Noriega Wins Nomination

As of the 5:01am results on the Secretary of State's Elections website with 99% of precincts reporting statewide, Rick Noriega looks to have won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate with just over one million votes, 50.97% of the total votes cast. This total means that he will not face a runoff with the second highest vote getter, perennial empty suit Gene Kelly.

On that note, I'd like to offer the first of several suggestions last night's proceedings got ginned up in my mind. This one is directed to the Texas Democratic Party and is specific to Gene Kelly: Can we please find a way to exclude this man from future ballots? He is a thoroughly unserious candidate and he is Republican catnip...at least he was in my precinct.

He already cost the party a ridiculous runoff in 2006 and he finished second tonight ahead of the far more worth Ray McMurrey, a candidate who actually campaigned instead of coasting on his name.

His continued presence on Democratic ballots is a blight on all Texas Democrats and a ball and chain retarding our progress as a party.

More thoughts on some ways to do things better the next time around later this week.