Reflections on the 2016 Primary

Reflections on the 2016 Primary

By

James Scott Trimm

Stickland Defeats Fisher

Conservative hero Jonathan Stickland decisively overcame a challenge from establishment recruit Scott Fisher.  Stickland was my earliest endorsement in this election, and my Oct. 20^th blog The Establishment’s Plan toOust Jonathan Stickland went viral and established this blog’s place in Texas Politics. 

Voters were clearly unimpressed with a pastor engaging in a despicable smear campaign against a fellow Christian. The Pastor never responded to my Open Letter on the issue: Rabbi Trimm to PastorFisher Concerning Evil Speech- An Open Letter.  Due to his antics, Fisher became a frequent topic of this blog over the last few months, and many of those blogs went viral, 

Sadly to the very end Pastor Fisher was unrepentant of his behavior, writing even after his loss: “I'm proud of the campaign we ran and have no regrets.”  During the campaign Fisher asked “does Stickland shock you?” but clearly voters were mostly just shocked by a pastor engaging in such a vicious smear campaign.

Jonathan Stickland campaigned on “More Freedom, Less Government” a philosophy that has guided him over the last four years and which he will bring to his service in the Texas House for the next two years.

The big winner here was WE THE PEOPLE!

Patricia Bacca Bennett Defeats Mike Sinha

One of my early endorsements in this election (second only to Stickland) was Patricia Bacca Bennet.  It is not easy to defeat a sitting judge, especially one who has held office for six years, but Patricia Bacca Bennet has done just that. 

Judge Sinha had been dubbed the “unconstitututional Judge” after a video surfaced of him saying:

"I have a lot lot of liberty and a lot of discretion as a district court judge when it comes to families.  The Family Code is fair.  And the District Court has the opportunity to do things that are Constitutional and unconstitutional."

We broke this story right here in a blog that went viral: Judge Sinha Claims Discretion to Act Unconstitutionally way back on Feb. 7^th. 

The video even drew the attention of Glenn Beck who used it as an example of the importance of local elections.

The big winner here was We the People and our Constitution!

Bo French defeated by Charlie Geren

Well you cannot win them all.  Bo put up a very good fight against an entrenched establishment Rino.  “More Freedom, Less Government” will get a second bite at the apple in November as Geren is challenged by Pro-Life Libertarian Daniel Hawkins. 

Cook defeats McNutt

Byron Cook defeated Thomas McNutt in a real squeaker, by less than one percent of the vote!  I hope this sends a message to Cook, and let this be a reminder to all as to how important your vote is.

Tinderholt, Rinaldi and Zedler

Great conservative voices in the house who won their nomination and will serve us well in the House again in the 85^th session.

Tim O’Hare

I endorsed Tim and he will serve as our new County Chair for the Tarrant County GOP.  I really look forward (as a member of the Executive Committee) to working with Tim to keep Tarrant County red and promote conservatism in our county. 

Bill Waybourn

Bill will be going into a run off election against incumbent Dee Anderson. Incumbents rarely win in run offs, so Waybourn has a  really good chance to win.  I did not endorse Waybourn, but I did put his sign in my yard.

Dabney Bassel and Brooke Allan

Both of these judicial elections will go into run offs, and both are likely to win, since incumbents rarely win in run off elections. (I endorsed both).

Texas Alliance for Life and Joe Pojman

One of the big losers in this election was Joe Pojman and his Texas Alliance for Life.  I have worked tirelessly in this blog to prove over and over again that TAL today exists largely to give cover to politicians that are weak on pro-life issues.  In this election cycle their endorsements carried very little weight, and in some races may well have been a kiss of death.    If you want t know a pro-Life candidate in Texas look for an endorsement by Texas Right to Life, an authentic Pro-Life organization, and do not be fooled by TAL.