Don’t be jackasses, be independents: It’s the political economy, stupid. Texas Fusion 2026

Bob Gammage, someone to learn from.

“Truth is, most Texas Democrats are independents.” Reform Democrat icon, Bob Gammage, after losing the Democratic primary for Governor to Chris Bell, 2006*. This article is dedicated to Gammage and reformers wherever they are today.

Summary: What’s going on for Texas independent voters? Is it a Texas fusion movement or a risky fizzle? It’s probably not yet a full-blown independent breakout as seen in Ross Perot’s 1992 race when he stood a real chance of winning the presidency. But it’s at least a start.

And who really knows? In these turbulent times, anything could happen in the rotting swamp of Texas political affairs.

This UT/Texas Voter Project Poll makes plain that voters are in shopping mode, and it’s not just for economic stability. It’s the “c” word – corruption – in second place under economic concerns.

What Texans invariably say about corruption is also known as “pay-to-play” fixes the outcome of the Texas Senate impeachment trial of Ken Paxton when the Lt. Governor received a $3 million “loan”.

A deeper corruption, however, has struck a chord yet to be discussed that is key to independents.

The state agencies meant to protect our vast water, land, and energy resources are outmatched by the donors who are buying whatever isn’t nailed down. That's our water, our land and our grid.

State legislative leaders of both parties are to blame, but the buck stops at the office of the Governor and Lt. Governor. Yes, Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick sold out big Texas public education to the pro-voucher billionaires.

But the problem is far worse than anyone is yet talking about because it’s about what Texans hold the most dear besides our kids – that’s our land, our water and our clear blue skies FOR our kids. That’s TEXAS.

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On November 13th, Mike Collier, who ran against Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in 2018 and 2022 as a Democrat, declared his intention to run this time as an independent.

Businessman Andrew White, who ran for Governor in the 2022 Democratic Primary, is running again in the primary as an “independent Democrat.”

We would love to see accountant and auditor Collier get his hands on the state budget.

Collier was also a Republican in years past. Is he a party hopper or a party shopper? Time will tell, but we love what he told WFAA when he announced:

“The partisan warfare is just off the charts. It's very natural for me as a CPA, as a businessman, to hold myself out as an independent.” 

Check out Andrew White’s website. Can he convince Texas independents he is independent enough and run in the Democratic primary? We’re excited to see him try.

Ballot Access Makes or Breaks Independent Candidates:

But it's not just about numbers or money.

Collier will need to gather 81,000+ signatures in 114 days from voters who did not vote in the March 3^rd Texas primary. It’s very hard to get that many signatures under these parameters, but it's doable if you’re well-funded.

We’d love to see Andrew White run as an independent for Governor. But we know the impossibility of doing so. That’s because the 2026 Democratic primary for Governor already looks crowded and could easily force a runoff.

Texas election code requires independents to wait until the runoff is over to start petitioning. That would give White approximately 30 days to gather 81K signatures.

Independents’ years of legal and legislative challenges to these monopolistic requirements have repeatedly failed due to the obstruction of both parties.

What’s hardest about ballot access for independents.

Ballot access for independents (remember, we have no party affiliation) is not just about buying your way onto the ballot. Money is a big factor, but it’s really about HOW you use it. The petition drive for independents is to be understood as our very own individual primary. It’s our opportunity to reach millions of people, whether they sign our petitions on paper (called a “wet signature) or not.

The major party candidates are running in the March primary funded by the State of Texas. That’s where the very big show happens, right? What are the independents doing? Hopefully not waiting and, hopefully, creating interest and infrastruture, kinda like their own political party of one.

Independents can steal a page from the 2006 independent gubernatorial campaigns of Carole Strayhorn and Kinky Friedman. 

I was there advising Strayhorn on her ballot access and working in 32 East Texas counties. I was also trying to get the two candidates to run for Governor and Lt. Governor, rather than to face each other for Governor.

We obviously failed to get the two independents out of the same race. The election results were Rick Perry 39% (Republican), Chris Bell 29.8% (Democrat), Carole Strayhorn 18.1% (Independent) and, surprisingly, Kinky Friedman (Independent) 12.4%. That’s right, there is no runoff after the general election.

Can we add? The combined totals for Carole and Kinky was 30.5%. To this very day, I believe had Carole been the only independent in the race, she could have whupped Rick Perry and Chris Bell. But her petition drive (her primary) failed to address her “Kinky problem.”

Alas, have the Democrats found us?

What will answer this question is the extent to which the movers and shakers in the Democratic Party stop their incessant “spoiler” attacks already underway against Mike Collier. This bad behavior is getting old. I should know. I'm about to turn 75.

With respect, please get this, Texas Democrats. It’s certainly possible that Mike Collier’s independent run for Lt. Governor will attract voters from across the spectrum. Right now, independents are leaving the GOP in droves. Many will not vote for a Democrat. If Mike does well and the presumed Democratic nominee, Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin) runs a strong campaign, either one of them can take the seat with as little as 34%. And Dan Patrick can eat the dirt he so deserves.

White’s run in the Democratic primary is geared towards getting independents to vote in the open primary on the Democratic side. Is it a good bet? He will have to address corruption and pay-to-play donor influence – inside and outside his party -- that set us up for the siege on Texas water and land resources.

Will the Republicans seek out independents? Their focus on the culture wars and hypocritical bald-faced manipulation of their own base is in high gear, as usual. Abbott, in his announcement speach complained about the “billionaires” giving Dems money.

Oh puleeze! Abbott’s got $90 million in his campaign coffers to ward off any real challenge. I don’t think Jeff Yass, you know the TikTok billionaire dude voucher king, is going to receive a $6 million refund from King Greg.

Non-rocket scientists know who will decide the 2026 mid-term elections.

We can’t wait to see the next Gallup poll on party affiliation expected in January. In 2024, it had us at 43%. Just remember, we independents change our minds all the time. We’re shoppers, and for good reason.

Conclusion: It's the political economy and we don't have to be stupid.

Bob Gammage, Carole Strayhorn, Kinky Friedman, and Ross Perot are all gone. It’s up to us to know and to use the history.

Let’s pick it up from there. LIV is holding “how to run as an independent” sessions, starting soon.

Let us know of your interest.

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Notes:

*In 2006, I ran into Gammage on the campaign trail when working on the Carole Strayhorn independent gubernatorial campaign. We met at his home in Horseshoe Bay after he lost the Democratic primary for Governor to Chris Bell. It was a privilege.