Ron Paul's Victory

With all of the precincts in TX-14 counted, it's striking to see just how tenaciously Ron Paul held on to his vote. In 2006, he won every county for 78 percent of the overall vote versus Cynthia Sinatra, who entered the race late and spent about $157,000. This year he won a bit more than 70 percent against Chris Peden, who entered the race in the summer, garnered endorsements from local Republicans, papers, and talk radio, and will probably spend around $200,000. Paul obliterated him, winning no less than 64 percent in any of the district's 10 counties. His vote share shrank in seven counties, increased in three, and stayed level in one.

Aransas County: 64.8 percent (down from 69.2 percent)
Brazoria County: 72.2 percent (down from 80.5 percent)
Calhoun County: 78.8 percent (down from 81.6 percent)
Chambers County: 76.6 percent (up from 74.3 percent)
Fort Bend County: 64.2 percent (down from 79.1 percent)
Galveston County: 65.8 percent (down from 75.9 percent)
Jackson County: 75.8 percent (up from 63.7 percent)
Matagorda County: 75.2 percent (up from 74.8 percent)
Victoria County: 74.7 percent (down from 81.4 percent)
Wharton County: 74.0 percent (basically unmoved from 74.1 percent)

Compare this to the defeat of Wayne Gilchrest in Maryland or the career-low win of Dennis Kucinich last night. Compare it even to Jean Schmidt's 57 percent of the vote in her Ohio primary in suburban Cincinnati, where she faces no ideological disputes with the GOP, only the perception that she's weak against Democrats. It's an open question whether Paul can serve his cause better by staying in Congress than running as a third party candidate this year. It's not an open question whether someone will defeat him. He's built a beachhead in Brazoria County, which casts 30 percent of the district's vote, and he was barely dented in Aransas County even after the local Republican Party swung its support to Peden. He's got this seat as long as he wants it.

UPDATE: The Galveston County Daily News, which endorsed Peden, writes up the election:

Peden, a certified public accountant who has served on Friendswood city council since 2005, criticized Paul during his campaign as an irrelevant voice in congress who didn’t adequately represent interests of constituents.

Phone messages left on Peden’s cell phone, at his campaign office and with his campaign manager were not returned.

It might be umbrage, it might just be a poorly run campaign. (For what it's worth, I called the national Paul campaign last night and never got the call returned.) Peden definitely knows he's blown his chances at the House seat; if Paul were to retire in 2010 the frontrunner to replace him would be someone like State Sen. Kyle Janek, not the guy who lost by 40 points to Paul at the moment of his greatest vulnerability.

Comments

x,y | March 5, 2008, 9:33am | #

Cincinnati. Three "n"s, one "t."

Oh, and Jean Schmidt is terrible.

Lost_In_Translation | March 5, 2008, 9:39am | #

never attack an entrenched uphill position unless you've got air support.

Paul may speak in ideals, but Peden forgot how hardnosed a politician Paul actually is.

The Democratic Republican | March 5, 2008, 9:43am | #

It's been nice not seeing Dondero around here. He's had every reason to shut his mouth, but I am surprised he has done so. Maybe he's serving as Peden's shoulder to cry on right now.

Episiarch | March 5, 2008, 9:48am | #

It's been nice not seeing Dondero around here.

Way to summon him, jerk. He's not like the Candyman--you don't have to say it three times.

LarryA | March 5, 2008, 9:52am | #

Paul obliterated him, winning no less than 64 percent in any of the district's 10 counties.

Hellooooo? Republicans?

Paul's district isn't that different from the rest of Texas, or most of the "red" counties nationwide. Consider the support he gathered on the national level without a shred of help from the GOP or the MSM.

He's pulling two out of three Republican votes and over half the total vote in his low counties, despite Republican Party opposition.

Since you elephants are lumbering back into minority status, might it behoove you to pay attention, instead of dismissing him as crazy?

Helloooooo?

MP | March 5, 2008, 10:11am | #

Ron Paul brings home the bacon. Is it any surprise he gets re-elected?

Reinmoose | March 5, 2008, 10:12am | #

Epi -
Is he at least like Beetlejuice where, if you say his name 3 more times he goes away?

sv | March 5, 2008, 10:12am | #

thank you, LarryA. You're pretty much wasting your breath on them, however.

Episiarch | March 5, 2008, 10:22am | #

Is he at least like Beetlejuice where, if you say his name 3 more times he goes away?

Try it and see. I doubt it.

jj | March 5, 2008, 10:32am | #

Last night was a happy night. I got a big bang for my $25: goodbye to Peden, the neocons, and a crowing Dondero in TX 14th. Who said the dollar was inflated?

jj | March 5, 2008, 10:33am | #

Abominable as some of his views are, I was even happy that Kucinich survived. And then there's McClintock in CA. Things are looking up a little (a very little) for Congress.

Warty | March 5, 2008, 10:42am | #

*looks into mirror*

Dondero....Dondero..........Dondero.








AAAAH-

Colin | March 5, 2008, 10:45am | #

Dondero in 2010!

Danny | March 5, 2008, 10:47am | #

Great. Now only Texas gets him. I thought you guys were gonna share?

Oh, and it was very depressing to see McCain's speech on sealing the nomination last night. It was equally depressing that nobody even mentioned Ron Paul's votes or delegates, just that McCain beat Huckabee.

Rick Barton | March 5, 2008, 10:48am | #

I'd like to see who contributed to Peden.

Edward | March 5, 2008, 10:55am | #

Ron Paul is a nasty little fanatic who knows which side his bread is buttered on. He can pull the wool over the eyes of morons with one hand and pander to Nazis and racists with the other, all to his own advantage. That a sizable gaggle of nitwits actually believed that the old fuck could get the Republican nomination probably amused him no end.

Episiarch | March 5, 2008, 10:56am | #

Did someone say Edward three times?

Rick Barton | March 5, 2008, 11:01am | #

Edward is just a lefty, only extra dumb.

Eric Dumbdero | March 5, 2008, 11:08am | #

Eric Dondero, Angleton, August 14, 2007, Political Consultant says ...
" Chris,

I hereby enthusiastically endorse you for Congress. Your pro-property rights/anti-tax views more closely represent the values of our South Texas District, than Ron Paul. Our current incumbent used to be more of a traditional limited government conservative. But now he's gone way out on the fringe, particularly on foreign policy issues.

I was going to run against my former boss. But why should I? YourPro-Defense/Pro-Tax Cut/Pro-Individual Liberty views reflect mine. I would be proud to have you represent me in Congress.

Eric Dondero, Fmr. Senior Aide
US Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX)
1997-2003"

http://www.chrispeden.org/endorsements.html

Danny | March 5, 2008, 11:12am | #

Is anybody else really tired of the logical fallacy claiming that Ron Paul is a Nazi and a racist because he is supported by them?

I'm not addressing Edward directly. I know better than to look a troll in the eye.

Edward | March 5, 2008, 11:13am | #

Here's what that notorious lefty David Harsnyi had the say about Ron Paul:

Many of the vile pull quotes here [Ron Paul's newsletters], no matter what context they may have been in originally, have nothing to do libertarianism or freedom or some principled Constitutional stand on secession. They’re just racist and homophobic. Two: even if Paul didn’t know of their existence, he should have made it his business to know. It’s exceedingly difficult for me to believable [sic] that Paul was unaware of the content in a newsletter bearing his name. Judging from what I’ve read and heard from the man, I do not believe he wrote these things. But I’m not sure it matters. If George Bush or Hillary Clinton or any mainstream politician were even remotely associated with the sort of rambling anti-Semitic, homophobic, racist and paranoid text, they would be finished as legitimate voices. Paul should be finished, as well.

Edward | March 5, 2008, 11:15am | #

Danny, you fucking moron

Ron Paul actively sought the support of Nazis and racists in his newsletters.

Danny | March 5, 2008, 11:16am | #

By the way, what is everybody's opinion of the new Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev? His daily regimen (according to Wikipedia) sounds fantastic, so I'd imagine that he's pretty well balanced. I was just curious because I find it hard to find opposing messages to people, and that information is often the most telling.

Danny | March 5, 2008, 11:19am | #

Okay, you win Edward. I just found this proof that Ron Paul is, in fact, a racist.

Marcvs | March 5, 2008, 11:20am | #

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...

Some people just don't know how to troll.

Good job, Ronny.

Edward | March 5, 2008, 11:20am | #

Danny

Could you rephrase your question about Medvedev? Just what is it you're curious about? Opposing messages to peole? What on earth does that mean?

John Thacker | March 5, 2008, 11:22am | #

Compare this to the defeat of Wayne Gilchrest in Maryland or the career-low win of Dennis Kucinich last night.

OK, I'll compare it to Gilchrest. Rep. Gilchrest had not just turned anti-war, he also had his entire time in Congress been generally moderate to liberal on other issues, meaning pro-government economically and fairly socially liberal. Candidates like that who upset every part of the GOP base lose primaries. Candidates who limit their apostasies don't. The Club for Growth has only knocked off economic liberals in primaries who have also upset some other part of the base as well.

Part of what this shows is that the Republican base has a great affection for limited government, even if it (perhaps contradicting itself) also has a great affection for social conservatism and an active defense policy.

Danny | March 5, 2008, 11:22am | #

But you just said he didn't write the newsletters (at least that's what you believe). So how could he actively seek the support of Nazis and racists if he passively allowed them to be published.

Eric Dumbdero | March 5, 2008, 11:24am | #

Patrick Ruffini and me are really in deep mourning over Paul's win and Peden's loss at the local bathhouse now.

Danny | March 5, 2008, 11:25am | #

*Ahem*

"By the way, what is everybody's opinion of the new Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev?"

Anybody else confused by this question? (The rest of that post was a statement, unnecessary for answering the question.)

Edward | March 5, 2008, 11:25am | #

John,

Perhaps contradicting itself? Perhaps? How much government do you think it takes to enforce conservative social and militarist policies? Ask one of Ron Paul's Nazi supporters.

Edward | March 5, 2008, 11:27am | #

Danny,

The rest of the statement sounds as if it was written by a mongoloid idiot.

Danny | March 5, 2008, 11:27am | #

*Sigh*

I forgot how much I enjoy Edward not being around until he showed up and reminded me.

Danny | March 5, 2008, 11:32am | #

Okay, so here's the rest of it:

"His daily regimen (according to Wikipedia) sounds fantastic, so I'd imagine that he's pretty well balanced. I was just curious because I find it hard to find opposing messages to people, and that information is often the most telling."

I'm not sure what you could be confused about in the second sentence, except that my intent was to say that he has a well balanced personal life. He has a wife who was his high school sweetheart, he has a son, he always sets aside an hour in the morning and at night to exercise. I would love to have such a personal regimen.

The remaining sentence was about my personal belief that the most telling information about a person is the bad stuff that people say about them, but I often find it difficult to dig that information up.

Rick Barton | March 5, 2008, 11:32am | #

Ron Paul actively sought the support of Nazis and racists in his newsletters.

That's ridiculous, Edward. You're the moron.

Note that the Austin TX NAACP President, who has known Ron Paul for years, supports him.

http://canyouspeakthis.wordpress.com/2008/01/13/naacp-president-ron-paul-is-not-a-racist/

Danny | March 5, 2008, 11:40am | #

Are you sure, Rick? Did you check the link in my "11:19am" post above?

Edward | March 5, 2008, 11:40am | #

Ron Paul's newsletters lost him the support of Reason Magazine, David Harsanyi, and countless other honest libertarians. Paul's apologists are now limited to morons, racists, and Nazis. I suspect Rick Barton falls into all three.

Ayn R. Key | March 5, 2008, 11:45am | #

Edward, quit being such a Nazi.

Danny | March 5, 2008, 11:47am | #

You are correct Edward, but the question you are assuming the answer to is "why?". And it's not because "he is a racist". It's that he should have paid more attention to what was going out in the newsletters. I'm willing to forgive him for that considering he's had to be a doctor, a politician, and a family man. I'm pretty sure he's been busy enough to neglect a few things.

Rick Barton | March 5, 2008, 11:48am | #

Danny,

That link is hilarious!

Danny | March 5, 2008, 11:49am | #

And he left the newsletters in the hands of his friends at the time. So he's just a bad judge of character? Let's burn him at the stake!

javier | March 5, 2008, 11:57am | #

If George Bush or Hillary Clinton or any mainstream politician were even remotely associated with the sort of rambling anti-Semitic, homophobic, racist and paranoid text, they would be finished as legitimate voices.

barak obama louis farrakhan

Edward | March 5, 2008, 12:00pm | #

Ron Paul's supporters are mostly nazis, and I suspect most of Paul's supporters here on Reason are, at the very least, sympathetic towards racists.

There's just no getting through to you fucking racist imbeciles. This is my last post here. Fucking idiots.

Rick Barton | March 5, 2008, 12:04pm | #

Edward,

Sure, just keep ignoring the evidence, making stuff up, and calling names.

Given your nonsensical tantrums on this and at least one other blog, if you're an adult and not a kid, your intellectual and emotional development appears to have been retarded. I’m not joking.

Danny | March 5, 2008, 12:10pm | #

Rick,

Or he trolls for fun. He might even be remotely pleasant in RL (Real Life).

Edward | March 5, 2008, 12:14pm | #

Hey Rick, you'd better get off the computer because you're going to be late to your weekly Friends of Martin Bormann Book Club meeting.

Danny | March 5, 2008, 12:15pm | #

Oh, and where is the support for all of that evidence that "Ron Paul's supporters are mostly nazis", and where is there ANY proof on Reason that anybody here is "sympathetic towards racists"? I've never seen a post here made earnestly that could even be considered racist. Either way, racists have the rights to associate with who they will, and they have no rights to take away any rights of others.

Since you've been primarily addressing me, I'll assume that you are calling me one of the "fucking racist imbeciles". I'm afraid that you are missing a citation here as well. Where is the proof for this? (Hint: You won't find any.)

Danny | March 5, 2008, 12:16pm | #

"This is my last post here."

Wow, now Edward has proven himself as a liar! *Gasp*!!

jmr | March 5, 2008, 12:33pm | #

Clearly a bunch of young Paul supporters aren't going over to the Obama camp! Like someone else said, we're "racists." McAmnesty has nothing to worry about from the "other Soros candidate."
JMR

http://www.dynw.com/ronpaulisracist/ has proof.

Rick Barton | March 5, 2008, 12:33pm | #

Danny,

I suppose that Edward could just be trolling for fun. But both his anger and stupidity strike me as authentic.

Now what's this "real life" that you speak of?

svf | March 5, 2008, 12:36pm | #

I'd like to see who contributed to Peden.

Apparently it was mostly Chris Peden himself and the rest of the Peden Clan...

And now, the rest of the story (on Peden's fundraising)

... $150,424.49 out of $174,750.80 raised (of which $143,949.92 remain unexpended on banner ads), did not simply come from "local" addresses in towns like Friendswood. It came from one single address in Friendswood: 1878 Flat Rock Street, as in the abode of the candidate himself.

Additionally, the County Seat points out that Peden's family donated another $16,100 to the candidate, "[placing] just over $166,000 of Peden's claimed total haul of $174,000 'in the family.'"

Rick Barton | March 5, 2008, 12:45pm | #

svf,

Thanks for the info and link.

Hey, any contributions from Donderooo?

Marcvs | March 5, 2008, 1:09pm | #

If you poke the monkey, he's just going to throw his feces at you.

Edward | March 5, 2008, 1:18pm | #

Ah, a Reasonoid throwing around the term "monkey". Why doesn't that surprise me?

Brian Ewart | March 5, 2008, 1:39pm | #

Dondero wrote on Third Party Watch that he thought that Peden is the frontrunner for Paul's seat in 2010. I almost fell out of my chair laughing.

Edward | March 5, 2008, 2:02pm | #

I'm just having fun. Ron Paul is a joke. If anybody took him seriously, the media would have crucified him over the stupid newsletters, but they haven't merited more than passing comment. Intelligent libertarians gave him up long ago, and only in part because of the newsletters. Loons don't help the cause. Carry on with your mutual masturbation, fuckwits.

svf | March 5, 2008, 2:31pm | #

Hey, any contributions from Donderooo?

no donderoooo listed here...

either I'm looking in the wrong place or mr. d doesn't put his money where his cybermouth is... considering the people he endorses I don't blame him...

Rick Barton | March 5, 2008, 2:35pm | #

Brian Ewart,

That is so funny! Donderoo is not anywhere as near as dumb and out of touch as Edward (Edward's 2:02 post provides yet more evidence), but he does say some silly stuff.

Eric Dondero | March 5, 2008, 10:24pm | #

Kyle Janeck?

That's the first time I've ever heard his name dropped as a potential candidate for the 14th CD. What evidence do you have for that?

Bobby Eberle is more likely to jump in. Or maybe Paul Bettencourt.

But Janek?

Eric Dondero | March 5, 2008, 10:26pm | #

All these people, some even from DELAWARE, pretending to know a little something about Texas politics.

I fall off my chair laughing at them.

Eric Dondero | March 5, 2008, 10:28pm | #

Funny we're not seeing headlines here at Reason.com on Paul's showing for President in Vermont, RI, Texas and Ohio?

Hint: hovered around 5% in all four states. Not exactly what one would call a "Revolution."

isildur | March 5, 2008, 10:33pm | #

I showed up in this thread and searched for Dondero. Thread delivers!

Dave Weigel | March 5, 2008, 11:05pm | #

Eric, has Congressman-elect Peden read your resume yet?

Luke | March 6, 2008, 1:17am | #

Well whaddaya know, Dondero's here!

Okay, which one of you said "no-talent assclown" three times while looking in a mirror?

Francisco | March 6, 2008, 1:37am | #

Uh, David...Kyle Janek is resigning effective June 2nd.

http://countyseat.blogspot.com/2008/01/salty-air-and-4-hour-commute-finally.html

He's resigning to move to Austin, which is nowhere near the 14th District. He's not gonna be running for Congress any time soon...unless it's a longshot challenge to Lloyd Doggett.

On top of that, Janek has never been even remotely libertarian and this district clearly has a libertarian bent to it.