris County Commissioner- Precinct 1-Rodney Ellis
Harris County Commissioner- Precinct 3- Diana Martinex Alexander

Harris County Constable- Precinct 1- Alan Rosen
Harris County Constable- Precinct 7-  May Walker

Harris County Civil Court at Law No 4- Bill McLeod

Harris County Department of Education Place 5- Erica Davis
Harris County Department of Education Place 7- Obes Nwabara
Harris County Justice of the Peace- Precinct 6 Place 1- Victor Trevino III
Harris County Justice of the Peace- Precinct 7 Place 1- Jeremy L. Brown

HBAD Endorsement Meeting Today!

The Texas primary election date of March 3 is rapidly approaching, and so is the start of early voting in the Lone Star State on February 18.

That meant that for the second consecutive Satuday I got up out of bed early so that I could be at the  Sunnyside area venue in which the Houston Black Area Democrats (H-BAD) endorsement meeting was being held before it started at 9 AM.

It was my first time doing their endorsement meeting, and was nice seeing old freinds and meeting some new ones.  I laughed when I got asked the question by a few people in attendance if I was running for office in this cycle, and when I said 'Not yet", that question truned into 'When was I going to run for office?

91 people screened for the H-BAD endorsement, which is one of the Big Four endorsements of Houston progressive Democratic politics. 

These endorsement meetings can have a lot of drama that rivals the best reality TV shows.  There's twists and turns.   People getting endorsements as expected, and others who didn't get it from the screening committe, but who flipped it once itgot to the meeting. 

People can win or lose endorsements based on what they say that sways the people in the room or pisses them off.

Here are the folks who after six hours, walked out with those coveted H-BAD endorsements:

US Senate- Amanda Edwards 
US Representative District 2- Sima Ladjevarian   
US Representative District 18-  Sheila Jackson Lee
US Representative District 22- Derrick Reed 

Member TX State Board of Education District 6- Michelle Palmer 
TX State Senator Disctrict 13- Borris Miles 
TX State Representative District 27- Ron Reynolds
TX State Representative District 126- Natali Hurtado 
TX State Representative District  131- Alma A. Allen 
TX State Representative Distrct 138-Akilah Bacy 
TX State Represntative District 139-  Jarvis Johnson
TX State Reprsentative  District 141- Senfronia Thompson 
TX State Representative District 142- Richard Bonton 
TX State Represntative District 146 -Shawn Nicole Thierry
TX State Representative District 147- Garnet F. Coleman
Cheif Justice Texas Supreme Court -Amy Clark Meacham
Justice, Texas Supreme Court Place 6- Kathy Cheng
Justice Texas Supreme Court, Place 7- Staci Williams 
Justice Texas Supreme Court Place 8- Peter Kelly
Justice, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals  Place 3 - William Pieratt Demond  
Justice, Texas Court  of Appeals District 14- Jane Robinson
Justice  Texas Court of Appeals 1st District, Place 3 -Veronica Rivas-Molloy
Justice, Texas Court of Appeals  1st District Place 5- Amparo Monique Guerra
Justice Texas Court of Appeals 14th District  Place 7- Tamika Craft

District Judge  80th Judicial District-  Larry Weiman 
District Judge  164th Judicial District- Alexandra Smoots Thomas 
District Judge  165th Judicial District- Ursula Hall 
District Judge  176th Judicial District-  Nikita 'Niki' Harmon
District Judge  179th Judicial District-  No Endorsement 
District Judge  333rd Judicial District-  Daryl Moore   
District Judge  334th Judicial District-  Dawn Deshea Rogers
District Judge  337th Judicial District - Brennen Dunn
District Judge  339th Judicial District- Te'iva Bell
District Judge 351st  Judicial District - Natalia 'Nata' Cornelio 
District Judge 507th Judicial District-  Julia Maldonado

Harris County District Attorney - Carvana Cloud
Harris Ciunty Attorney- Christian Dashaun Menefee 
Harris County Sheriff - Ed Gonzales  
Harris County Tax Assessor Collector - Jolanda Jones

Harris County Commissioner Precinct 1- Rodney Ellis
Harris County Commissioner Precinct 3- Morris Overstreet 

Harris County Constrable Precinct 1 -Alan Rosen 

Harris County Civil Court At Law Number  4- Lesley Briones

Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 6 Place 1 - Victor Trevino III
Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 7 Place 1 -  Jeremy  L. Brown 
 

The TransGriot 2019 Houston Municipal Runoff Election Endorsements

The November 5 elections left the mayor's chair and several council seats in runoffs.

The City Council District B race was removed from the ballot and settled in a special election because of a lawsuit filed by Renee Jefferson Smith after she finished third and failed to make the runoff in that crowded 14 candidate race to replace term limited councilmember Jerry Davis.

The people who did make the runoff were Tarsha Jackson and Cynthia Bailey

Bailey signed an affidavit when filing to run back in August stating that she hadn't been convicted of a felony, but was back in 2007.  She was told that because of that forgery conviction, she could run for any position except a state of Texas one.

Jefferson contends that because of the felony, Bailey is ineligible, and as the third place finisher, she should move up to the runoff.  Bailey's eligibility will be determined in an upcoming court case.

Will be keeping an eye on those proceedings, but the date of the December 14 runoff
 election is still looming with early voting starting on November 27 from 7 AM-7 PM .

After the holiday, early voting resumes from December 2-7  from 7-7 PM.   On December 8, you can vote from 1-6 PM, and on December 9-10 from 7 AM-7 PM 

The Runoff Endorsements:

Mayor- Sylvester Turner

City Council
At Large 1- Raj Salhotra
At Large 2- David Robinson
At Large 3 - Janaeya Carmouche
At Large 4 -Dr Letitia Plummer 
At Large  5- Sallie Alcorn
  
District B-  Tarsha Jackson
District C -Shelley Kennedy
District D- Carolyn Evans Shabazz 
District F - Tiffany Thomas
District H- Isabel Longoria
District J-  Sandra Rodriguez

Houston Community College System Trustee
District 1 - Monica Flores Richart 
District 2-  Rhonda Skillern Jones

HISD Trustee
District I- Kathy Bluefield Daniels
District IV- Patricia Allen 

Texas State Representative 
HD 28-  Eliz Markowitz 
HD 148- Anna Eastman

Houston Chronicle Endorses Beto O'Rourke!

"With eyes clear but certainly not starry, we enthusiastically endorse Beto O'Rourke for U.S. Senate. The West Texas congressman's command of issues that matter to this state, his unaffected eloquence and his eagerness to reach out to all Texans make him one of the most impressive candidates this editorial board has encountered in many years."-Houston Chronicle Editorial Board
This is definitely a huge shock and a win for Team Beto. 

The Houston Chronicle, which leans so conservative on its editorial board it endorsed George HW Bush, George W Bush, Mitt Romney and a certain Rafael Cruz in 2012, just flipped the US Senate endorsement script and endorsed Beto O'Rourke.

"What sets O'Rourke apart, aside from the remarkable campaign he's running, are policy positions in keeping with a candidate duly aware of the traditionally conservative Texas voter he would be representing in the U.S. Senate," the Chronicle editorial board said.

The board then goes on to conclude that O'Rourke would serve as a check to President Trump, whom it describes as a "danger to the republic."

"Cruz is unwilling to take on that responsibility." 

The Chronicle editorial board also called Rafael out for leading the 2013 government shutdown, and recited the negative comments from his Washington House and Senate GOP colleagues about him.   

It also pointed out the obvious that Cruz has shown little interest "in addressing the needs of his fellow Texans during his six years in office."

Hey, his wife Heidi is tired of 'scraping by' on that measly $174,000 a year taxpayer funded salary anyway.

Of course, Rafael was hatin' immediately after the decision, calling the Chronicle a 'left wing rag'.  Interesting to note you didn't say the same thing in 2012 when they endorsed your Canadian born azz. 

Hey, just keeping it real.   He may have a house in River Oaks and votes at the West Gray Multiservice Center, but the vast majority of Houstonians don't like him and don't claim Rafael as one of our own.

But yes, it's a huge win when the paper of record in the largest city in the state, and his home base goes with his opponent.   

TransGriot 2018 Endorsements- Local and Texas State Races

With early voting about to start in the Lone Star State on Monday, and knowing that many of you Texas TransGriot readers have been asking for it, it's time for me to post my endorsements for various Texas state and local races. 

They are a combo from the Houston GLBT Caucus, Dallas Stonewall Democrats, Houston Chronicle  and my own thoughts and observations.

If you're registered to vote, fantastic.  Take yourself, your yellow voter registration card and photo ID to your fave early voting spot and handle your political business.   Early voting runs from October 22-November 2.   Election Day is on November 6 

US Senator
Beto O'Rourke 

US Representative
TX 1- Shirley McKellar 
TX 2- Todd LittonTX 5- Dan Wood 
TX 6- Jana Lynne Sanchez 
TX 7- Lizzie Pannill Fletcher
TX 8- Mike David 
TX 9-  Al Green 
TX 10- Mike Siegel
TX 12- Vanessa AdiaTX 14- Adrienne Bell
TX 15- Vicente Gonzalez 
TX 16-Veronica Escobar 
TX 18- Sheila Jackson Lee 
TX 20- Joaquin Castro 
TX 22- Sri Preston KulkarniTX 23- Gina Ortiz Jones
TX 24- Jan McDowell
TX 26- Linsey Fagan
TX 27- Eric Holguin
TX 29- Sylvia GarciaTX 30-  Eddie Bernice Johnson
TX 32- Colin Allred 
TX 33- Marc VeaseyTX 34- Filemon Vela
TX 35- Lloyd Doggett
TX 36- Dayna Steele

Governor
Lupe Valdez

Lt Governor 
Mike Collier

Attorney General
Justin Nelson

Comptroller of Public Accounts
Joi Chevalier 

Commissioner of Agriculture
Kim Olson 

Texas Railroad Commissioner
Roman McAllen

Texas State Board of EducationDistrict 2- Ruben Cortez, Jr 
District 4- Lawrence Allen 
District 7- Elizabeth 'Eliz'  Markowitz 
District 11- Carla Morton 
District 12- Suzanne Smith 
District 13-Aicha Davis

Texas State SenatorDistrict 2- Kendall Scudder 
District 7- David Romero
District 8- Mark Phariss
District 9- Gwenn Burud 
District 10- Beverly Powell 
District 15- John Whitmire 
District 16 -Nathan JohnsonDistrict 17- Rita Lucido
District 23- Royce West 
District 25- Steven Kling 

Texas House of RepresentativesDistrict 15- Lorena Perez McGill
District 26- L. Sarah DeMerchant 
District 27- Ron Reynolds 
District 28- Meghan Scoggins
District 48- Donna Howard
District 50- Celia Israel 
District 62 -Valerie Hefner District 75 - Mary Gonzalez
District 85- Jennifer Cantu 
District 92- Steve Riddell
District 94- Finnigan Jones 
District 95- Nicole Collier 
District 100- Eric Johnson
District 102- Ana-Maria Ramos 
District 103- Rafael Anchia
 District 104-  Jessica Gonzalez
District 105- Terry Meza
District 107- Victoria Neave 
District 112- Brandy Chambers District 113- Rhetta Andrews Bowers 
District 115 - Julie JohnsonDistrict 123- Diego Bernal 
District 124- Ina Minjarez 
District 126-Natali Hurtado 
District 130- Fred Infortunio
District 131 -Alma Allen District 132- Gina Calanni
District 134- Allison SawyerDistrict 135- Jon Rosenthal
District 137- Gene Wu 
District 138-Adam MilasincicDistrict 140- Armando Walle
District 141- Senfronia ThompsonDistrict 144- Mary Ann Perez 
District 145- Carol Alvarado
District 146- Shawn Thierry
District 147- Garnet Coleman  
District 148 -Jessica Farrar 
District 149- Hubert Vo
District 150- Michael Shawn Kelly

Texas Supreme Court
Place 2- Steven Kirkland
Place 4- R.K. Sandhill
Place 6- Kathy Cheng

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals 
Place 1- Maria T. Jackson 
Place 7- Ramona Franklin 

Texas Court of Appeals
Justice, 1st Court of Appeals- Place 6- Sarah Beth Landau 
Justice, 1st Court of Appeals- Place 7- Julie CountissJustice, 1st Court of Appeals- Place 8- Richard HightowerJustice, 1st Court of Appeals- Place 9- Peter Kelly
Justice 14th Court of Appeals- Place 3- Jerry Zimmerer
Justice 14th Court of Appeals- Place 4- Charles Spain 
Justice 14th Court of Appeals- Place 5- Frances Bourloit
Justice 14th Court of Appeals- Place 6- Meagan Hassan 
Justice 14th Court of Appeals- Place 8- Margaret 'Meg' Poissant

District Judge
55th Judicial District- Latosha Lewis Payne
113th Judicial District- Rabeea Collier 
116th Judicial District- Tonya Parker
157th Judicial District- Tanya Garrison
180th Judicial District- DaSean Jones
182nd Judicial District- Danilo 'Danny' Lacayo
184th Judicial District- Abigail Anastacio 
189th Judicial District- Scott 'Dolli' Dollinger
190th Judicial District- Beau Miller
208th Judicial District- Greg Glass
209th Judicial District- Brian Warren 
230th Judicial District- Chris Morton 
232nd Judicial District-Joshua Seth Hill  
234th Judicial District- Lauren Reeder 
246th Judicial District- Angela Graves Harrington
263rd Judicial District- Amy Martin 
269th Judicial District- Cory Sepolio
270th Judicial District- Dedra Davis
281th Judicial District- Christine Weems
295th Judicial District- Donna Roth

Family District Judge 
245th Judicial District- Tristan Longino
247th Judicial District- Janice Berg
248th Judicial District- Hilary Unger
257th Judicial District- Sandra Peake
280th Judicial District- Barbara J. Stalder
308th Judicial District- Gloria Lopez 
309th Judicial District- Linda Marie Dunson
310th Judicial District- Sonya Heath 
311th Judicial District- Germaine Tanner
312th Judicial District- Clinton 'Chip' Wells
313th Judicial District- Natalia Oakes
314th Judicial District- Michelle Moore 
315th Judicial District- Leah Shapiro

County Criminal Court At LawNo 1- Alex Salgado
No 3- Erica Hughes
No 4- Shannon Baldwin
No 5- David M. FletcherNo 6- Kelley Andrews 
No 7- Andrew A. Wright
No 8- Franklin Bynum 
No 9- Tonia J. Finch 
No 11- Sedrick T. Walker, Jr
No 13- Raul Rodriguez
No 15-  Tonya Jones

County Probate Court At Law
No 1- Jerry Simoneaux
No 2- Michael Newman 
No 3- Jason Cox 
No 4- James Horwitz

County Civil Court At Law
No 1- George Barnstone 
No 2-Jim F. Kovach
No 3- LaShawn A. Williams 
No 4- William 'Bill' McLeod 

Austin City Council
District 3- Jessica Cohen  
District 9- Danielle Skidmore 

Harris County District Clerk 
Marilyn Burgess 

Harris County Clerk
Diane Trautman 

Harris County Treasurer
Dylan Osborne 

Harris County Judge 
Lina Hidalgo 

Harris County Commissioner
Precinct 2-Adrian Garcia
Precinct 4- Penny Shaw 

Harris County School Trustee
Position 3 At Large- Richard Cantu
Position 4, Pct 3- Andrea Duhon 
Position 6, Pct 1- Danyahel Norris

Harris County Justice of the Peace
Precinct 3, Place 2- Lucia Bates 

2018 TransGriot Endorsement Posts Starting Soon

Early voting in Texas starts on October 22, and you Texas residents have until October 9 to get registered so that you can participate in what is probably the most important midterm election of our country's history

If you don't live in Texas, you need to do the same.  Find out when your election registration deadline is happening so if you aren't registered to vote, you can get it done so you can handle your electoral business on November 6 or sooner if you're in a state hat does early voting like I am. .

Uncle Sam needs you to participate in flipping this country and your states blue and firing the GOP at all levels of government, since they have made it clear they only wish to do so for heterosexual conservative white males only .

I've been asked by several readers if I was going to do any TransGriot endorsements in this 2018 election cycle, and the answer is an emphatic yes.   Those posts will be flagged in the title with a 2018 TransGriot Endorsement header so that you can easily find them 

While many of my TransGriot endorsement posts over the next 60 plus days will be Texas centric, and I will do endorsements in selected races in other states, the goal of them is to arm you with the information you need to cast an informed vote for the people and the issues impacting this election.

Cynthia Nixon and Jumaane Williams are Trans United Fund’s Choice for New York

The New York primary election is rapidly approaching on September 13, and as a Board Member of Trans United Fund, I’m proud to exclusively announce that we’re endorsing Cynthia Nixon for Governor and Jumaane Williams for Lieutenant Governor of New York because we believe they will be champions for the needs of trans and nonbinary people.
The current governor has had several opportunities since 2011 to use his power to help our community, especially when it comes to getting GENDA passed and to his desk, and failed to decisively act to legislatively advance our rights in New York .

Trans communities don’t need lip service-we need action.

There’s been a lot of talk in these races, and many who are not a part of our communities have attacked Cynthia and Jumaane as if they were speaking on behalf of trans and queer people.

Let us be very clear: we speak for ourselves, and what we’re saying is: Cynthia Nixon and Jumaane Williams are our choice for New York.

Trans people of color throughout New York deserve a Lieutenant Governor like Jumaane Williams who has tirelessly fought against racist Stop and Frisk policies that target our communities for violence and criminalization. Our communities deserve a Lt. Governor like Jumaane who has organized to provide more beds for homeless youth throughout New York, where almost half of homeless youth are LGBTQ; who, in a time of widespread attacks on trans communities’ right to simply exist in public, stood firm and helped pass a bill that protected our rights to using public facilities. That is what championing our communities looks like: taking real action, even when it wasn’t popular, even when it wasn’t election season.

Trans and nonbinary people throughout New York deserve a Governor like Cynthia Nixon, who won’t make backroom deals with fake Democrats, but will actually champion GENDA and make sure trans, nonbinary, and LGBQ people are protected from discrimination. Our communities deserve a Governor like Cynthia who is herself a queer woman, and the supportive mother of a trans child, because for her, this isn’t an election slogan: this is personal, this is family. Trans and nonbinary communities of color deserve a Governor like Cynthia who is making fighting criminalization one of her top priorities: from ending cash bail, closing Rikers, ending the process of trying children as adults, to re-investing funds that have historically gone to incarceration into education and community initiatives that actually build up our communities and keep us safe.

Trans and nonbinary communities need real champions, not election-season lip service. It’s my belief, and the belief of Trans United Fund, that Cynthia and Jumaane are those champions, and we’re proud to endorse them for Governor and Lt. Governor.

TransGriot Houston Area Texas Primary Endorsements

Early voting for the Texas primary elections starts on Monday and runs until March 2, with the primary election itself on March 6.    To help you TransGriot Texas readers out, it's time for me to announce the folks that I am endorsing for various races in the Democratic primary

I went through the Big 4 endorsements, plus my own observations about some of the candidates to come up with this list.   May be adding to it over the next few days until the start of early voting.     

Governor- Lupe Valdez 
Lt Governor- Mike Collier

US Senate- Beto O'Rourke
US House District 2- Todd Litton 
US House District 7- Laura Moser 
US House District 10- Madeline K. Eden
US House District 14- Adrienne Bell
US House District 18- Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee 
US House District 22- Sri Preston Kulkami
US House District 29- Sen. Sylvia R. Garcia  
US House District 36- Dayna Steele

GLO Commissioner- Tex Morgan
State Board of Education #4  Lawrence Allen 

TX State Senate 15- Sen. John Whitmire
TX State Senate 17- Fran Watson 

TX House 27- Rep. Ron Reynolds
TX House 28- Megan Scoggins
TX House 29- Dylan Forbis
TX House 126-Natali Hurtado
TX House 133- Sandra G. Moore 
TX House 134- Allison Sawyer
TX House 138- Adam Milasincic
TX House 139- Randy Bates
TX House 142- No Endorsement
TX House 146- Rep. Shawn Nicole Thierry
TX House 147- Rep. Garnet Coleman

TX 14th Court of Appeal #3 - Jerry Zimmerer 

TX 14th Court of Appeals #8-  Margaret Meg' Poissant
55th Civil District Court- Latosha Lewis Payne 
113th Civil District Court- Rabeea Collier
185th Civil District Court- Jason Luong

188th Civil District Court - Scot 'Doll' Dollinger
234th Civil District Court - Lauren Reeder
269th Civil District Court- Shampa Mukerji
281st Civil District Court- George Arnold

246th Family District Court - Angela Graves-Harrington
280th Family District Court - Barbara J. Stalder
309th Family District Court - Linda Marie Dunson
313th Family District Court - Natalia Oakes
County Criminal Court #2 - Harold J. Landreneau
County Criminal Court #5 - David M. Fleischer
County Criminal Court #7 - Andrew A. Wright
County Criminal Court #11 - Gus Saper
County Criminal Court #12 - Juan J. Aguirre
County Criminal Court #13 - Raul Rodriguez
County Criminal Court #15 - Kris Ougrah
County Probate Court #2 - Jim L. Peacock
County Probate Court #4 - James Horwitz
County Civil Court at Law #2 - Jim Kovach
Harris County District Clerk - Marilyn Burgess
Harris County Clerk - Diane Trautman
County Treasurer - Dylan Osborne
Harris County Commissioner #2 - Adrian Garcia
Harris County Commissioner #4 - Penny Shaw
Harris County Justice of the Peace Pr 3, #2 - Don Coffey
Harris County Justice of the Peace Pr 7, #2 - Audrie Lawton
County School Trustee At Large #3 - Elvonte Patton
County School Trustee Pos 6, Pct 1 - Danyahel (Danny) Norris

Other Texas Democratic Primary races I'm endorsing
US House District 27-Vanessa Edwards Foster 
TX House 62- Valerie Hefner    
TX House 75- Rep. Mary Gonzalez
TX House 94- Finnigan Jones   
TX House 123-  Rep. Diego Bernal

Texas Supreme Court Place #2- Steve Kirkland
116th Civil District Court- Tonya Parker
Williamson County Justice of the Peace Pct 4  Stacy Hackenberg

2018 GLBT Caucus Endorsement Meeting

As a proud member of the Houston GLBT Caucus, spent the day at the 2018 Houston GLBT Caucus Endorsement Meeting that started at 11 AM CSI and ended at 5 PM.

It was a packed house at St Stephen's Episcopal Church for much of the day as candidates were there to compete for one of the Houston Big Four political endorsements for liberal-progressive candidates. 

It was contentious at times, and some results i questioned along with others in the room,  but in the end the Caucus  endorsement process worked.

Congrats to the folks who received their endorsement! .

Democratic Primary

U.S. Senator - Beto O’Rourke
U.S. Congressional District #2 - Todd Litton
U.S. Congressional District #7 - No endorsement
U.S. Congressional District #10 - Madeline K. Eden
U.S. Congressional District #14 - Adrienne Bell
U.S. Congressional District #18 - Sheila Jackson Lee
U.S. Congressional District #22 - Sri Preston Kulkarni
U.S. Congressional District #29 - Sylvia R. Garcia
U.S. Congressional District #36 - Dayna Steele
Governor - Andrew White
Lieutenant Governor - Mike Collier
GLO Commissioner - Tex Morgan
State Board of Education #4 - Steven A. Chambers
TX State Senate #15 - John Whitmire
TX State Senate #17 - Fran Watson
TX State House #27 - Ron Reynolds
TX State House #28 - Meghan Scoggins
TX State House #29 - Dylan Forbis
TX State House #126 - Natali Hurtado
TX State House #133 - Sandra G. Moore
TX State House #134 - Allison Sawyer
TX State House #138 - Adam Milasincic
TX State House #139 - Randy Bates
TX State House #142 - Harold V. Dutton Jr.
TX State House #146 - Shawn Nicole Thierry
TX State House #147 - Garnet Coleman
TX 14th Court of Appeals, #3 - Jerry Zimmerer
TX 14th Court of Appeals, #8 - Margaret “Meg” Poissant
55th Civil District Court - Paul Simon
113th Civil District Court - Rabeea Collier
185th Civil District Court - Jason Luong
188th Civil District Court - Scot “Dolli” Dollinger
234th Civil District Court - Lauren Reeder
269th Civil District Court - Cory Sepolio
281st Civil District Court - George Arnold
246th Family District Court - Angela Graves-Harrington
280th Family District Court - Barbara J. Stalder
309th Family District Court - Linda Marie Dunson
313th Family District Court - Natalia Oakes
County Criminal Court #2 - Harold J. Landreneau
County Criminal Court #5 - David M. Fleischer
County Criminal Court #7 - Andrew A. Wright
County Criminal Court #11 - Gus Saper
County Criminal Court #12 - Juan J. Aguirre
County Criminal Court #13 - Raul Rodriguez
County Criminal Court #15 - Kris Ougrah
County Probate Court #2 - Jim L. Peacock
County Probate Court #4 - Michael Galligan
County Civil Court at Law #2 - Jim Kovach
Harris County District Clerk - Marilyn Burgess
Harris County Clerk - Diane Trautman
County Treasurer - Dylan Osborne
Harris County Commissioner #2 - Adrian Garcia
Harris County Commissioner #4 - Penny Shaw
Harris County Justice of the Peace Pr 3, #2 - Don Coffey
Harris County Justice of the Peace Pr 7, #2 - Audrie Lawton
County School Trustee At Large #3 - Elvonte Patton
County School Trustee Pos 6, Pct 1 - Danyahel (Danny) Norris

Republican Primary

U.S. Senator - Mary Miller

Now go handle your business and vote for them in the upcoming Texas primary elections February 20-March 2 (Early Voting) or on March 6  (Election Day) 

The TransGriot 2016 Democratic POTUS Nominee Endorsement Is...

Early voting for the March 1 Texas Primary election starts in a few hours and runs through February 26, and since that's about to take place, think it's a good time to reveal who I support for the Democratic nominee.  That March 1 Texas primary is part of Super Tuesday, in which twelve states will have their primary elections or caucuses.

I was sitting on the fence basically waiting to see which of the surviving candidates in Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders would do what they needed to do to get my support.

I've also looked at both their records, and electability in the fall campaign against the Republican nominee in this crucial election is also important to me as well.

The person who will be getting my endorsement for the Democratic nomination for president is Hillary Clinton.

With this election being a critical one, especially in light of the death of Antonin Scalia highlighting one of my major issue concerns in the composition of the SCOTUS,  we need to have a Democratic nominee who can beat all Republifool comers in the fall election.   Frankly that isn't Bernie Sanders, despite what his overwhelmingly young white supporters think.

He has yet to prove to me he can gain the support of non-white voters, much less has yet to lead in ANY national tracking poll of the 2016 Democratic presidential race.

In addition, where's the beef on his policy proposals?   I also haven't heard much besides his one note railing about 'The Establishment' and Wall Street bankers and 'Hillary is a liar' rhetoric from Sanders supporters.

That doesn't tell me what his plans are to tackle the United States' pressing problems in 2016 and beyond

Note to Sanders supporters before you even attempt to come for me, Bill Clinton isn't running for president. his wife is.  Stop blaming her for the policies that came out of her husband's administration you don't like that Sanders also voted for like the 1994 Crime Bill and against the assault weapons ban in the Brady Bill.

I have not liked the sexist attacks that Bernie Sanders supporters have aimed at Hillary Clinton that basically drove me toward making this announcement.

I'm also concerned about the fact Sanders isn't a Democrat, has disparaged the party in the past and I question just how loyal and committed he would be in getting down ballot Democrats elected nationally and in the various states holding election contests in 2016.

I watched along with the nation as Clinton underwent 11 hours of having the GOP throw the kitchen sink at her in their fake Benghazi hearing and she came through it like a champ.

That's why if she is our nominee I have far more confidence that she will be taking the oath of office on January 20, 2017 than a Bernie Sanders that has never endured 30 years of relentless attacks by the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy that foaming at the mouth hates her like she has.

The bottom line is Hillary Clinton as the former Secretary of State, a US senator, a longtime member of this party and as First Lady is more than qualified to lead and make history as our nation's first female president.

And that's why I'm endorsing her and urging my readers to vote for her in your Democratic primaries for president.

Houston Stonewall Young Democrats 2016 Primary Endorsement Meeting

Early voting for the March 1 Texas primary elections start next Tuesday, February 16 and runs until February 26, so organizations are rushing to get their endorsements done before the first ballots get cast for that primary election

Got the opportunity last night to be in the Little Bigs house in Montrose in reporter mode as the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats conducted their candidate endorsement meeting last night to a room packed full of candidates, campaign staffers and their supporters seeking the HSYD electoral stamp of approval

The Houston Stonewall Young Dems efficiently got through their relatively smooth and rancor free endorsement meeting in a little over an hour and thirty minutes, and it was fascinating as a political junkie to see it happen.

These are the people who received the 2016 HSYD primary endorsements:

Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Brandon Dudley
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg
State Representative District 126 Joy Dawson 
State Representative District 131 Hon. Alma Allen
State Representative District 134 Ben Rose
State Representative District 137 Hon. Gene Wu
State Representative District 139 Randy Bates
State Representative District 144 Hon. Cody Ray Wheeler
State Representative District 148 Hon. Jessica Farrar

Harris County Sheriff Hon. Ed Gonzalez

Constable, Precinct No. 1 Hon. Alan Rosen
Constable, Precinct No. 3 Ken Melancon
Constable, Precinct No. 4 Jeff McGowen
Constable, Precinct No. 6 Hon. Heliodoro Martinez Jr.
Constable, Precinct No. 7 Hon. May Walker
District Judge, 11th Judicial District Rabeea Collier
District Judge, 61st Judicial District Julie Countiss
District Judge, 129th Judicial District Hon. Michael Gomez
District Judge, 151st Judicial District Hon. Mike Engelhart
District Judge, 164th Judicial District Hon. Alexandra Smoots-Hogan
District Judge, 165th Judicial District Hon. Josefina Rendon
District Judge, 174th Judicial District Raul Rodriguez
District Judge, 176th Judicial District Shawna Reagin
District Judge, 179th Judicial District Hon. Randy Roll
District Judge, 177th Judicial District David Singer
District Judge, 215th Judicial District Joshua Verde
District Judge, 333rd Judicial District Daryl Moore
District Judge, 334th Judicial District Hon. Steve Kirkland
District Judge, 337th Judicial District Herb Ritchie
District Judge, 351st Judicial District Greg Glass

Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. 1 George Barnstone
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 1 Tanya Makany-Rivera
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 3, Place 1 Joe Stephens
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 5, Place 1 William McLeod
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 6, Place 1 Hon. Richard Vara
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 7, Place 1 Cheryl Elliott Thornton
Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 2 Hon. Jim Sharp

County School Trustee Position 2, Precinct 4 Marilyn Burgess
State Board of Education, District 6 Dakota Carter

Congratulation to all the candidates receive the HSYD endorsements, and best of luck in the primary.

2015 TransGriot Houston Runoff Election Endorsements

For this 2015 Houston civic election, because of what was at stake in this election cycle,  for the first time in TransGriot blog history I compiled an endorsement post.

With the December 12 runoff election date fast approaching and early voting starting tomorrow, it's time for me to do my endorsement post for the 2015 runoff election

While HERO to my continuing disgust has gone down to defeat, if we are going to have a HERO 2.0 in H-town,  it is imperative as a community that we get the right candidates on city council and a mayoral candidate who is committed to bring it back up again instead of one backed by the Tea Klux Klan and endorsed by Ted Cruz who has made it clear he won't.

And now, the 2015 TransGriot Runoff Election endorsements

***

Mayor:  Sylvester Turner
Controller: Chris Brown

Houston City Council
District F:  Richard Nguyen
District H: Karla Cisneros
District J:  Mike Laster

At Large Position 1:  Georgia Provost
At Large Position 2:   David Robinson
At Large Position 4:   Amanda Edwards
At Large Position 5:    Jack Christie

HISD 
Trustee District II:  Rhonda Skillern-Jones
Trustee District III   Jose Leal

2015 TransGriot Houston Election Endorsements

As many of you longtime TransGriot readers are aware of, I am a serious political geek who lives for Election Day.

In the nearly ten years I have been writing posts for this blog, while I have written posts about various candidates and urged you TransGriot readers to get out and vote in each and every election cycle, I have yet to actually do a post in any election, local, state or national that put the TransGriot seal of approval for a slate of candidates until now.

Introducing the first ever TransGriot 2015 Election Endorsement post for the Houston city elections.

***



Prop. 1  (HERO) : YES
Prop. 2:  YES

Mayor:  Sylvester Turner 
Controller:  Chris Brown

Houston City Council
District B:  Jerry Davis
District C:  Ellen Cohen
District D:  Dwight Boykins
District F:   Richard Nguyen
District H:  Roland Chavez
District I:    Robert Gallegos
District J:   Mike Laster
District K:  Larry Green

At Large Position 1:  Lane Lewis
At Large Position 2:  David Robinson 
At Large Position 3: Joseph McElligot
At Large Position 4: Amanda Edwards
At Large Position 5: Philippe Nassif

HISD
Trustee, District II:      Rhonda Skillern-Jones
Trustee, District III:     Ramiro Fonseca
Trustee District IV:      Jolanda Jones
Trustee, District VIII:  Juliet Stipeche

Houston Community College System
Trustee Position III:     Adriana Tamez
Trustee Position VIII:  Eva Loredo

Moni's In The Middle Of The 2015 Houston GLBT Caucus Endorsement Meeting

I  have attended a few Houston GLBT Political Caucus meetings before and after my Texan in Exile days in Da Ville, but this one was going to be special.    It was going to be my first one ever as a paid member of the Caucus, and it also happened to be the 2015 Caucus Endorsement Meeting. 

Founded in 1975, the Houston GLBT Political Caucus is not only one of the oldest organizations of its kind in the southern US dedicated solely to the advancement of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans equality, it is also the largest political organization in Houston and Harris County. 

A Houston GLBT Caucus endorsement, while it is a nonpartisan org that gives the endorsement based on your support of LGBT rights, has basically become over time one of the most sought after and critical ones if you are a liberal-progressive leaning candidate running for office in the Houston area. 

Getting that endorsement helps your campaign tremendously if you get it, because their endorsement cards are used by Houston LGBT voters and our allies to ensure they are voting for liberal-progressive leaning candidates that have our community's trans..bi and SGL human rights interests at heart and will do a great job in the office they were endorsed by the Caucus for.. 

So while I have experienced being a participant in the political candidate endorsing process when I lived in Louisville and was a member of the Fairness Campaign board, I was still excited about today's events.

I didn't get there until 12:55 PM because I overslept, but once I arrived at the meeting venue I could feel the excitement in the air as I walked into the IBEW Union Hall where they had to move this endorsement meeting from the Montrose Center.  I later discovered that this was possibly the largest endorsement meeting ever attendance wise in caucus history.

Interest was huge because we in H-town are selecting a new mayor to replace outgoing Mayor Annise Parker and in the wake of recent political events surrounding HERO..  It was definitely on my mind and the minds of the folks in that packed and overly warm house.   The air conditioning in the building was having problems and improvised fans were having to be used by the meeting attendees until the AC issue got sorted out.. 

Five seconds after I walked into the room I ran into HISD school board trustee Juliet Stipeche who was seeking the Caucus endorsement in her race.   It also didn't take me long to start running into old friends like Ray Hill, Brandon Mack, Ashton Woods, Fran & Kim Watson, Dalton DeHart, Melissa Vivanco, Lou Weaver,, Brenda Langer, Michael Webb, Antonio Maldonado, Maverick Welsh, Nikki Araguz Loyd and Will Loyd/   It was also an opportunity yo meet new ones like Sharon Fuller.

I also started running into friends running for office like Jenifer Pool, Jolanda Jones and Lane Lewis and candidates seeking Caucus support that I'd met at various events over the last few months like Phillipe Nassif, Amanda Edwards and Laurie Robinson, along with my first 

Not long after I arrived at 12:55 PM because I overslept, the meeting started.  After voting to by acclimation give all the candidates in non-contested races except one the Caucus endorsements they sought,  and that all candidates endorsed by the Houston GLBT Political Caucus must publicly support ‪HERO‬ on some campaign materials, the meeting moved on to the business of dealing with the contested races, starting with the mayor's race.

It  took six hours of sometimes contentious debate and arguments that at times got heated, but in the end no chairs were thrown and no fights broke out.   The Caucus endorsement business was handled masterfully by Maria Gonzalez who kept the meeting civil and Daniel Williams who served as the parliamentarian ensuring Robert's Rules of Order were correctly and fairly applied.

Here are the candidates who earned Houston GLBT Caucus endorsements:.

Mayor 
Sylvester Turner

City Council
District B - Jerry Davis; District C - Ellen Cohen; District F - Richard A. Nguyen;
District H - Roland Chavez; District I - Robert Gallegos; District J-Mike Laster; District K-Larry Green

City Council At Large
Position 1 - Lane Lewis; Position 2 - David Robinson; Position 3 - Doug Peterson; Position 4 - Amanda K. Edwards,  Position 5 - Phillipe Nassif

Controller
Chris Brown

HISD School Board Trustee
District 2 - Rhonda Skillern Jones; Position 3 - Ramiro Fonseca; Position 4 - Jolanda Jones; Position 8 Juliet Katherine Stipeche

HCCS Board
District 3 - Adriana Tamez; Position 8 - Eva Loredo.

Congratulations to all the candidates who did get the Caucus endorsement, and to those who didn't, sorry it didn't happen for you this cycle.  

Now let's focus on the next step of getting them in office this November.