Charlie Geren Karaoke

Over the weekend news outlets reported that Barack Obama is begging donors for more cash. In Texas, Representative Charlie Geren may be making similar petitions.

Geren represents HD 99 located in Tarrant County, the epicenter of conservative electoral reform in the Texas Republican Party. As a rule this year, elections in Tarrant are going to conservatives. This is bad news for Geren, one of 5 remaining gang of 11 liberal Republicans who sided with Democrats to elect Joe Straus as Speaker in 2009.

Bob Stewart of Bedford penned an op-ed last week outlining the achievements of activists in Tarrant County. Though his editorial didn’t mention Geren, it is a shot over the bow of a lawmaker who, despite his efforts, is now surrounded by staunch conservatives.

Without a primary opponent this cycle Geren played in Tarrant Co. and surrounding House races as well as local party politics. He donated $5000 to Barbara Nash who lost to conservative backed Matt Krause. In 2010 Krause challenged Geren running a notably 100% positive campaign.

Geren donated to Roger Fisher who ran to replace Todd Smith in the Texas House. Fisher fell to Jonathan Stickland by a 20 point margin. Like Krause, Stickland enjoys widespread conservative support.

In local party politics Geren donated big to Bob McGrath, who was recruited by the establishment to challenge the conservative chair of Tarrant County’s Republican Party. McGrath lost.

Now, Voices Empower and the North East Tarrant Tea Party have reported that Geren is out working for Ken Sapp in the HD 91 run-off. Geren gave to Sapp during the first round of the primary. Sapp, like Nash and Fisher, is up against a conservative candidate Stephanie Klick.

Absent reports of a groveling Geren, we will have to wait for run-off financial reports to reveal further efforts by Geren to exert liberal influence on the Texas House and Tarrant Co.

Bob Stewart’s op-ed