The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - November 4, 2024

Episode Date: November 4, 2024

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Howdy folks, today is Monday, November 4th, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Assistant Editor Rob Lausches, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Steve Kubstead, the Anderson County jury foreman in the 20-year-old murder case against Robert Roberson, has come forward to criticize the recent second guessing of the conviction. Roberson was convicted in 2003 of capital murder in the death of his two-year-old daughter Nikki Curtis in a case that now faces calls for a retrial, including from some Texas lawmakers. Kubstead spoke with the Texan, refuting claims that the jury's decision was based solely on shaken baby syndrome and expressed his continued belief in the fairness of the trial. He explained

that he revived his involvement in the case when Roberson's attorney recently showed up at his doorstep for a second time. Kubstead was adamant about letting the judicial process take its course without revisiting his original decision. Next, two things saved Senator Ted Cruz from a massive upset six years ago, voters who'd recently moved to the state and rural Texans. In many ways, the state's rapid population growth has caused expected growing pains, stressed infrastructure, rising housing costs, and so much expansion. But politically, Texas remains a solid but not overwhelmingly GOP state. Its rating in the Texans' Texas Partisan Index went from R54% to R56% after last cycle, growing the GOP's baseline advantage in statewide races.

But Texas' population growth, over 300,000 every year, brings with it electoral speculation alongside the more rudimentary infrastructure stresses. There are many questions about Texas's direction and the obstacles that surely lie ahead, but the constant on which Texas Republicans have been able to rely is the inevitability of rural voters. In other news, it is rare for an incumbent to press a challenger to debate rather than vice versa, usually a sign of vulnerability. State Senator Morgan Lamantia is vulnerable, and her ad challenging Republican Adam Hinojosa to debate just confirms what she, and everyone else, already knew. Lamantia is up on television with one of her closing ads, her family's self-funding prowess behind it,

jabbing the challenger for avoiding debates. She then accuses her challenger of lying about her, dodging a public debate, and, quote, hiding behind slick ads paid for by millionaires in Houston and Dallas. The thing about millionaires is that both sides have them, and LaMantias are just much closer to home. The race for Senate District 27, a redux from last cycle, has cost upwards of $8 million, with more surely in tow between now and Election Day. LaMantia's raised $725,000 in her own right, but her family members, owners of L&F Distributors, one of the largest beer distributors in the state, have loaned her over $10 million since running for office in 2022, half of which has come this cycle. Also, Texas' 28th congressional district may be on the back burner for national Republicans when

compared to other South Texas races, but GOP candidate Jay Furman is trying to one-seat Congressman Henry Cuellar without out-of-state help. The district holds a nominally Democratic partisan leaning with a D57% rating according to the Texans' Texas Partisan Index, but any opportunity to flip it lies in the current congressman's legal standings. Cuellar, who has held the seat for 19 years, was indicted by the Department of Justice after an FBI investigation in 2022 for alleged bribery and money laundering in coordination with his wife, Imelda Cuellar, and the country of Azerbaijan. His trial will take place in 2025, notably after

the general election and race against Furman. When asked whether he thinks his indictment has had a positive or negative impact on his voter base, Cuellar told the Texan, quote, I was born and raised in the district. The community knows who I am and the values that I stand for. Last but not least, Fort Worth Councilwoman Elizabeth Beck has allegedly targeted and threatened the job of her daughter's volleyball coach. Last month, Fort Worth Independent School District teacher and volleyball coach Carly Long sent a letter to Fort Worth Mayor Maddie Parker asserting that Beck had threatened her job, bullied her, and generally abused her power as a city councilwoman.

This is Long's first year with the program at the district's Young Women's Leadership Academy. Election Day is tomorrow, November 5th. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Visit thetexan.news for election resources in all of Texas' 254 counties, from polling locations to sample ballots. Thanks for listening. To support The Texan,

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