At the HCRP Executive Meeting last night, I ran into one of the challengers for the chair position, Paul Simpson, and asked him how the campaign was progressing. I knew that he had built an impressive professional team but admit to being surprised by the endorsements from party officials and stalwarts he has received in his quest.

To understand my surprise, you have to remember that Jared Woodfill has been the party chair for eight years and is certainly the favorite to keep the position. As such, it takes quite a lot of backbone for precinct chairs and other current party stalwarts to publicly announce their support for a challenger. Sure, there are a lot of people in the party quietly backing others but public endorsements against an incumbent are few and far between. And unlike the old, unsolicited ndorsement list provided by Mr. Woodfill, these endorsements are real and current.

The list contains 2 current SREC representatives, 14 current precinct chairs, former State Rep. Martha Wong, Bellaire Mayor Cindy Siegel and other respected members of the HCRP. You can view the endorsement list here, although I was told earlier today that a revised list is being produced because more have signed up.

So, for the grassroots people that I was talking with at another event earlier in the week, the ones that didn't believe me when I told them that Paul was a serious candidate and was still working behind the scenes building his campaign, I get to say: I told you so!

Thus far, Jared, Paul and Ed Hubbard have filed. Don Large is expected to file later this week. The race is definitely on. Stay tuned to learn more about the candidates and the issues as they see them.

Website: Paul Simpson for GOP Chair