Today, Bill Dingus scored a victory inside a Travis County District Court. Sure, it was a Travis County judge deciding on a Midland election, but Dingus contends this case was about voters’ rights to have a choice. Judge Margaret Cooper ruled that Dingus could stay on the ballot for November and run against Rep. Tom Craddick, who has been in the legislature for 40 years.

The controversy was over Dingus’ city council position, which he held when he formally announced his run for the Democratic seat in the election. The Republican Party of Texas then wrote a note to the TX Democratic Party, which brought the issue to Federal court and lost. However, this time Dingus got involved and sued the Democratic Party (that’s the only group he could sue) and got a “liberal” Travis County judge to rule in his favor (according to the Republican party). So, it looks like Craddick may have some competition, but in a Republican majority district, today may be Dingus’ only victory.

Craddick’s office response: “The speaker expected to have an opponent and looks forward to campaigning this fall.”