Texas blue tsunami predictions a false alarm again

Though the margins in the state’s presidential race were narrower than they have been in years, Texas Democrats underperformed the high expectations they had set for themselves, particularly in the battle for dominance in the Texas House.#tx2020 https://t.co/gO48v4iTaw

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) November 4, 2020

Where we’re at in Texas at this hour:

Trump +6

Cornyn +10

After targeting 10 U.S. House seats, it’s increasingly possible Dems pick up none

State House isn’t flipping, unclear if Dems will even see a net gain

— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) November 4, 2020

The Houston metro area was almost a worst-case scenario for Dems in 2020.

They lost all their congressional targets (#TX02, #TX10, #TX22) & 4/5 #txlege targets (#HD26, #HD28, #HD126, #HD138). @gina_calanni was unseated in #HD132 & Biden barely beat Clinton's Harris County margin

— Jasper Scherer (@jaspscherer) November 4, 2020

What. A. Wipeout. It looks as if the long-awaited Latinx turnout turned against them.

One of the biggest stories in #Texas is what has unfolded in South Texas. Look at Starr County in the Rio Grande Valley, heavy Latino population. It’s a small county but the swing is unreal. Clinton won 79-19 in 2016. Biden won 52-47.

— ed lavandera (@edlavaCNN) November 4, 2020

results from starr county, texas, the most latino county in the united states (96% latino)

2016: clinton+60
2020: biden+5 with >98% reporting

we are witnessing a dramatic and historic realignment pic.twitter.com/PxC7ofJYL7

— Thao Nguyen (@nguyenthevote) November 4, 2020

More later.

My Ballot 2, Hotze et.al. 0

Actually ...

this is what we call "losing a point twice” in tennis #tx2020 https://t.co/R7JPWQv6ZH

— Evan Smith (@evanasmith) November 2, 2020

But as you can see (or perhaps already know), that was early in the afternoon.  It was to be a long evening for the lawyers, reporters, and interested bystanders (such as me).

I felt relieved when Judge Hanen quickly ruled against Dr. Steven Hotze, his attorney Jared Woodfill, and the other plaintiffs: state Rep. Steve Toth, TX-18 challenger Wendell Champion, and Harris County judicial candidate Sharon Hemphill.  But it wasn't over.  They rapidly appealed to the Fifth Circuit, and the case was just as quickly scheduled for a three-judge panel hearing last night.

The appeal in the Fifth Circuit of Judge Hanen’s decision has now been docketed. I expect the Court to act tonight. Maybe in the AM, but tonight more likely. pic.twitter.com/YpLQdNxBf0

— Raffi Melkonian (@RMFifthCircuit) November 3, 2020

The actual good news for my vote came prior to the final ruling.

As I work on the link, note plaintiffs have given up for the moment on getting the already voted ballots tossed. pic.twitter.com/vBt5b0rYOW

— Raffi Melkonian (@RMFifthCircuit) November 3, 2020

Defendant Chris Hollins then changed his mind about having ten drive-through polls open today, shutting all but one given the circumstances.

NEW into @VICENews tonight: Harris County clerk Chris Hollins tells me that he is closing 9 out of the 10 drive-in voting locations in the county tomorrow in order to protect votes after Republicans continue to appeal. The Toyota Center drive-through WILL remain open

— Elizabeth Landers (@ElizLanders) November 3, 2020

And then ... it was finished.

In any event, the Fifth Circuit denies Hotze relief. Hopefully the whole mess is over now. pic.twitter.com/mTZ0fMJeRO

— Raffi Melkonian (@RMFifthCircuit) November 3, 2020

Scores of moderate (sic) Republicans Tweeted out against Hotze's Gambit: Joe Straus, Pierce Bush, Sarah Davis, and many others.  The effort to nullify 127,000 cast ballots on a picayune technicality ("structure", "roof", "walls", etc.) is what lawyers live for, of course.  But the idea of my having to vote again today was more than a little upsetting, shall we say.

And voting for Joe Biden is not going to fix this.  In fact it will probably worsen.

There's no going back to normal.  No brunching as usual.  Nothing will fundamentally change, and that includes Republicans in Congress working with a Democrat president.

Oh, and best of luck to those who plan on pushing Biden to the left.

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