Lupe Valdez of Dallas is endorsed by the Texas AFL-CIO for Governor of Texas! The labor federation's Committee on Political Education (COPE) held its conference at the Downtown Sheraton Hotel in Austin January 20-21. Sheriff Valdez and Houston challenger Andrew White were given extensive time to talk and answer qestions from the over-400 labor leaders assembled. After deliberations and discussions in the endorsement committee, Valdez was recommended.
All of the previous Dallas AFL-CIO recommendations for local candidates were accepted by the state federation. Local candidates and recommendations are posted on our web site. Here are the announcements in statewide races:
- U.S. Senator -- no endorsement
- Lieutenant Governor -- Mike Collier
- Attorney General -- Justin Nelson
- Comptroller -- No action
- Land Commissioner -- Tex Morgan
- Agriculture Commissioner -- Kim Olson
- Railroad Commissioner -- Chris Spellmon
- Texas Supreme Court Place 2 -- Steve Kirkland
- Texas Supreme Court Place 4 -- RK Sandill
- Texas Supreme Court Place 6 -- Katy Cheng
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge -- Maria T "Terri" Jackson
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 7 -- Ramona Franklin
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 8 -- No action
- Texas Democratic Party Chair -- Gilberto Hinojosa
Sheriff Valdez drew a big majority of the entire meeting. When the proposal from the endorsement committee was presented, one delegate asked if the governor's race recommendation could be changed to "no endorsement." Dallas AFL-CIO principal officer Mark York took the microphone to denounce male chauvinism, women hating, racism, and LGTB bashing -- then continued to recommend Valdez in the strongest terms. Other delegates then rose to agree with York and back Valdez. Her endorsement was then ratified by almost all of the delegates!
