Your Candidates for the 2020 Texas Elections…
The field is now set for the March 3, 2020, primaries in Texas as the candidate filing period ended Monday, December 9th. There were some interesting last-day filings, such as Pierce Bush, grandson of the late President George H.W. Bush, who filed to run in a packed GOP primary to replace U.S. Rep. Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land). Additionally, former White House doctor Ronny Jackson, President Donald Trump’s one-time nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, filed on Monday to replace U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) – he’s the 13th candidate to enter that primary race.
In the Texas House, three additional members have made their plans to not seek re-election known: Rep. Rick Miller announced last week he will not compete for his seat; Rep. Mike Lang, after a couple of previous election decision changes, at the last minute on Monday filed to run for Hood County Commissioner instead of the Texas House; and late Tuesday Rep. Bill Zedler announced his decision to retire. That brings to 13 the number of Texas House members not running for re-election; there is only a 9 seat margin in the House between the two parties.
Texas House and Senate Christmas Trees
The two 25+ foot tall Christmas trees that arrived at the Texas Capitol last week are now fully decorated and on display in the House and Senate Chambers. Their presence, along with the Christmas music playing in both Chambers, really brings the Christmas spirit to the Capitol. It’s no mean feat wrestling those huge trees into the historic building either – they must traverse through small doorways and up winding staircases to reach each chamber. To see how they do it, the House has posted a timeline of photos.
Only in Austin…
Austin’s Christmas-themed bar scene is bigger than ever this year, with more than half a dozen festive holiday spots open this December. Ones we hope to survey, purely for informational purposes of course, include Miracle on 5th Street, a multi-room, multi-level, over-the-top interactive Christmas experience; Lala’s Little Nugget, where it’s actually Christmas all year long; Gibson Wonderland, with its Rum Pum Pum (hot buttered rum) and Gin-gle Juice (Dripping Springs gin, green chartreuse, sweet vermouth and orange bitters); and Old Thousand’s “Dope Chinese Food Take-Over of She’s Not Here” for an incredible meal and drinks off The Naughty List. After all of that holiday cheer, we’re heading to Mozart’s coffeehouse on Lady Bird Lake for hot cocoa on the deck under the gigantic Christmas light display set to all of the best holiday tunes.