Heavyweight Showdown in Texas GOP Primary for Governor
Texas is not typically a battleground state. In fact, Texas has voted reliably for the Republican nominee for president for the last 40 years. The only exception was 1976, when the state went for Jimmy Carter. It is safe to say that control of the governor’s office in Texas has dictated who the state votes for in the presidential elections for the last decade and a half.
With the strong likelihood of a Republican governor being elected in 2010, the 2012 election may not be any different.
In the 2008 presidential election, Texas delivered its 34 electoral votes to John McCain by a substantial margin (55.44% of the total vote). In this year’s “off” elections, there are three major candidates for the Republican nomination for governor: Rick Perry, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, and Debra Medina. The last is a newcomer to electoral politics and has just recently been certified to take part in the Republican debates on January 29.
Rick Perry started his political career as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives in 1984, becoming a Republican in 1989. That same year, the Dallas Morning News named him one of the most effective legislators in the state. Perry became the state’s first ever Republican lieutenant governor in 1998, winning by less than 2%.
He took over as governor when George W. Bush was elected president in 2000 and since then has won election to two full terms as the state’s chief executive. He is currently running for an unprecedented third term, already having occupied the governor’s office longer than any other Texas governor, Republican or Democrat.
Perry’s incumbency has not been without controversy. In 2007, he issued an executive order mandating that school-age girls be vaccinated with Gardasil, a vaccine to combat the human papillomavirus (HPV). He was roundly condemned by many who believed that it would encourage sexual intercourse. Others were upset that Merck, the manufacturer of Gardasil, had contributed to Perry’s campaign. Others disagreed and felt that HPV was a significant cause of cervical cancer and should be vaccinated against. Ultimately, the executive order was overturned by the legislature.
Perry has supported the formation of the Trans-Texas Corridor, a highway (I-69) running from Texarkana/Shreveport to Mexico (possibly the Rio Grande Valley via US 281, or Laredo via I-35). The corridor will be part toll road run by private (and foreign) companies in partnership with Texas. However, the feeling against the use of toll roads in Texas is fierce.
Perry has also had many successes while in office. He championed SCHIP and encouraged additional educational funding (although he has also said “no” to the federal government on money for schools), has kept taxes fairly low (though with some increases), and is generally considered to be business friendly despite changes to the franchise tax.
Perry’s victories in 2002 and 2006 were against Democrats who really had little chance against the popular governor. He is largely seen as a conservative and an early supporter of the tea party movement in Texas.
Perry does not, however, have the nomination locked up. He faces challenge from a United States senator and a former county head of the Republican Party.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson was initially coy about deciding to run for governor against the popular Perry. She considered running in 2006 but decided that Texas would be better served with her in Washington. The Perry forces state that she was scared off. Kay Bailey, as she is frequently known, is always at the very top of the list of popular political figures in Texas. She believes that this time she will be able to upset Perry. For his part, Perry has promised a battle for the nomination:
Mr. Perry casting her [Hutchinson] as part of the problem in Washington and Ms. Hutchinson labeling him a divisive, ineffective leader in Austin.
“As any person watching the last legislative session could see, it was very contentious and acrimonious,” she said. “Certainly Texas is looking for change in that office.”
Mr. Perry, who has repeatedly said he will seek re-election, fired back through a spokesman by suggesting that the Republican senator has spent too much time outside Texas.
“There hasn’t been much good coming out of Washington — record deficits, bailouts, spending,” said Mark Miner.
Hutchinson has also picked up some very strong endorsements from some rather heavy hitters in Texas Republican circles, including Mr. and Mrs. George H. W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Senator Phil Gramm, and former Dallas Cowboys star quarterback Roger Staubach. Kay Bailey fully intends to upset Rick Perry and consign him to the dust bin of former governors.
Last but by no means least is the most conservative of the bunch, Debra Medina. A Republican Party activist and the former Wharton County Republican Party chair, as well as the former state coordinator for the Campaign for Liberty, Medina is an admitted long shot, but she has seemingly pushed an awful lot of the right buttons with her share of likely voters:
A new Rasmussen Reports poll revealed a significant shift to Medina among likely Texas primary voters. She now stands at 12%, up considerably from November:
“Medina, the owner of a medical consulting firm, is the only candidate who is gaining ground, up from four percent (4%) of the GOP vote in November and three percent (3%) in September,” said the Rasmussen Reports analysis of the poll. “Some political analysts have said Medina was the strongest performer.
Medina’s numbers are showing an upswing, but whether she can catch the two career politicians depends a lot on whether Perry or Hutchinson stumble in the debates or on the campaign trail. Another question is whether Medina can project the conservative values that attract the typically conservative Texas Republican primary voter. Medina believes that she can.
Regardless of how the race turns out, this year promises to be one of the most interesting Republican primary elections in Texas in a very long time.
“Perry does not, however, have the nomination locked up.”
The odds are still in Rick Perry’s favor. He has my vote locked up. Texans need a governor who realizes that many politicians in Washington want to stab us in the back. Barack Obama most assuredly desires to get Texans to pay for the wasteful spending of the Californians and other blue state idiots. Kay Bailey Hutchison is too much of a national capitol insider. She seems overly willing to “work across the aisle with Democrats in a bi-partisan manner” like John McCain. A significantly more adversarial approach is presently required. Hutchison’s campaign doesn’t make any real sense. The rumors are that she is angry with Perry for something he allegedly did to her in the past. So is she seeking some sort of revenge? If so, her motives are questionable—and I simply don’t have time for such adolescent behavior. Debra Medina is a rising star, but she needs a few more years of seasoning.
“The only exception was 1976, when the state went for Jimmy Carter.”
One learns something new everyday. I didn’t know that Jimmy Carter conned even conservative Texans to vote for him. Wow, talk about a scam jobber. Carter really knows how to deceive people. Dick Cheney’s endorsement of Kay Bailey Hutchison is indeed impressive, but she lost points when receiving the support of so-called moderate conservatives Mr. and Mrs. George H. W. Bush. The latter gentleman is still infamous for his “read my lips” promise. Hutchison reminds me of the former president.
Gardasil has horrible side effects on many people. Also, the long term affects from the drug are unknown. Those TWO reasons are enough for a conservative mind to refrain from ordering all girls to be inoculated with Gardasil. Rick Perry’s bad decisions are based upon his desire for kick-backs. Perry had the audacity in defensive debate to claim that his Gardasil executive order was “Pro-Life”. Disgusting weasel, the same opportunist shown revving up the Tea Party crowd to threaten the Union with Texas Secession. His facade is only that, and a very dangerous thing to trust. Perry also abused his powers in office as he plotted for the Trans-Texas Corridor, against traditional respect for property rights that he was to abuse, again with his arranged deals for kick-backs. He awarded the construction deal to a FOREIGN company! And he authorized gross profiteering for the toll road company. Using Texas toll-road highways is NOT CHEAP. It costs over $50.00/month to commute one mile each direction once per work day (M-F) on an existing highway that BECAME a toll road. And the conversion from the safely designed preexisting highway into the new toll road abuses the former highway into a mere access road that destroyed the safely designed intersections, paving dangerously non-existent lane changes required in merging traffic around blind corners. As if not outrageous already, the tolls keep going up as traffic increases.
Between Rick Perry and KBHutchison, at least Perry doesn’t play the Washingtonian come home to roost over Texas. If Hutchison wins the GOP primary, I’ll vote another party in that race. But as both these career politicians were born wealthy rose in those ranks, they really have NO IDEA how to respect the lives of working Texans. It’s all just a power game with them and their cohorts.
Like most Texans, I was introduced to Debra Medina through her participation in the televised GOP TX Governor Debates. She absolutely won both debates hands down, leaving both of the career politicians in their own miserable rhetoric having proven their ignorance of serious Texan issues as well as the Constitutional means provided each state to refute the Federal Government in order to protect and secure constitutional rights for US citizens. Medina is brilliant, strong, honest, not corrupted like Perry and Hutchison, and does not fluster when pressed with media disinformation. She understands from life experience all of the challenges facing working Texans. She is no stranger to political involvement, having done all the work behind the scenes that never gets recognized by ungracious and self serving politicians. Had Perry been smart, he would at least have hired Medina as his adviser. She knows the exact implications of each piece of legislation that has transpired in Texas. And neither Perry nor Hutchison have any idea what is going on amongst the “little people”, completely absorbed in playing the system of corruption. Neither corrupt career politician “looks good” upon close inspection. Whereas, Medina is a pearl of great price. Some might see a diamond in the rough, but this lady is sharp and cuts to the quick of serious and challenging matters, with constitutional and common sense proposed solutions.
Kay Bailey and Rick are both terrific candidates (I don’t know enough about the other one to comment). This will be fun to watch!
This is an interesting article, and well done. It gives me an opportunity to remind everyone that our founding fathers intended state legislatures to appoint United States Senators, thereby ensuring state representation (as in states’ rights) in the national legislature. We ought to repeal this Constitutional amendment, along with the one that demands citizens give up an ever-increasing amount of their income to the federal government.
That said, I think we should distrust people who make a more-than-comfortable living in politics. This would describe Perry and Hutchinson, of course. I know little to nothing of Ms. Medina. Now let us imagine three notable republicans are battling one another for the governor’s chair. What part of the GOP do these people represent? Are there a far-right-wing candidate, a mush candidate, and a liberal republican in this mix? You see, what I think we need to do is vote whom we are, rather than what. If one happens to be a true conservative libertarian, then we should vote to get government out of our back pocket, out of our bedrooms, and start seeing to the productive growth of our states. If we are a mush republican, then I suppose we should pursue that kinder-gentler tripe made famous by George Bush.
The American people need to wise up. Stop voting party because Pappy did; stop voting skin color; begin selecting the candidate who best represents your conscience. Again … an excellent/thought provoking article.
Semper Fi
The former milk-man/cheerleader from Texas A&M won’t be getting my vote for these, and many other, reasons:
1. His support of mandating Gardisil for all young girls in Texas…while at the same time his former chief of staff is the chief lobbyist in the state for Merck. His efforts were finally stymied by the legislature who pointed out he had usurped his executive powers. His actions on this issue were wholly at odds with his professed desire for smaller less invasive government. It was a tip of the cap to a huge pharmaceutical manufacturer who had the good fortune to hire a Perry loyalist to promote its agenda.
2. He voiced an opinion of secession. I thought we had this one solved in the 1860′s but apparently the moron thinks the issue should be revisited.
3. Toll roads.
4. He is pro-big business an anti consumer. For example: his actions related to the Texas Residential Construction Commission Act. This anti-consumer act was passed in 2003 and supported heavily by large home sellers in the state and large contributors to Rick Perry. At its core, the act requires two levels of mandatory arbitration before a homeowner can even initiate a lawsuit against a home manufacturer. The arbitration process is expensive (on average costs consumers several thousand dollars for each level of the process) and stacked in support of big business; seldom resulting in a victory for consumers. The Act he supported and signed required homeowners to jump through several administrative hoops before they could ever even initiate a claim for a construction defect.
5. He is probably the most heavy-handed governor we have had in fifty years. As an example look at what he has done with regents, the president of Texas A&M, and anyone else who is not in his camp.
There’s five of many more reasons Medina is getting my vote.
I am watching Medina closely. She is saying a lot of good things and I believe that she could very well pull the upset given the mood of conservatives in Texas.
Perry has left too many things undone in regard to immigration and can’t seem to control his own party at times. I think that a lot of folks are seeing that and will vote against him. Unfortunately some of those may vote for Kay, who in my opinion needs to be retired from the Senate and sent back home period. Her run for governor is nothing but a step, she thinks, to being nominated for President or VP which would be a total disaster. She is too cozy with the Washington establishment and too willing to play ball with the liberals just to make her look good.
Great article GM and I will be looking for more on this subject.
Whoops, I forgot and left out a Full Disclosure. I’m in favor of Ms. Medina and my blog GM’s Place endorsed her in Mid December. However, I’ve tried to be fair to all three candidates in this GOP race. If you don’t think I was fair, write a comment.
What’s really not to like about Rick Perry?
Under his leadership, Texas has weathered the recession far better than any other state….we have low unemployment comparatively, we have no state income tax and a balanced state budget….we have what we want with Rick Perry, pro-business which creates jobs and allows all of us to pursue our own happiness.
Kay Bailey Hutchison preceded over our colossal mess in Washington, did not warn us about the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac problems that tanked our economy and now by her running for Governor against a popular, highly conservative, successful Republican Incumbent, is robbing us of millions of Republican dollars that could be spent on races to unseat Democrat Representatives and unseat Nancy Pelosi…..Kay has put her selfish personal interest above what we need as Texans and Americans…Nancy Pelosi is the problem…not Rick Perry.
I will never vote for Kay again, she has shown herself to be a self-absorbed politician, not a statesman. Rick Perry has done a great job for Texas keeping government off the backs of the people and encourages Tea Party members who espouse the same thing.
Kay Bailey is a disgrace….I would like to see Debra Medina run against a Democrat Representative or for Kay’s Senate seat, she would be perfect for the job!
“He awarded the construction deal to a FOREIGN company!”
You are inadvertently providing another reason to vote for Rick Perry. The only thing that matters is whether the foreign company offered the best deal. Do you have any evidence suggesting that this wasn’t the cast? We Texans cannot afford to be protectionists. Open trade with both our domestic and foreign partners is the way to go. We must make sure that foreign companies realize that they will get a fair shake in their dealings with Texans.
Anger towards a foreign company earning a contract is evidence of blue state thinking. Red staters should shun such reactionary and backward thinking. Texas has a golden opportunity to really blow away the competition. The Californians and New Yorkers have royally messed up. If we play it smart—our economy could soon take off like a rocket.
I am a Texan. I met Rick Perry years ago and he seemed to be a nice man. He has been governor too long and needs to be replaced. Kay Baily Hutchinson has spent too many years in Washington to be an effective governor. Debra Medina is new blood and very passionate and smart. She could be the next Scott Brown type of candidate. March 2 will tell. I expect a runoff from this primary.
I want to know more about Medina, maybe a follow up article is in order.
“Debra Medina is new blood and very passionate and smart.”
Debra Median is essentially untested in the political sector. She has held zero elected posts. Where is the evidence indicating that she knows how to handle the everyday give and take of political activity? It is very fair to describe Medina as something of a rookie. That is simply too dangerous. She is a rising star and might well receive my support in the future. But not in this crucial year! Obama’s administration wants to dig deep into our wallets. Rick Perry knows how to deal with the threat.
I’m voting for Debra Medina in the Republican primary. I’m not sure she can win due to the fact she doesn’t have the same deep pockets as the other two. But Texas needs new leaders.
I wouldn’t vote for Kay Baily Hutchinson for dog catcher. She is a Potomac-baptized politician and she has caught the “religion.” I won’t vote for anyone who voted for the stimulus.
Rick Perry – Too arrogant in my opinion. The trans-Texas Corridor rides roughshod over personal property rights – I hate that. Quit talking about secession – 10th amendment state’s rights – I’m with you – but we’re Americans.
I’d like to see the Republican race come down to Medina and Perry. Perry will probably win (again big money talks), but it be nice to send a little message that he shouldn’t get too comfortable. Also, it would send a message to Ms. Baily Hutchinson that Texas is on to her RINO ways – she needs to be thinking of a career outside of politics.
Perry all the way. Medina is too fringey. For drug legalization. Against the death penalty. Too BIG L Libertarian, not conservative enough on gay marriage and other issues. Medina is way too much of a RINO. She even said she would support the third party instead of the winner of the Republican primary in Texas.
“I’m not sure she can win due to the fact she doesn’t have the same deep pockets as the other two.”
The intellectually very impressive Debra Medina also lacks their experience. Most voters also cast their ballots for the inexperienced Barack Obama. How is that working out for you? Medina currently does not possess a sufficient enough resume in either the public or private sector. The governorship of Texas should not be used for the training wheels of someone basically starting their political career. She needs to run for a lesser post. Do you disagree? If so, please tell us about her accomplishments. What makes her ready in 2010—perhaps one of the most crucial years in Texas history. I do, however, recommend that Rick Perry find some important work for Medina to perform in his administration.
Medina is a nice lady. I met her at a rally in Austin.
However, she was not impressive in the debate on Friday night. (Neither were Perry and Hutchison.) The bottom line: she has no experience, she has no ability to raise money, she has no chance of winning. She should have chosen a lower elective office to enter politics, then run for governor. However, she probably will succeed in forcing Hutchison and Perry into a runoff, and both will have to deplete campaign funds.
Meanwhile, Democrat Bill White is licking his chops. He has a 6-7 million dollar war chest already and is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. He will get much more from trial lawyers, teachers’ unions, etc. Don’t make the mistake of believing he can’t be elected. Of course he will run as a moderate. If he wins, Texas is finished. California, here we come.
Don’t waste your vote for Medina.
“Meanwhile, Democrat Bill White is licking his chops. He has a 6-7 million dollar war chest already and is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.”
Rick Perry will probably be easily reelected—only because this is a Republican year. Nonetheless, a lot of funds and time are being wasted by Kay Bailey Hutchison’s apparent desire for revenge. Bill White is also a very independently wealthy man. He can throw a lot of his own money into the race. Hutchison is also providing him with ammunition to use during the main campaign. Unfortunately, Medina’s presence on the ballot could force a runoff election costing even more money. This is so frustrating. If nothing else, we have learned that Hutchison lacks prudent judgment. I strongly urge that Medina drop out of the contest and immediately throw her support to Perry. We don’t really need anymore of this madness.
Jane, you are absolutely correct in your analysis of this GOP primary. This is not the time to fiddle, we must keep Texas red and Republican. The very fact that Medina refuses to support the GOP primary winner if she loses, proves she is not a Republican. No Medina and no Kay Baily. I’ll vote for Perry because he is the best choice of the three and I’m no fan of Perry. But I am a Republican and will support my party nominee (even if it is KB or Medina against any Democrat.
As a Libertarian, it really pains me that no one seems to think that covering up the state execution of an innocent person is a major negative for a candidate.
Since I live in Texas, I’m going to vote for Debra Medina in the primaries, mostly as a protest vote against the RINO and Governor Hair. However, in the elections, I will vote for the Republican candidate, I refuse to vote for a commun… social… er I mean Democrat.
“The very fact that Medina refuses to support the GOP primary winner if she loses, proves she is not a Republican.”
This is the first time I have heard this. Are you sure of your allegation? If this is indeed true—we need to marginalize Debra Medina as soon as possible. Such an individual cannot have a future in the Republican Party. They may unwittingly do much harm. Striving for the perfect is often the enemy of the good.
The notion, not fact, that Medina may not support the GOP winner, only shows that Medina put principles before pragmatism. That is the sign of a true liberty loving conservative, such as founded our nation and Texas. I applaud her courage.
This lack of conservative values is crippling the GOP of Texas, full of RINOs, and the cause of loosing the House and Senate.
For the last few years, the GOP’s secret motto has been, “we don’t care where the boat is going, so long as we’re drivin”.
I think we really need a new -non politician in Austin, that won’t sell out to foreign interests, or big money, like RP
RIP… RP
“The very fact that Medina refuses to support the GOP primary winner if she loses, proves she is not a Republican.”
I LOVE the way republicans would prostitute *actual* conservative principles for their party. This is why we ended up with Bush ’41, Bush ’43, and candidate McCain. All milquetoast faux conservatives and dyed-in-the-wool statists to the core.
“But at least they had an (R) after their name by goodness!”
Party before principle…lmao. You guys are the very reason I left the party after “W.” The party of that mass-murdering, diseased psychopath (Lincoln) will never again get my vote.
Perry benefits from having not been in Washington during the past decade, which is suspect will be enough to get him past Kay Bailey on March 2 in a year where any association with D.C. figures to be a net negative in Texas. But after winning re-election in 2006 with under 40 percent of the vote in a four-way race, the Gardasil push immediately at the start of the ’07 Legislature coupled with the eminent domain efforts to seize land for the initial Trans-Texas Corridor project showed a governor who looked at the state and national results in 2006 and decided it might be time to shift his positions a little to the left.
Perry’s gone back towards the right since it became obvious that Hutchison was going to challenge him, and has made a major effort to boost turnout among religious conservatives (aided by Kay Bailey’s pro-choice stance on abortion). He may be sincere about that, and given the current anti-Washington mood of the state and the country, there’s certainly no reason to think a re-elected Rick Perry in 2011 would start slipping back towards the nanny-stateism he displayed in 2007. But he’s certainly not the hard-nosed conservative people from out-of-state may think he is only because they saw he was an early supporter of Sarah Palin or heard that secession sound-byte last year. That’s more the sign of a pol who knows which way the wind blows, just as he figured out which way it was blowing 20 years ago.
David T: your reasoning is why the GOP is full of RINO’s and in fact is partially responsible for oblammo’s election. You would support a RINO like McCain. . . . how did that go?
Interesting article–but please get the name right! There is only one “n” in Hutchison.
“There is only one “n” in Hutchison.”
Which is one reason I’m a psychotherapist instead of an English Professor.
I may not like Perry’s personality but I will vote for him because with the current economy and the direction that the Obama admistration has us spiraling down towards, we need a strong business-oriented leader to be in charge in Texas where we still have jobs, successful businesses and a budget SURPLUS. We’ve done quite well here in Texas and Perry has been a part of that success. I don’t want a newbie messing it up. I think we have enough “change” coming.
A Texan here who can’t stand Perry for many of the reasons stated above. Describing him as a pol is a perfect description. Hutchison is, in my book, worse. Medina is causing quite a stir down here, and is causing both Perry and Hutchison to move further to the right. I would love to see her get into the runoff with Perry, as that would pull the whole state further towards conservative values, and indicate to all candidates that the status quo just ain’t gonna cut it any more.
I like medina over the other two. the other two were awful in the debates and all they did was bicker with each other. medina may be new, but she’ll probably work harder than the other two whom are getting a little too comfy for their own good.
After listening to the debate, Medina clearly was more aligned iwth the core values I personally value. Primarily, less government, with attention to personal freedoms.
While there are some good things done by Perry, it has been more of a slow down rather than an abrupt halt to increased government, especially in spending and taxation. the obvious disconnect to the sanctity of parental decision and life are unacceptable.
Hutchinson, is clearly a liberal inthe regards of abortion and she is not fiscally responsible and the sooner we have removed her from office the better.
Lastly, the idea that one is “inexperienced” in government and should not be elected to the position of representation of the people is rediculous. The real test is in the ability to exercise wisdom based on information that is true. It does not take a high IQ to do what is right for the people. The ability to change when something is found to be morally or ethically wrong is called wisdom. It seems that the longer one is “in government” the less their ability to connect with the people who elected them. Instead they are led by the nose with supposedly “popular opinion” polls, more than with sound wisdom and discernment established by a Judeo Christian ethic. This country was founded on this ethic and should remain so.
There is a near complete discontinuity between the image that one gains of Debra Medina in the likes of her campaign youtubes, which reflects the ethos you are talking about Leo and the Debra Medina Facebook page, which praises George Galloway, featherbeds 9/11 truthers and is an accommodating venue for folks to post assertions that the Jews are pretty much responsible for everything which is wrong with the World. On the other hand, if you are a conservative in the tradition of President Ronald Reagan or Senator Barry Goldwater you will be unmercifully hounded if you post on that Facebook page up to and including death threats, even utilizing the good offices of the Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health of Hawaii to declare you psychiatricaly disturbed. And they will probably kill your Facebook account in to the bargain.
The likes of 9/11 truthers are featherbedded on the Debra Medina Facebook page whilst conservatives in the style of President Ronald Reagan and Senator Barry Goldwater are hounded up to and including death threats and if all that doesn’t work, they seem to have an arrangement with Facebook to kill folks’ Facebook accounts.