Texas’ newspapers have had a finger on the pulse of Texas politics for long enough to know when a candidate will work for or against Texans, and endorsements this year already show strong support for a new majority.
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Endorsed Candidates:
Governor: Wendy Davis
Lt. Governor: Leticia Van De Putte
Attorney General: Sam Houston
Comptroller: Mike Collier
"A Gov. Davis, we believe, will attempt to invest in the future of this state. That investment would take a variety of forms, from universal pre-kindergarten to adequately funded public schools and public universities that aspire to be the best in the country; from addressing the economic effects of climate change, particularly diminishing water supplies, to protecting an environment increasingly stressed by a rapidly growing population."
“We urge a vote for Van de Putte. Texas voters, regardless of party, need to think long and hard about a potential demagogue becoming lieutenant governor… The differences between the candidates this year could hardly be more stark. State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, the Democratic candidate, is not only knowledgeable and experienced but also congenial and easy to work with. Her Republican opponent, state Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston, is divisive, disruptive and self-aggrandizing.”
On Sam Houston for Attorney General:
"This election will give Texas our first new attorney general in more than a decade, and voters should look for an attorney who will emphasize those core functions of the office.Democratic candidate Sam Houston is the best choice on the ballot."
On Mike Collier for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts:
“Collier, one of the more engaging and articulate candidates we interviewed during the campaign season, clearly has the experience to run the comptroller's office. He also has ideas for making it function more effectively - among them, producing quarterly revenue estimates so that lawmakers would have a better understanding of the state's fiscal health.”
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Endorsed Candidates:
Governor: Wendy Davis
Lt. Governor: Leticia Van De Putte
Attorney General: Sam Houston
Comptroller: Mike Collier
"In endorsing Davis, we don’t deny that her campaign has not lived up to the enthusiasm generated by her remarkable filibuster 16 months ago. Nor do we deny that polls, 20 years of statewide electoral politics and an atrophied Democratic Party infrastructure underscore what a stunning upset it would be if she were to win next month. But conventional wisdom leaves us undeterred. Wendy Davis is the right choice for Texas governor."
On Leticia Van De Putte for Lt. Governor
"Her career has been distinguished by an ability to work with senators on all sides of a debate. We’re confident she can forge coalitions and find common paths forward to meet the state’s education, health care, infrastructure and other priorities and needs."
On Sam Houston for Attorney General:
“Sam Houston, the Democratic candidate for Texas attorney general, has persuaded us that he is more than just a name, and he is the best person in the race to succeed current Attorney General Greg Abbott....Houston would bring a fresh eye to an office that in our estimation has strayed from its primary functions.”
On Mike Collier for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts:
“We think Democrat Mike Collier is the comptroller candidate best qualified to produce estimates that more accurately tell lawmakers how much money they have available to write the state’s budgets, and to lead the agency in other key ways.”
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Endorsed Candidates:
Congress: Pete Gallego
Governor: Wendy Davis
Lt. Governor: Leticia Van De Putte
Attorney General: Sam Houston
Comptroller: Mike Collier
"But, on representing his district, the veteran member of Congress overcame our doubts during these last two years. He has been a consistent presence in the San Antonio portion of his elongated district. And his positions — on immigration, minimum wage and education, for instance — likely reflect the district better than those of Republican Susan Narvaiz, a former mayor of San Marcos."
"Because she is simply more on target with solutions to the state’s problems, we recommend Wendy Davis to be Texas’ next governor. And there’s this: Beyond Texas’ very real infrastructure and funding problems, there’s also need for a fresh look at the state’s notions of fairness."
On Leticia Van De Putte for Lt. Governor:
"State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, a San Antonio Democrat, is unequivocally the best candidate in the race for lieutenant governor.Van de Putte’s record and campaign speak to concern about real things. Moreover, she is known for the kind of comity that it will take to solve the state’s problems — together."
On Sam Houston for Attorney General:
"We strongly urge Texans to elect Democrat Sam Houston, a native of Colorado City who has practiced law in Houston for 26 years... Houston would end the frivolous serial litigation against the federal government that Abbott pioneered and Paxton supported. Instead, Texans would have a top lawyer who would tackle problems with an independent point of view."
On Mike Collier for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts:
"We recommend Collier because his career has offered better preparation for the job, and he provides clear ideas for improving the office...The Democrat’s status as a financial professional who is interested in the comptroller’s job and not a higher office should be appealing to all voters."
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Endorsed Candidates:
Governor: Wendy Davis
Lt. Governor: Leticia Van De Putte
Attorney General: Sam Houston
Comptroller: Mike Collier
"It’s time to stop the divisive, counterproductive Texas-vs.-U.S.-government war that Abbott as governor would only continue to wage. The state may fare better and wouldn’t do worse under Davis."
On Leticia Van De Putte for Lt. Governor:
"Van de Putte is the most deserving Democrat in any race we've examined this cycle. Her colleagues in the majority-Republican Senate respect her and would welcome her leadership. And they'd be unlikely to do to her what has been rumored they would do to Patrick — change Senate rules to make the lieutenant governor less powerful."
On Sam Houston for Attorney General:
"Houston would focus the office of attorney general more forcefully upon its core functions — enforcing consumer protection laws, collecting child support, issuing open-records opinions — and less on suing the federal government at Texas taxpayer expense."
On Mike Collier for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts:
"Collier says if the comptroller's office were run the way he wants to run it, it wouldn't generate many headlines for the person in charge. As much as we love headlines, we agree. Electing him would be good for Texas' financial health."
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Endorsed Candidates:
Governor: Wendy Davis
Lt. Governor: Leticia Van De Putte
On Leticia Van De Putte for Lt. Governor:
"The clear choice in this race is Leticia Van de Putte, a Democratic state senator from San Antonio. During her tenure in the Legislature, Van de Putte has shown an ability to work through partisan differences to get things done. That is exactly the sort of leader Texas needs in this critical position."
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Endorsed Candidates:
Lt. Governor: Leticia Van De Putte
Attorney General: Sam Houston
Comptroller: Mike Collier
On Leticia Van De Putte for Lt. Governor:
“Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, a San Antonio Democrat, has been a steady legislative hand for two decades. Her opponent, Republican Sen. Dan Patrick, is potentially explosive, impact unclear. Van de Putte, 59, has consistently shown that she has sound, moderate ideas for governing and that she will work effectively with both parties.”
On Sam Houston for Attorney General:
"Career litigator Sam Houston, a Democrat, is making his second run for office, having been on the ballot in 2008 in an unsuccessful run for the Supreme Court of Texas. This newspaper recommended Houston for office then and recommends him now, on the strength of his legal experience and ideas for the office."
On Mike Collier for Comptroller:
"Collier promises a reformer’s zeal toward the comptroller’s office, which swung and missed wildly with its 2011 revenue estimate to the Legislature. That resulted in needlessly deep cuts to public education, the very reason Collier said he was moved to enter the race. He vows to issue quarterly revenue snapshots, well beyond the biennial reports the constitution requires and more in line with modern accounting principles. He also vows a watchdog role that would guard against the loose practices found in the Texas Enterprise Fund."
On Leticia Van De Putte for Lt. Governor:
“Texans deserve a reasoned, hard working, and fair individual working in this top administrative position... Van de Putte would make a strong, reasoned lieutenant governor.”
"Houston said he will fulfill the attorney general’s obligation to defend state law in court whether he agrees or disagrees with it, reassuring voters concerned about whether a Democrat would defend Texas abortion laws or marriage restrictions. Houston presents an adequate résumé in a thin field."
On Mike Collier for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts:
"There are few jobs in Austin for which political inexperience might be considered an asset. State comptroller is one of them, and the political outsider who deserves the position is Democrat Mike Collier.”
On Libby Willis for Texas Senate- District 10:
"Willis, a neighborhood activist who has a long history of working to solve problems throughout the community, is a strong but moderate voice who could help restore a sense of bipartisanship to the Legislature’s upper chamber."
We’ll continue to update this blog with future endorsements as they roll out.
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