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Super Tuesday Winner: Texas Democrats

Super Tuesday Losers: Texas Republican Leaders
In state after state, including traditionally Republican states, independent voters and “new” voters have joined highly-motivated Democrats to propel a much higher turnout in Democratic primaries, casting far more votes than a dispirited Republican base has cast in their primaries. Contrary to the prediction of most observers, including the Lone Star Project, that pattern will continue on March 4th, when a reenergized Texas Democratic Party will be in the center of an important primary campaign while Texas Republicans are left with a lackluster contest and John McCain all but officially chosen as their nominee. Ironically, by failing to pass an early primary bill proposed by Democrats last year, Rick Perry, Tom Craddick and David Dewhurst relegated Texas Republicans to afterthought status.

Texas Republican Leaders Back Lame Horse(s)

For Texas Republican leaders, John McCain was also an afterthought. Not one Texas statewide officeholder named McCain as their first choice for President. Rick Perry, in fact, picked New Yorker Rudy Giuliani, whose campaign spent over $50 million to claim only one delegate. (Source: Dallas Morning News, January 31, 2008)   Texas AG Greg Abbot and Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson chose almost as badly, picking Fred Thompson, whose sleepy campaign ended early.(Source: Fred Thompson Campaign Website)

While it’s up to Republican activists to hold Perry, Craddick and Dewhurst accountable for failing their party, Texas Democrats are preparing for an exciting primary, familiarizing themselves with delegate selection rules and recent Democratic Primary turnout trends, and looking forward to November with energy and optimism.

How Does the Texas Primary Work?

Texas will send a total of 228 delegates to the Democratic National Convention. 126 delegates will be assigned based on primary results in 31 State Senate Districts (instead of allocating delegates by its 32 Congressional Districts like many states). The number of delegates in each Senate district varies based on previous Democratic turnout in the last two general elections. The delegates from each Senate District are assigned to candidates proportionally based on the percentages they receive on primary day.

Of the remaining 102 delegates, 67 are determined through a convention process that begins at precinct conventions (caucuses) on the night of March 4 and culminates with delegate allocation based on each candidate’s delegate strength at the State Convention on June 6-8. Of those 67 delegates, 42 are “at large” rank and file delegates and 25 are pledged party leaders, legislators, and local elected officials.

The remaing 35 delegates are “unpledged” delegates, including 32 so-called “superdelegates” who are DNC Members, Members of Congress, a former House Speaker and a former DNC Chair. Three other delegate slots are reserved for highly-honored state Democrats, such as respected former officholders.

  • 126 Senatorial District Level Delegates allocated by primary results.
  • 42 At-Large Delegates and 25 Pledged Party Leaders, Democratic Mayors and Legislators, all allocated by the presidential preference of delegates attending the State convention (with a 15 percent threshold).
  • 32 Super Delegates made up of Members of Congress, Members of the DNC, past House Speakers and former DNC Chairs.
  • 3 Unpledged Delegates (Add-Ons) elected through a three-tier, post-primary convention process.

Texas Democratic Delegate
Subtotals by Region
RegionColorDelegates
AustinLight Blue

8

Border/SouthGreen22
Hill Country – CentralOrange12
East-CentralBrown8
EastPurple16
Houston-GalvestonRed26
North TexasYellow26
West TexasDark Blue8
Texas 126
Texas Democratic Delegate
Totals By Senate District
Senate DistrictDelegatesRegion
14East
24East
34East
44East
54East-Central
63Houston-Galveston
73Houston-Galveston
84North Texas
93North Texas
105North Texas
114Houston-Galveston
124North Texas
137Houston-Galveston
148Austin
154Houston-Galveston
164North Texas
175Houston-Galveston
184East-Central
194Border/South
204Border/South
214Border/South
223Hill Country-Central
236North Texas
243Hill Country-Central
256Hill Country-Central
264Border/South
273Border/South
283West Texas
293Border/South
303West Texas
312West Texas
Total126 

 

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