Sam Houston, the Democrat running for attorney general, talks about his opponent, his upbringing and his uphill climb for attorney general.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE | Attorney General candidate Sam Houston acknowledged that Democratic candidates for statewide office in Texas face an uphill battle. (David Taffet/Dallas Voice)
Dallas Voice: Why are you running? Sam Houston: I’m running because the incumbent, Greg Abbott, has politicized the office. It has been used to benefit the Republicans, not ordinary Texans. We need an office for all Texans, not just one party. I think it should be run like an attorney’s office, which I know how to do. I’ve been an attorney for 26 years.
How has the office been politicized? Abbott’s spent millions suing the federal government, defending gerrymandering and the unconstitutional voter ID law, just protecting his Republican buddies. He’s chosen to defend the Republican Legislature’s decision to cut education funding, instead of putting that money in the classroom. And as your readers probably know, he’s vigorously defended the state’s same-sex marriage ban, which will ultimately be ruled unconstitutional. Then he uses it all as a campaign slogan.
You wouldn’t have defended the state’s same-sex marriage ban were you attorney general, but it was the Legislature who put it on the ballot. I would’ve told the Legislature from the start I think it is unconstitutional. I’m personally against it. But I think ultimately SCOTUS has to make that ruling, not me. I think the ban will be held unconstitutional. Defending it is frivolous.
So his arguments are frivolous, too? Let’s get lawyerly and not say they’re not ‘frivolous’ but say, ‘I disagree.’ Y’all have probably heard about the Texas Enterprise Fund [the controversial fund found to have benefitted many of Gov. Rick Perry’s donors]. [Abbott’s] office lied and said the governor’s office received applications from certain businesses, when they really hadn’t. The office should stop focusing on grabbing headlines and defending [Abbott’s] Republican buddies. It needs to get back to wisely spending more money on consumer and environmental protection.
Your Republican opponent, state Sen. Ken Paxton of McKinney, isn’t even liked by his own party according to your website. If you think Abbott is bad, just wait until you see Ken Paxton. He has a history of ethical problems. When he was state representative, he had ethical issues — lots of conflicts of interest he didn’t report. He did business with the state then didn’t disclose a number of businesses he had a stake in. He was fined $1,000 for what he did and may face an indictment after the election. He says it isn’t a felony and wants to put it behind him.
You don’t get to put that behind you. Not how it works. There’s been a complaint filed against him to the public integrity unit, which may take it up after the election. He could be the attorney general but found guilty of a crime!
Every major newspaper in Texas has endorsed you so far, even in traditionally Republican areas. Have you gotten a lot of support from Republicans then? Yeah, some, but they’re not willing to come out about it. (laughs) But I’m looking for Democrats. We need Democrats to get out and vote. When people vote, we win. People who pay attention to the issues vote Democratic.
What if you are the only Democrat to be elected statewide? Don’t say that!
It’s a hypothetical! But if you were, you would have to work with Republicans. I have no problem working with Republicans. I pride myself on working with everyone on every issue. The question is, are they willing to work with me?
Texas Democrats haven’t won a statewide race in 20 years. Your bid is seen as a long shot. How do you see your chances? I wouldn’t say the Democratic races are ‘long shots’ but ‘uphill.’ I’m proud to be on this slate. That’s why I’m doing this.
You grew up in a small Texas town. It was a different time and an unsafe time for LGBT people, but did you know anyone then who was LGBT? I grew up in Colorado City, where it’s everybody. Small towns are different from big cities. It doesn’t matter your race, income or sexual preference. You’d be surprised to learn it was okay to be LGBT. Everyone knows each other in these towns. And everyone counts. I worked at a small store owned by my family before all of the Wal-marts came in. That’s where I learned everyone counts. You waited in line and got waited on and as long as you paid you were treated right.
But did you know any out LGBT people? Good Lord, I don’t know when I didn’t. Again, times are changin’. People are now out, which makes a difference. A lot of my wife’s LGBT friends were in our wedding.
Paxton hasn’t debated you and ducked editorial board meetings. I guess you haven’t met him. I met him once. We were both scheduled to speak at a convention. We walked up, shook hands and he spoke and then left. He didn’t listen to me. He walked out and a San Antonio reporter asked him questions about his security fines and he physically blocked him from answering questions. I think that speaks to the kind of person he is. This man wants to be your attorney general. I don’t even know what type of lawyer my opponent is! I think he’s just a professional politician. He’s truly running the non-campaign. I’m not. I’m proud of my career. I wanna help people.
Sam Houston: SamHoustonForTexas.com.
Ken Paxton: KenPaxton.com.
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Election Day: Where to vote and what to watch
2014 could be a game changer in Texas politics. Tuesday, Nov. 4, Election Day, is the day of decision. Here’s what you need to know.
Where to vote:
Visit VoteTexas.gov to find out what you need. Not sure where to vote?
Collin County 1-800-687-8546 co.collin.tx.us/elections
Dallas County 214-819-6300 dallascountyvotes.org
Denton County 940-349-3200 votedenton.com
Tarrant County 817-831-8683 tarrantcounty.com/eVote
What to watch:
Will voters cross party lines or vote straight ticket? “[Statewide] straight ticket voting will likely dominate, but there are some specific contests where some Republicans are not happy with their candidates and either abstain or vote Democratic,” said Allan Saxe, a professor of political science at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Moderate Republicans may prefer Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller.
Straight ticket voters can have a negative impact down the ballot though. Locally, said Saxe, “The length of the ballot often entices people to vote straight ticket [as can] lack of knowledge of some candidates.”
Take judicial races, said Russell Roden, a Republican running for a county judicial seat. “Many voters don’t even know they are voting for judges, much less who the candidates are or their qualifications. As a result, poorly qualified candidates can be swept in and then they don’t perform well in office. This is true of both parties.”
Will Battleground Texas prevail? The former Obama campaign staffers are determined to turn Texas blue. The 2014 elections will be their test. They’ve propped up and raised funds for Democrats, and a handful of local legislative victories with strong candidates could be their crown jewel.
Will the Tea Party prevail? They determined the outcome of many Republican primaries. But can their candidates win in the general election? In coveted Senate District 10, currently occupied by Wendy Davis, Republican Konni Burton faces Democrat Libby Willis. The race will determine the balance of power in the senate. Burton, a Tea Party activist, bested the party’s preferred candidate. The district is more Republican now than when Davis ran in 2012 but Willis has garnered support from some traditionally Republican groups.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition October 31, 2014.