Time to raise hell, folks. Texas State Rep. Talmadge Heflin (R-Houston) lost his re-election last month to Vietnamese-American immigrant Hubert Vo (D-Houston) by 32 votes. Despite no irregularities in voting on election day, Heflin has decided today to contest the election in the state house where a partisan GOP committee and a bunch of lawyers can seat either man or call a new election.
Here's the Houston Chronicle story:
State Rep. Talmadge Heflin asked the state House of Representatives today to overturn the results of his failed re-election bid and either order him returned to the Legislature or call for a new election.
Heflin's attorney, Andy Taylor, said the election results in state House District 149 in southwest Harris County were fraught with voting irregularities and potential fraud, most of which occurred in predominantly Democratic precincts.
"The true outcome of this election was stolen from the voters in House District 149," Taylor said Tuesday. "We will prove that Representative Talmadge Heflin was re-elected."
Heflin, a Republican member of the House since 1983 and chairman of its Appropriations Committee, lost to Democratic businessman Hubert Vo by 32 votes earlier this month. But Heflin's campaign alleges that those election results include at least 248 irregularities that could have altered the outcome.
Taylor said he will file notice today that the Heflin campaign intends to contest the election in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. That will require that House Speaker Tom Craddick order a House committee to investigate Heflin's allegations.
Last year the state house Republicans redistricted the congressional lines to allow politicians to pick their voters instead of voters picking their politicians. But this year, the Texas house Republicans are going even further. This year Republicans want elections to be about which politician can raise the most money to hire the toughest lawyer to argue which votes count in front of a rigged jury. Pure thuggery.
So, what can you do?
First, Donate to Hubert Vo. Not only is he getting an election stolen from him, but was one of the most inspirational and hard-working candidates running for anything on any level this year. Read his bio for some background.
Second, head on over to Greg's Opinion for guidance of what you can do next.
I've written more on the race here, and there's more commentary from today here and here. I'd appreciate any help you guys can offer to get the word out about what Republicans are doing here in Texas. Thanks!