Leticia Van de Putte

Two Texas state senators sent a letter Thursday to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, blasting the DSCC for its lack of financial support for state Rep. Rick Noriega's (D-Houston) U.S. Senate bid against John Cornyn (R-Houston).

"The DSCC's decision is shameful and disgraceful, and we will do everything we can to prevent this disrespect from happening again," Sens. Mario Gallegos (D-Houston) and Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) wrote in the letter. "For the face of the US Senate to represent the true face of America, we must all work together to invest in quality candidates such as Rick Noriega, not take a walk when our candidate is not a member of the millionaires club." Read More >

Democrats in the state Senate have become more upbeat heading into the next legislation after they picked up another seat. Democrat Wendy Davis defeated state Sen. Kim Brimer (R-Fort Worth) in a close, contentious battle. Davis' victory means there will be at least 12 Democratic state Senators next session.  Democrat Chris Bell (D-Houston) may join their ranks if he defeats Republican Joan Huffman in a runoff next month.

While Democrats will control about a dozen seats in the 31-member chamber, they are likely to see their influence grow. While it may take 60 votes to block a filibuster in the U.S. Senate, it only takes 11 votes to stop a bill in the state Senate.  In the past, there have been a couple Democrats who might break away from the caucus and vote with Republicans. Democrats say adding another Democrat (or two) to their ranks is likely to give them more leverage, according to a Fort Worth Star-Telegram report.

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State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, (D-San Antonio), co-chair of this year's Democratic convention, delivered the call to order for Wednesday's convention. Van de Putte, state Senate Democratic Caucus Chair, is considered by some observers to be a rising star in the party - and a possible candidate for statewide office in the future.

"Buenas noches, mis amigos!," Van de Putte began. "I couldn't have asked for a more historic, ground-breaking year to be given the honor of being one of the four Democratic convention co-chairs - and all of us women."

She recalled sitting in the crowd at the 1988 Democratic convention hearing then-Texas State Treasurer Ann Richards speak. "She electrified Democrats," Van de Putte said before recalling Richards famous line that, "Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high-heels."

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