John Frullo made the run-off for State Representative HD-84 in the Lubbock area. The first place finisher was business-man, and Texas Tech regent Mark Griffin. Frullo was a complete political unknown. But he represents a growing hard right insurgency. He owns a print shop. His campaign signs simply read "Frullo for State Representative; Conservative Republican."

From the Texas Tribune, April 5:

The contest shares one important characteristic with the adjacent race in HD-83: It pits inside-the-tent Lubbock Republicans against a coalition of social and libertarian conservatives who are distinctly unhappy with government in Washington and Texas. In that frame, Frullo's the insurgent and Griffin represents the establishment.

"I feel a little like Don King," jokes Chris Winn, chairman of Lubbock County's GOP, but he downplays the ideological splits. "In Lubbock, what you have are people who espouse limited government, freedom and liberty. Those values have been the cornerstone of the Republican Party back as far as Goldwater and Reagan," he says.

"What it comes down to right now are which individuals show they are experienced to work in Austin for what's best for Lubbock," Winn says.

Griffin was a backer of Kay B. Hutchison for Governor. Frullo has Gov Rick Perry on his campaign website. Though, Perry has not made any official endorsements in the race.

Notably, Frullo has the endorsements from the Young Conservatives of Texas (Rand Paul was Chairman of this group for many years in the 1980s), and the libertarian-leaning Empower Texas.

Reached by Libertarian Republican, Frullo had this to say:

I want to thank everyone who has supported my campaign in the pursuit of smaller government. I believe that individual freedom is the cornerstone of our government and I want to do my best to defend it.

The can't seem to attract any candidates

303 to 224; that's the margin of Republican candidates to Democrats this year in Missouri. This is a state that is always considered a bellweather of public opinion nationwide.

From the Kansas City Star:

JEFFERSON CITY | Significantly more of Missouri's political candidates are calling themselves Republicans than Democrats this year.

When Missouri's candidacy filing period ended last week, Republicans comprised 303 of the 582 people running for U.S. Senate or House, the state Legislature, state auditor or circuit judgeships. Democrats had 224 candidates, and the rest were aligned with either the Libertarian or Constitution parties.

No Democrat files against him

Looks like Republican Senator John Thune will be unopposed for reelection. In a further sign that Democrats are losing big in the all-important candidate recruitment game, not a single Democrat has filed against him.

From The Yankton Press & Dakotan (h/t Rightosphere and NRO):

PIERRE — South Dakota Democrats have failed to find a candidate to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. John Thune.

Democratic Party officials had acknowledged earlier they might not find anyone to run against Thune, a popular politician who is seeking a second term in the Senate. The lack of a Democratic candidate became official Thursday when election officials posted the final list of candidates who submitted nominating petitions to run for statewide offices and the Legislature in the June primary.

State Senate Minority Leader Scott Heidepriem of Sioux Falls, the Democratic candidate for governor, said the party decided not to field a candidate in a futile race against Thune.

“We just concluded that John Thune is an extremely popular senator who is going to win another term in the Senate,” Heidepriem said.

A Libertarian Party or Constitution Party candidate might not have any luck against Thune either. His 2009 National Taxpayer Union (NTU) score was a solid 'A' 92 points out of 100. This made him the 12th ranked "Taxpayer's Best Friend," in the entire US Senate.

Breaking News...

The State AG has approved the first step in the process to qualify an initiative for the November ballot granting Ohioans the right to opt out of federally mandated Health Care. The move is significant, for Ohio does not fit the mold of a traditional southern or western State such as Idaho, Virginia or Texas.

From LegalNewsOnline:

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline)-Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray last week signed off on petition language that would bar federal health care coverage mandates from taking effect in the state.

The petition is being sought by the Ohio Liberty Council, a coalition of 25 conservative and libertarian grassroots groups, including many Ohio Tea Party organizations.

With the attorney general's declaration that their ballot summary is fair and accurate, the petition language now goes to the Ohio Ballot Board for final approval.

If the measure is ultimately approved by voters, Ohioans would not have to pay the likely $750 fine for failure to carry health insurance.

Oddly, Cordray, a Democrat, is on record in strong opposition to the measure, believing Obama's Health Care legislation to be in full compliance with the Constitution.

A New Hero has Spoken

Dramatic new video, coming out of Europe, originally banned by YouTube. This is the toned down censored version.