(C) Texas Tribune This story was originally published by Texas Tribune and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Blast: Allred on Harris — “I’ve got my own race” [1] [] Date: 2024-08 Aug 16, 2024 | View in browser By Renzo Downey and The Texas Tribune Politics Team 3 days until the Democratic National Convention 20 days until TribFest 25 days until the ABC presidential debate 46 days until the CBS vice presidential debate Why do y’all want to talk about the Harris camp so much? After fielding a question about Democratic energy now that Vice President Kamala Harris is atop the ticket, The Blast approached U.S. Rep. Colin Allred to ask him whether he would engage with Harris on border issues as she speaks up about border policies and he runs to oust U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Since Harris took over the ticket, Allred has been demure in his comments about the vice president. Answering his second Harris question of the event he was less mindful. “Why do y’all want to talk about the Harris campaign so much? I’ve got my own race. Honestly?” Allred told The Blast before addressing Harris’ border positions. “I don’t know what they’re doing. We’ll have to see.” “Here’s what I believe, is that we have to have a senator from Texas who puts us first ... and who would disagree with their party where necessary,” Allred said. He acknowledged the blowback he got when he split from Joe Biden when he said the president wasn’t being urgent enough about the border. “The difference between me and Cruz is that you’ll never hear him disagree with anything that Donald Trump says.” An initial release from the Texas Democratic Party did not include Allred on the list of delegation breakfast speakers for next week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago Monday through Thursday, stirring questions about why he wasn’t speaking. However, a later email included Allred’s name as a Thursday speaker. Cruz’s campaign has also made a point that the candidate they call “Can’t Comment Colin” hadn’t done a news conference in over 50 days. Today, Allred decidedly reset that counter when he invited questions from the media. As Allred campaigns against Cruz, he’s also fighting comparisons to former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke and the approach O’Rourke took during his multiple campaigns. O’Rourke’s strategy was to be everywhere at once, checking all 254 counties off his campaign list. Allred, who flipped a red seat when he was first elected to Congress in 2018, has taken less of a DIY punk rock approach. During today’s event, a roundtable on Social Security and Medicare, Allred had a free-flowing dialogue with constituents at the Travis County Democratic Party’s coordinated campaign headquarters. He kept his introduction brief and followed the natural course of the conversation as it wandered from the importance of Social Security and Medicare to policy fixes to political messaging suggestions. That approach could do well to reach active voters. We won’t know till Election Day whether it’s a winning strategy. The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. HIDDEN AD Erica Lee Carter clears the CD-18 field So far, Erica Lee Carter has successfully cleared the field as a candidate to finish out her mother’s term. On Wednesday, new 18th Congressional District Democratic nominee Sylvester Turner told The Blast he would not run to complete the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s current term. Today, two-time nomination runner-up Amanda Edwards announced she wouldn’t either. If too many strong candidates run in the special election and no one wins a majority, the race would go to a runoff election, the timing of which would render the race moot. Instead, Turner has endorsed Carter, and Edwards told The Blast she would coalesce around the Democrats’ choice — without naming Carter. “Because I know how important it is to have representation for the district at the end of the year, I do not want to have my personal desire to serve this district interfere with our ability to get that done,” Edwards said in a recorded video. At 1 p.m. today, the Harris County Elections Department told The Blast that the Texas Secretary of State had not notified them of any candidate who has applied for the special election. When Carter announced her special election campaign on Monday, her spokesperson said she would “officially file soon.” Carter’s campaign did not respond to The Blast’s request for an update on Friday about that filing. While Turner has said he will run for only two terms and then hand the district off to the next generation, some have noted that Edwards represented the next generation. However, selecting the next congressperson by committee, as precinct chairs in the district effectively did when they chose Turner as the Democratic nominee, could be seen as an anti-Democratic way to make the handoff. That logic didn’t stop Harris County Democrats from selecting now-entrenched replacements in 2016. Like Turner, then-state Sen. Rodney Ellis earned his spot on the Commissioner’s Court ballot in 2016 by winning a vote among precinct chairs. Then-state Rep. Borris Miles took Ellis’ spot on the Senate ballot the same way. Future state Rep. Shawn Thierry followed Miles up the line. If the anointed next generation doesn’t work for their constituents, they have the opportunity to vote them out. Just ask Thierry. Lone Star Wars: Return of the Guaranteed Assistance “Little does Luke know that the GALACTIC EMPIRE has secretly begun construction on a new armored space station even more powerful than the first dreaded Death Star.” The Harris County Commissioners Court yesterday approved its alternative to its guaranteed income program, a $500 monthly family assistance program to be used at certain vendors, but some critics want to build a second ultimate preemption bill. Financed by funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, the Uplift Harris program would have provided almost 2,000 households in the area’s poorest neighborhoods with $500 a month for 18 months. However, that initiative remains blocked by the Texas Supreme Court as the dispute goes to trial, thanks to a challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. “Hundreds of Harris County families were counting on $500 monthly payments back in April to help lift them out of poverty, and they were left in the lurch because of Texas state leaders’ political posturing,” County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a statement. “While launching this new program instead of a guaranteed income program isn’t ideal, it’s the best way we can try to keep our promise to these families.” High-ranking Republican state lawmakers are already considering drafting a bill next session to stomp out programs like the latest iteration, building off House Bill 2127. That law is called the “Death Star” law by critics and proponents alike, including state Rep. Dustin Burrows, the Lubbock Republican and Speaker Dade Phelan lieutenant who authored the bill. It was supposedly the preemption bill to end all preemption bills. “Never would have thought the Texas Legislature would have to stop cities from engaging in blatant socialism through wealth redistribution, but here we are. Add it to the top of the list for the 89th! @Burrows4TX,” state Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, posted on social media while tagging the HB 2127 author. “Looks like we need a Death Star for commie city programs now.” Burrows responded with only a photo of the Death Star schematics. Frankly, The Blast thinks Burrows should start taking social media inspiration from Return of the Jedi. Cuellar will not be at the DNC Texas’ congressional delegation will make a healthy showing at the DNC. But one of the state’s most famous U.S. House Democrats will not be there: Henry Cuellar. Cuellar was indicted earlier this year on charges of bribery, money laundering and working as a foreign agent for Azerbaijan. It was a shocking slate of charges that made him lose his leadership role in the House Appropriations Committee and could send him to prison for years. Cuellar denies the allegations. Cuellar is barred from leaving south and west Texas except to go to Washington for congressional business. Cuellar said in a text message he’ll be back home during the Chicago convention, “working the district.” — Matthew Choi The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. HIDDEN AD HIDDEN IMAGE State Rep. Mary González, D-Clint, says she will not seek reelection as chair of the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus. The House Defense and Veterans’ Affairs Committee will meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. House Bill 90: Guaranteed $500,000 to the families of Operation Lone Star troops if they die in the line of duty, inspired by Bishop Evans House Bill 671: Veterans suicide prevention House Bill 1457: Grants to benefit the mental health of veterans or veterans’ families House Bill 2951: Establishing a service dog pilot program Senate Bill 538: Allows the Texas State Guard to spend money on recruitment and retention The House Defense and Veterans’ Affairs Committee will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday on the downtown campus of the University of Texas at San Antonio. SB 422: Extending the recognition of out-of-state occupational licenses of military spouses to military service members Evaluate compliance with service member and spouse out-of-state licensing use Evaluate the strength of Texas military bases based on a federal scoring system Recruitment and retention Review UTSA’s role in defense research NEW: The House Elections Committee will meet at 10 a.m. on Aug. 26. NEW: The House Human Services Committee will meet at 9 a.m. on Aug. 27. The Senate Business and Commerce Committee will meet at 9 a.m. on Aug. 27. View the list of upcoming meeting notices here and here. HIDDEN IMAGE TX-SEN: U.S. Rep. Colin Allred will be in San Antonio tomorrow to receive Mayor Ron Niremberg’s endorsement and talk about bipartisanship. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz will be in Fort Worth to launch his DFW Campaign Headquarters “in Colin Allred’s backyard.” Cruz will be joined by Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare, state Rep. Nate Schatzline of Fort Worth and Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French. HD-56: State Rep. Doc Anderson, R-Waco, resigned yesterday rather than finish out his 10th and final term, asking Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special election to fill the seat. Waco businessman Pat Curry is the Republican nominee to succeed him in the General Election. HIDDEN IMAGE When The Blast noted that Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht ’s birthday was yesterday, one astute reader noted that Hecht is now 75. Thus starts the clock toward his retirement at the end of his term in 2026 — that is, unless Texas lawmakers can reverse their fortunes on changing the Texas constitution to raise the judicial retirement age from 75. ’s birthday was yesterday, one astute reader noted that Hecht is now 75. Thus starts the clock toward his retirement at the end of his term in 2026 — that is, unless Texas lawmakers can reverse their fortunes on changing the Texas constitution to raise the judicial retirement age from 75. In a remark yesterday that drew quick rebukes from those who said it was not respectful to veterans, former U.S. President Donald Trump said the Presidential Medal of Freedom he awarded to casino mogul Miriam Adelson, a rising Texas political powerhouse, is “much better” than the Congressional Medal of Honor. “Everyone gets the Congressional Medal of Honor. That’s soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets or they’re dead. She gets it, and she’s a healthy, beautiful woman. They’re rated equal.” HIDDEN IMAGE U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz will join Hartmann Inc. for a facility tour and manufacturing roundtable in Abilene, including with the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. HIDDEN IMAGE Do you or someone in your office have a new job you’d like mentioned? Email us. Today marks Texas Tribune D.C. fellow Isaac Yu’s last day with the Tribune. He also kindly stepped up for Blast duties while your lead writer was out of town this summer. Next, Yu will be a Hearst fellow writing out of their Austin bureau. Godspeed, Isaac. The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. HIDDEN AD HIDDEN IMAGE HIDDEN IMAGE HIDDEN IMAGE Do you or someone in your office have a birthday you’d like mentioned? Email us. (Aug. 16) Former Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff (Aug. 16) State Rep. Sheryl Cole, D-Austin (Aug. 16) State Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine (Aug. 17) State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston (Aug. 17) State Rep. Jon Rosenthal, D-Houston (Aug 18.) Former Lt. Gov. David Dewherst (Aug. 18) State Rep. Lina Ortega, D-El Paso SPONSOR MESSAGES Earthx2025 is an environmental conference featuring conversations to present solutions for the future and opportunities to build new coalitions and partnerships. Methodist Healthcare Ministries is committed to health equity—striving to create more fair and just opportunities for all to thrive. Texas Association of Community Colleges - Texas community colleges are the state’s economic engine for recovery. Our colleges provide credentials that meet regional and local workforce demands. Visit tacc.org. Success for every student. Value for every partner. Lasting economic impact for the North Texas region. That’s Tarrant County College. tccd.edu [END] --- [1] Url: https://mailchi.mp/texastribune/the-blast-allred-on-harris-ive-got-my-own-race Published and (C) by Texas Tribune Content appears here under this condition or license: Used with Permission: https://www.texastribune.org/republishing-guidelines/. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/texastribune/