Good morning!

Today marks the 231st anniversary of government under the U.S. Constitution. Meanwhile, Joe Biden is campaigning to “take care of” your infatuation with the Second Amendment.

Here is today's results-focused Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Wednesday, March 4, 2020
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Advance Mea Culpa: this was compiled at just before 1 a.m., so please forgive any typos! 

• As expected, Donald Trump handily won Texas’ GOP primary last night. President Trump earned more GOP votes than all the Democrat candidates in their primary combined.
        
• The state’s Democrats, meanwhile, divided their support between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders – though neither had garnered more than a third of the total vote.
       
• Meanwhile, incumbent GOP Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton lost to challenger Jim Wright by 10 points in the GOP primary. This marks the first loss of a statewide official in a primary since then-Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst was defeated by Dan Patrick in 2014.
         
• It was a rough night for the crony establishment’s favorite legislators: State Rep. J.D. Sheffield (R-Gatesville) and State Rep. Dan Flynn (R-Van), both of whom find themselves in runoffs against conservative challengers. Sheffield will face Shelby Slawson, while Flynn will be up against Bryan Slaton.
       
• In the most closely watched open-seat Texas House GOP primary races:
  House District 45, Carrie Isaac will face Bud Wymore in a runoff.
  HD-47, Jennifer Fleck will be running against Don Zimmerman in a runoff.
  HD-60, in a four-way race, conservative Jon Francis will face establishment candidate Glenn Rogers in a runoff.
  HD-92, conservative Jeff Cason won outright in a three-way race.
  HD-132, at 12:45 a.m., former State Rep. Mike Schofield was leading in a tight race with the candidate endorsed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
  HD-138, Lacey Hull appeared heading for an outright win against her two GOP opponents.
        
• In the most closely watched congressional GOP primaries:
  Congressional District 11 (open-seat), August Pfluger was barely under 50 percent at 12:45 a.m. in a race that featured nearly a dozen opponents. Pfluger was endorsed by President Trump several weeks ago.
  CD-12,  another Trump endorsee, U.S. Rep. Kay Granger of Fort Worth, scored a 60-40 victory over her conservative challenger.
  CD-13 (open-seat), lobbyist Josh Winegarner has a big lead over President Trump’s former physician, Ronny Jackson, going into the runoff.
  CD-17 (open-seat), former U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions will face Renee Swann.
  CD-22 (open-seat), Fort Bend Sheriff Troy Nehls will face conservative Kathaleen Wall.
  CD-24 (open-seat), Irving Mayor Beth Van Dyune earned an outright win in a multi-candidate race.
          
• At 11 a.m. today join Brandon Waltens on our Facebook page for live video discussion of the primary results. TexasScorecard.com will be updated throughout the day with additional news and analysis. 
     
• And speaking of Brandon Waltens, you can also catch him on Chris Salcedo’s popular radio show this morning.
      
• What are you doing on Thursday, May 14? We’re hosting a little party... More info below.

• Joe Biden promised a small audience in Dallas on Monday that he would use Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke to “take care of the gun problem.” Brandon Waltens has the details.
        
• I dare Joe Biden and “Beto” O’Rourke to come on my property and try to take care of my “gun problem.” Come And Take It.
       
• In a new commentary, long-time journalist and political activist Will Lutz explains the importance of a political party’s platform in building public policy.
      
• “A detailed platform makes it easier for grassroots conservatives to hold their elected officials accountable and lets elected officials know what issues matter to the grassroots.” – Will Lutz

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