Texas Democrats' best hope to score a win in the statewide election could be Kinky Friedman. Friedman is in the May 27 runoff with Jim Hogan to be the Democratic nominee for agriculture commissioner reported Ross Ramsey for the Texas Tribune.
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte is running for lieutenant governor. She recorded a telephone plea, during the primaries, to Democratic voters to vote for Hugh Fitzsimons III— “the only real Democrat in the race.” In that message, she also said, “It would be no laughing matter to let comedian Kinky Friedman win a spot on the ballot with Wendy Davis and me in the fall.”
Friedman trailed Hogan in the primary. Marijuana sets Friedman’s campaign apart. He is in favor of legalizing and making it a cash crop in Texas.
On the Republican side, two former state representatives are in the run off: Sid Miller and Tommy Merritt.
If a Democrat won a statewide election this year, it would be extraordinary. During the last 20 years Republicans have dominated, but, the race for agriculture commissioner is far down the list in terms of voter interest and donors. That’s a perfect place to be for a candidate who is well known and doesn’t need anyone else’s money to help get the attention of voters.
