Texas Republicans Win Upset in Special Election

[DonViejo]

September 19, 2018 at 8:16 am EDT By Taegan Goddard

“Voters elected political newcomer Pete Flores (R) to the Texas Senate on Tuesday, flipping a Democratic district red for the first time in 139 years and bolstering Republicans’ supermajority in the chamber ahead of the November elections,” the San Antonio Express-News reports.

Texas Tribune: “Flores’ victory grows the Senate GOP majority to 21 members, an important figure as the caucus enters the November elections looking to protect its supermajority with as many as three of its seats in play. Currently Republicans need a three-fifths majority — 19 members — to bring legislation to the floor without Democratic support.”

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https://politicalwire.com/2018/09/19/texas-republicans-win-upset-in-special-election/

[democratic friend]

1. What on earth happened?

Did nobody show up? Hillary won by 20 percent. A repug not in seat for 139 years? Good grief.

[bearsfootball516]

2. This happened:

"Flores will finish Uresti's term, which stretches into 2021. The former lawmaker resigned in June after being found guilty of 11 felonies, including fraud and money laundering, related to his involvement with FourWinds Logistics, a now-defunct oilfield services company found to have perpetrated a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors."

I'm guessing Democrats stayed home after that and it fired up Republicans. That's usually what happens in special elections when the politician in power is ousted due to something like this.

[blogslut]

3. The election was to fill the seat of a man convicted of 11 felonies

I would imagine the conviction of Carlos Uresti discouraged many Democrats in the district as well as encouraging its repub voters.