[ Report Home | Previous Page | Next Page ] Luddite PACs & Candidates: Texas Political Funds that Dodge the Internet   III. Statewide Luddites

In one positive sign, few Luddites sought major statewide offices in 2002. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine how a campaign could prevail in a state of 21 million people if it raised less than $20,000 and failed to make extensive use of computers.³

Apart from 10 Luddites who sought statewide judicial offices (see “Judicial Luddites”), just two other Texas Luddites sought statewide office in 2002. While both of these Democratic candidates raised negligible amounts of money, Luddite Ernesto De Leon nonetheless won 43 percent of the vote in his failed primary bid for Agriculture Commissioner. Meanwhile, Tony Sanchez’s millions dealt a reality check to the gubernatorial pipe dream of Luddite Bill Lyon. Lyon finished third in this four-way primary battle. (While fourth-place loser John WorldPeace had a certain technological savvy, voters opened fire on him after he pummeled them with automated phone messages that seamed to contradict his campaign slogan: “Give peace a chance.”)
 
 

Luddites For Statewide Office

Luddite Candidate	Statewide Office	Party	Status	Non-E-Disclosed Money Raised Jan '01 - July '02
Ernesto De Leon	Agriculture Commissioner	D	Lost Primary	$1,705
Bill R. Lyon	Governor	D	Lost Primary	$101
			TOTAL:	$1,806