Congratulations to our new congressman and all his supporters

Ciro Rodriguez, the voters of the 23rd congressional district of Texas, and everyone who helped out won a great victory yesterday.  And with that win, Democrats knock off Henry Bonilla, who went in one week from labelling Rodriguez as a terrorist-supporter, to reportedly making a gracious concession call, where he offered to work with Rodriguez during the transition.

We went down to the victory rally at the packed Harlandale Civic Center on the south side last night, expecting possibly a long evening.  As it turns out, though, the margin was larger than anyone's highest expectations, and we were there barely an hour before the race was called and the candidate had made his triumphant entrance and victory speech, proclaiming that he would be very proud to help make history by casting a vote for the first female Speaker of the House.

If we'd been reading Burnt Orange Report, the night may have been even shorter, since their expert knowledge of the voting returns across the district allowed them to call the race twenty minutes or so ahead of the AP.

To continue my brief foray into the world of YouTube, I have a couple minute segment of Ciro's victory speech last night. 

Also, my wife and partner here, while out on campaign trail yesterday, decided to become an amateur reporter for a day and captured a couple brief interviews with congressman Joe Baca of California and former congressional candidate John Courage, both of whom had joined Rodriguez on the final GOTV effort yesterday.  Here they are answering the simple question, "Why are you here today campaigning for Ciro Rodriguez?"

First, Rep. Joe Baca, who represents the San Bernardino area, a few dozen miles inland from Los Angeles in southern California.

Next, John Courage, who unfortunately lost his race to GOP Rep. Lamar Smith in November.  (His district stretches from northern San Antonio to the Hill Country to the Austin area.  The heavily conservative area around Kerrville that the Supreme Court removed from Bonilla and Rodriguez's district was added to Smith and Courage's district, making Courage's uphill run against Smith much tougher than it was originally.)

I doubt we'll be doing much more video here at B and B in the near future, but these snippets will serve as mementos of an amazing campaign that we were fortunate to play a small role in. Congratulations to congressman-elect Ciro Rodriguez and to all of his supporters!

Comments

[boadicea]

Nice job reporting on the Rodriguez campaign. Thanks for the effort, and congratulations to all those who contributed to this campaign.

[Mike Thomas]

I'm curious. Has there been any hint or indication of what House Committee assignments Ciro may get? I hear there are a lot of openings on the House Appropriations committee - Five Rs on that committee including Bonilla lost in the midterms.

[Peter]

Thanks, boadicea.

Mike, I have no clue about possible committee assignments. But I like the fact that we can ask about that now.

[Mike Thomas]

WooHoo! I just heard on NPR that Pelosi is appointing Ciro to the House Appropriations Committee! He really is taking Bonilla's seat! Ha!!

[Peter]

Thanks for the news. Kind of makes that pathetic Express-News editorial you wrote about even more pathetic.