So what’s happening in House Districts 11 and 105, the last two undecided seats in the lower chamber? According to House Democratic Campaign Committee Political Director Roger Garza, counting has finished in one of the four counties in HD-11, so a decision there could be imminent there (the smart money still says that incumbent Dem Chuck Hopson‘s 102-vote win sticks). What could hold everything up is the ultra-tight HD-105, which Rep. Linda Harper Brown, R-Dallas, squeaked past Democrat Bob Romano to hold by 20 votes.

Democrats are annoyed that emphasis votes that would be counted on paper are getting discounted on electronic voting machines (although a lot of other folks wonder how hard it is to just TICK THE BOX, PEOPLE!) The GOP holds that it’s actually a ‘nay’ vote, and shouldn’t be counted.

The Dems tried to take it to court, but District Judge Jim Jordan ruefully had to rule that he didn’t have jurisdiction (in his ruling, he noted that he was really looking forward to it) so now Democrats are threatening to go to the Feds. If they rule that Jordan had jurisdiction after all, he’s already said he’d be delighted to get it back.

UPDATE: Just heard from the Hopson campaign that they’re only waiting on Cherokee county.

This article appears in November 28 • 2008.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.