the parties hold referenda on their primary ballots (mainly for boosterism), and here are the referenda on the Democratic and Republican ballots on May 29th. Democratic, Referendum 1 Any graduate of a Texas high school, who has lived in the state for at least three years and lived here continuously for the last year, should be eligible for in-state tuition at state supported colleges and universities and given the opportunity to earn legal status through a higher education or military service. Democratic Referendum 2: Because a college education is increasingly necessary for jobs that allow our citizens to achieve middle class lifestyles and become the entrepreneurs who create the jobs that our economy relies on, we call on the Texas Legislature to fund colleges and universities such that tuition and fees can be affordable to all Texans. Democratic Referendum 3: Should the Texas Legislature allow the people of Texas to vote to legalize casino gambling with all funds generated being used only for education? Republican Referendum 1: The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child instead of the bureaucracy, through a program which allows parents the freedom to choose their child’s school, public or private, while also saving significant taxpayer dollars. Republican Referendum 2: Congress should immediately repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as Obamacare) and reject the rationing of healthcare by government or the intrusion by the government into the doctor - patient relationship. Republican Referendum 3: Government should be prohibited from restricting the content of public prayer. Republican Referendum 4: Out of control spending should be stopped at all levels of federal and state government through constitutional amendments limiting any increase in government spending to be the combined increase of population and inflation, requiring voter approval. Republican Referendum 5: The Texas Legislature should redraw the court-imposed lines for Congress and State legislative districts in its upcoming session in order to remedy inequities. So the question is

Democratic referendum #3, due to bleeding hearts who consider legalized gambling a tax on the poor.

i'd guess a bit of the no vote on Ref3 would be a religious objection to gambling amongst rural/NE Texas voters who are voting in the Democratic primary due to something down the ballot.

D3 overall due to religious Dems. R5 might be smallest GOP victory and honestly secondly overall because voters may not like the idea of government doing work.

Are these binding? How can they be binding if they are just a primary?

Are these binding? How can they be binding if they are just a primary? they're not binding, they're advisory

I noticed a link to this campaign bumper sticker page on DKE. The bumper stickers are on sale, including some Ben Barnes ones that I'm sure BillyW would like: http://ronwade.freeservers.com/bumperstickerTexas.html

looking like the gambling amendment will be the worst performing 'party-opinion' question, the results are Democratic Referendum 1 (85-15 Yes) Any graduate of a Texas high school, who has lived in the state for at least three years and lived here continuously for the last year, should be eligible for in-state tuition at state supported colleges and universities and given the opportunity to earn legal status through a higher education or military service. Democratic Referendum 2 (93-7 Yes): Because a college education is increasingly necessary for jobs that allow our citizens to achieve middle class lifestyles and become the entrepreneurs who create the jobs that our economy relies on, we call on the Texas Legislature to fund colleges and universities such that tuition and fees can be affordable to all Texans. Democratic Referendum 3 (74-26 Yes): Should the Texas Legislature allow the people of Texas to vote to legalize casino gambling with all funds generated being used only for education? Republican Referendum 1 (85-15 Yes): The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child instead of the bureaucracy, through a program which allows parents the freedom to choose their child’s school, public or private, while also saving significant taxpayer dollars. Republican Referendum 2 (93-7 Yes): Congress should immediately repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as Obamacare) and reject the rationing of healthcare by government or the intrusion by the government into the doctor - patient relationship. Republican Referendum 3 (91-9 Yes): Government should be prohibited from restricting the content of public prayer. Republican Referendum 4 (94-6 Yes): Out of control spending should be stopped at all levels of federal and state government through constitutional amendments limiting any increase in government spending to be the combined increase of population and inflation, requiring voter approval. Republican Referendum 5 (75-25 Yes): The Texas Legislature should redraw the court-imposed lines for Congress and State legislative districts in its upcoming session in order to remedy inequities.

So far, I heard that Republican incumbents are losing in the runoffs. Jeff Wentworth is way back, as are Chuck Hopson, JM Lozano, Sid Miller, Jim Landtroop, and Bill Keffer.

fucking awesome.. the maps got tossed out... so... uh.. we'll probably have a set of maps that only got used for one set of primaries, or maybe just one general election considering the decades-long streak of having maps tossed by the courts, Texas should look into some form of commission, where the new unconstitutional maps are tossed for new reasons

hahaha