Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
And the 2016 Winners are . . .
Wow, what a night! If you enjoy the sport of politics, then this was an election to remember. It had all the cliffhanger moments, but in the end the desired tone of certainty. Fox News announced the Presidency in favor of Trump at 1:40 a.m., once Pennsylvania was in his column for certain. That gave Trump 276 electoral votes (270 required to win). Hillary conceded not long after. Other states remain leaning Republican, so Trump's electoral votes will likely pass 300 once the dust settles.
There were 12 governships up for election around the country. It appears Republicans have taken 7 (ND, VT, IN, NH, MO, UT and with MT leaning R) and Democrats have taken 5 (DE, OR, WA, WV and with NC leaning D). I'm unsure how many, if any, of those represent party flips. What is interesting to me is how many of those states split their Presidential and Gubernatorial votes. VT and NH, while voting Hillary, have elected Republican governors. And WV and NC, while voting Trump, have elected Democrat governors. Voters are curious animals.
The US Senate will likely remain in control of Republicans by a narrow margin. Called races give Republicans 51 seats and 47 to Democrats, with a New Hampshire seat leaning Republican, and a Lousianna seat proceeding to a runoff.
The US House of Representatives will remain firmly in Republican control. With 435 seats, called elections give Republicans 236, and Democrats 191, with 8 seats still in play.
That gives Republicans at least tacit control of Congress and the White House. May they spend the next 2 years wisely!
The statewide and Bastrop County election results for contested races are as follows:
In Texas, I see the following:
It appears Republicans might have lost about 4 seats in the Texas House, dropping our majority from 99 of 150 seats to around 95.
In the Texas Senate, there appears to have been no shift in seats, so Republicans are likely to continue to hold 20 of the 31 positions.
My assessments of the Texas Legislature was based on incomplete data, so don't be surprised if the shifts are larger than what I indicate, but that is the best I could tell while all media attention was on the White House.
In the Court of Criminal Appeals, incumbent Larry Meyers was defeated. He was elected to the court as a Republican, served for many years, then switched party to Democrat mid-term this last term. He stood election for his first time as a Democrat this election, and was defeated by Republican challenger Mary Lou Keel.
In County politics, Republicans did very well. We elected Maurice Cook as Sheriff, Mel Hamner as Commissioner, Pct 1, and Wayne Wood as Constable, Pct 1. Tim Sparkman was also elected Constable, Pct 3, which represents another local Republican gain. Congratulations to each of them! Our losses included Colton Stabeno for an open seat as Commissioner, Pct 3 and Travis Lucas for Constable, Pct 2 against a Democrat incumbent. Both ran very competitive races and have much to be proud of.
We also elected locally Sal Abreo as Constable, Precinct 4. He ran unopposed, but it is deserving of special recognition. Sal was appointed to the position when the elected Democrat Constable there resigned. He has done a great job, drew no opponent, and now has been elected to his first full term, cementing another D-to-R flip.
This election we had record high voter registration at 45,013, and record high voter participation with 28,857 ballots cast. Voter turnout in the county was at 64.11%. We had 6,891 straight-party Republican votes cast to the Democrats' 5,549. Comparing that to last Presidential election, we have seen the most growth in that area, with Republicans having received 5,722 straight-party votes to the Democrats' 5,006 in the 2012 Presidential election.
In city and school board issues, the following occurred:
Smithville ISD residents approved the proposed $35 million bond.
Bastrop ISD residents rejected the proposed $75 million bond and the proposed tax rate increase.
City of Bastrop rejected all propositions that would have lowered the number of signatures required for initiatives, referenda, or recall elections. However, they approved the propositions setting 180 days as the timeframe within which to collect signatures for inititives or refernda.
The voters of ESD1 and Mustang Ridge both voted to annex Mustang Ridge into ESD1, providing them with emergency services in that area. On the proposition asking whether residents of Mustang Ridge would share proportionately in the outstanding debt of ESD1, the residents of ESD1 approved that, but the residents of Mustang Ridge split evenly (all 12 of them who voted).
The analysis would be incomplete without special kudos to the Bastrop County election staff. They always strive for prompt and accurate returns, but this year they delivered in a big way. In a Presidential election year in which turnout was at a record high, and in which the number of non-partisan issues on the ballot was a record high (giving more complexity to the issues of the election) they posted early vote numbers at 7:05 pm, and final unofficial results by 9:39 pm. Never before has so much volume been processed in so little time. Congratulations to them on a job well done.
Thanks to all the candidates, volunteers, party officials, election workers, election staff and voters that make free elections possible.
With only two local disappointments for Republicans, it was otherwise a good night for us from the top to the bottom of the ballot. I'm grateful to God for the mercy He has shown us and the oppotunity He has given us.
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
There were 12 governships up for election around the country. It appears Republicans have taken 7 (ND, VT, IN, NH, MO, UT and with MT leaning R) and Democrats have taken 5 (DE, OR, WA, WV and with NC leaning D). I'm unsure how many, if any, of those represent party flips. What is interesting to me is how many of those states split their Presidential and Gubernatorial votes. VT and NH, while voting Hillary, have elected Republican governors. And WV and NC, while voting Trump, have elected Democrat governors. Voters are curious animals.
The US Senate will likely remain in control of Republicans by a narrow margin. Called races give Republicans 51 seats and 47 to Democrats, with a New Hampshire seat leaning Republican, and a Lousianna seat proceeding to a runoff.
The US House of Representatives will remain firmly in Republican control. With 435 seats, called elections give Republicans 236, and Democrats 191, with 8 seats still in play.
That gives Republicans at least tacit control of Congress and the White House. May they spend the next 2 years wisely!
The statewide and Bastrop County election results for contested races are as follows:
| Race | Candidates | Bastrop | Texas | Reporting |
| President | Trump (R) | 56.97% | 51.86% | 94.55% |
| Clinton (D) | 36.86% | 43.87% | 94.55% | |
| Johnson (L) | 3.71% | 2.76% | 94.55% | |
| Stein (G) | 1.12% | 0.80% | 94.55% | |
| US Rep 10 | Michael McCaul (R) | 58.50% | 57.38% | 99.93% |
| Tawana Cadien (D) | 36.20% | 38.39% | 99.93% | |
| Bill Kelsey (L) | 5.30% | 4.22% | 99.93% | |
| US Rep 17 | Bill Flores (R) | 64.88% | 60.83% | 100.00% |
| William Matta (D) | 28.78% | 35.21% | 100.00% | |
| Clark Patterson (L) | 6.34% | 3.94% | 100.00% | |
| US Rep 27 | Blake Farenthold (R) | 61.70% | 61.71% | 99.72% |
| Raul (Roy) Barrera (D) | 38.30% | 38.28% | 99.72% | |
| Railroad Commission | Wayne Christian (R) | 53.33% | 52.72% | 94.54% |
| Grady Yarbrough (D) | 34.71% | 38.76% | 94.54% | |
| Mark Miller (L) | 7.71% | 5.27% | 94.54% | |
| Martina Salinas (G) | 4.25% | 3.23% | 94.54% | |
| TX Supreme Crt, Plc 3 | Debra Lehrmann (R) | 55.56% | 54.53% | 94.54% |
| Mike Westergren (D) | 34.59% | 38.86% | 94.54% | |
| Kathie Glass (L) | 6.84% | 3.98% | 94.54% | |
| Rodolfo Rivera Munoz (G) | 3.01% | 2.62% | 94.54% | |
| TX Supreme Crt, Plc 5 | Paul Green (R) | 55.92% | 53.94% | 94.54% |
| Dori Contreras Garza (D) | 37.24% | 41.52% | 94.54% | |
| Tom Oxford (L) | 5.11% | 3.29% | 94.54% | |
| Charles Waterbury (G) | 1.73% | 1.23% | 94.54% | |
| TX Supreme Crt, Plc 9 | Eva Guzman (R) | 55.62% | 55.40% | 94.54% |
| Savannah Robinson (D) | 36.48% | 39.76% | 94.54% | |
| Don Fulton (L) | 5.60% | 3.47% | 94.54% | |
| Jim Chisholm (G) | 2.30% | 1.35% | 94.54% | |
| Criminal Appeals, Plc 2 | Mary Lou Keel (R) | 55.89% | 55.03% | 96.26% |
| Larry Meyers (D) | 36.11% | 39.90% | 96.26% | |
| Mark Ash (L) | 6.00% | 3.67% | 96.26% | |
| Adam Reposa (G) | 2.01% | 1.37% | 96.26% | |
| Criminal Appeals, Plc 5 | Scott Walker (R) | 56.23% | 54.89% | 96.26% |
| Betsy Johnson (D) | 36.50% | 40.08% | 96.26% | |
| William Strange, III (L) | 4.32% | 2.85% | 96.26% | |
| Judith Sanders-Castro (G) | 2.95% | 2.16% | 96.26% | |
| Criminal Appeals, Plc 6 | Michael Keasler (R) | 56.06% | 55.12% | 96.26% |
| Robert Burns (D) | 37.19% | 40.75% | 96.26% | |
| Mark Bennett (L) | 6.75% | 4.11% | 96.26% | |
| Brd of Education, Dist 10 | Tom Maynard (R) | 58.02% | 56.34% | 100.00% |
| Judy Jennings (D) | 41.98% | 43.65% | 100.00% | |
| Sheriff | Maurice Cook (R) | 58.16% | ||
| Mike Renck (D) | 41.84% | |||
| Commissioner, Pct 1 | Mel Hamner (R) | 58.10% | ||
| Dock Jackson (D) | 41.90% | |||
| Commissioner, Pct 3 | Colton Stabeno (R) | 48.23% | ||
| Mark Meuth (D) | 51.77% | |||
| Constable, Pct 1 | Wayne Wood (R) | 73.03% | ||
| James Burke (I) | 26.97% | |||
| Constable, Pct 2 | Travis Lucas (R) | 47.89% | ||
| Gus Meduna | 52.11% | |||
| Constable, Pct 3 | Tim Sparkman (R) | 57.30% | ||
| Alex Pena (D) | 42.70% | |||
| City of Bastrop, Prop 1 | For | 44.24% | ||
| Against | 55.76% | |||
| Change the required number of signatures for a ballot initiative from 20% to 5%? | ||||
| City of Bastrop, Prop 2 | For | 64.68% | ||
| Against | 35.32% | |||
| Ballot initative signatures must be gathered in 180 days? | ||||
| City of Bastrop, Prop 3 | For | 42.21% | ||
| Against | 57.79% | |||
| Change the required number of signatures for a referendum from 20% to 5%? | ||||
| City of Bastrop, Prop 4 | For | 63.30% | ||
| Against | 36.70% | |||
| Referendum signatures must be gathered in 180 days? | ||||
| City of Bastrop, Prop 5 | For | 45.61% | ||
| Against | 54.39% | |||
| Change the required number of signatures for a recall election from 25% to 10%? | ||||
| Bastrop ISD Bond | For | 46.05% | ||
| Against | 53.95% | |||
| Bastrop ISD Tax | For | 36.39% | ||
| Against | 63.61% | |||
| Smithville ISD Bond | For | 57.19% | ||
| Against | 42.81% | |||
| ESD 1 Annex Prop 1 | ||||
| Mustang Ridge residents | For | 66.67% | ||
| Against | 33.33% | |||
| ESD 1 residents | For | 64.15% | ||
| Against | 35.85% | |||
| Whether to annex Mustang Ridge into ESD 1? | ||||
| ESD 1 Annex Prop 2 | ||||
| Mustang Ridge residents | For | 50.00% | ||
| Against | 50.00% | |||
| ESD 1 residents | For | 73.34% | ||
| Against | 26.66% | |||
| Whether Mustang Ridge shares a proportionate amount of ESD 1's outstanding debt? | ||||
In Texas, I see the following:
It appears Republicans might have lost about 4 seats in the Texas House, dropping our majority from 99 of 150 seats to around 95.
In the Texas Senate, there appears to have been no shift in seats, so Republicans are likely to continue to hold 20 of the 31 positions.
My assessments of the Texas Legislature was based on incomplete data, so don't be surprised if the shifts are larger than what I indicate, but that is the best I could tell while all media attention was on the White House.
In the Court of Criminal Appeals, incumbent Larry Meyers was defeated. He was elected to the court as a Republican, served for many years, then switched party to Democrat mid-term this last term. He stood election for his first time as a Democrat this election, and was defeated by Republican challenger Mary Lou Keel.
In County politics, Republicans did very well. We elected Maurice Cook as Sheriff, Mel Hamner as Commissioner, Pct 1, and Wayne Wood as Constable, Pct 1. Tim Sparkman was also elected Constable, Pct 3, which represents another local Republican gain. Congratulations to each of them! Our losses included Colton Stabeno for an open seat as Commissioner, Pct 3 and Travis Lucas for Constable, Pct 2 against a Democrat incumbent. Both ran very competitive races and have much to be proud of.
We also elected locally Sal Abreo as Constable, Precinct 4. He ran unopposed, but it is deserving of special recognition. Sal was appointed to the position when the elected Democrat Constable there resigned. He has done a great job, drew no opponent, and now has been elected to his first full term, cementing another D-to-R flip.
This election we had record high voter registration at 45,013, and record high voter participation with 28,857 ballots cast. Voter turnout in the county was at 64.11%. We had 6,891 straight-party Republican votes cast to the Democrats' 5,549. Comparing that to last Presidential election, we have seen the most growth in that area, with Republicans having received 5,722 straight-party votes to the Democrats' 5,006 in the 2012 Presidential election.
In city and school board issues, the following occurred:
Smithville ISD residents approved the proposed $35 million bond.
Bastrop ISD residents rejected the proposed $75 million bond and the proposed tax rate increase.
City of Bastrop rejected all propositions that would have lowered the number of signatures required for initiatives, referenda, or recall elections. However, they approved the propositions setting 180 days as the timeframe within which to collect signatures for inititives or refernda.
The voters of ESD1 and Mustang Ridge both voted to annex Mustang Ridge into ESD1, providing them with emergency services in that area. On the proposition asking whether residents of Mustang Ridge would share proportionately in the outstanding debt of ESD1, the residents of ESD1 approved that, but the residents of Mustang Ridge split evenly (all 12 of them who voted).
The analysis would be incomplete without special kudos to the Bastrop County election staff. They always strive for prompt and accurate returns, but this year they delivered in a big way. In a Presidential election year in which turnout was at a record high, and in which the number of non-partisan issues on the ballot was a record high (giving more complexity to the issues of the election) they posted early vote numbers at 7:05 pm, and final unofficial results by 9:39 pm. Never before has so much volume been processed in so little time. Congratulations to them on a job well done.
Thanks to all the candidates, volunteers, party officials, election workers, election staff and voters that make free elections possible.
With only two local disappointments for Republicans, it was otherwise a good night for us from the top to the bottom of the ballot. I'm grateful to God for the mercy He has shown us and the oppotunity He has given us.
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
Monday, November 7, 2016
Go VOTE!
Election day has finally arrived! Polls will be open from 7am to 7pm on Tuesday, November 8. If you have not voted early, then go vote! And when you vote, consider voting straight-party Republican for a strong showing of party support. But if you do, remember there are some non-partisan issues at the bottom of your ballot that still need attention.
Don't forget that on election day, you must vote at the location designated for the precinct you are registered in.
Click here for the election day polling locations for each precinct in Bastrop County.
Click here to find out what precinct you are in.
Review the other blog stories below for further information on the Republican candidates and study resources on the non-partisan issues on your ballot.
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
Don't forget that on election day, you must vote at the location designated for the precinct you are registered in.
Click here for the election day polling locations for each precinct in Bastrop County.
Click here to find out what precinct you are in.
Review the other blog stories below for further information on the Republican candidates and study resources on the non-partisan issues on your ballot.
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Early Voting Ends Friday
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