Morrow Concedes To Popp In State Board Of Education Runoff Race

AUSTIN, TX — Controversial politcal figure Robert Morrow conceded to his challenger in the Republican runoff election for the District 5 State Board of Education seat Lani Popp after the latter secured an insurmountable lead on Tuesday evening.

According to the office of the Texas Secretary of State, Popp at last check had nearly 80 percent of the vote. Although not all votes had been counted as of late Tuesday night, the math was decidely not in Morrow's favor, prompting him to concede via Twitter. True to form, the unpredictable Morrow — known for his conspiracy theories, hatred of Donald Trump and a penchant for wearing a court jester's costume while on the stump — promptly endorsed the Democrat his erstwhile challenger is now set to face in the November general election.

“I am endorsing Rebecca Bell-Metereau for SBOE because Lani Popp is just another GOP enabler of child rapist Donald Trump, a man who belongs in jail,” Morrow wrote on Twitter. Morrow has made the accusation against Trump in the past, often seen in downtown Austin carrying large signs with the allegation.

Not exactly gracious in defeat, he predicted Popp ultimately would lose in the general election come November. "This Trumpkin enabler Lani Popp will lose in the general election, mark my words," he wrote in resharing a note of congratulations to Popp from the Young Conservatives of Texas.

Only the most avid political junkies or those with a vested interest in education closely follow elections related to the State Board of Education. Yet the race for the District 5 position had come into greater focus given Morrow's flamboyant presence. Like Popp, Morrow entered the race with hopes of ultimately winning in November to succeed current seat holder Ken Mercer, who is retiring.

A speech language pathologist, Popp touts her dual roles as educator and parent as informing her run for office by ticking off five priorities defining her run:

• Ensure historically and scientifically accurate, age-appropriate curriculum standards.
• Review textbooks to prevent bias.
• Protect the Permanent School Fund.
• Reform the state standardized testing system.
• Recognize excellent schools, teachers and students.

Morrow, on the other hand is largely seen as a political gadfly who has alienated members of his own political party with racist, sexist and profanity-laden statements remarks. Early on, the Travis County GOP and current board of education members threw their support to Popp. Implausibly, Morrow finished first place in a three-way primary to fill the board of education seat in besting second-place Popp.

His fellow Republicans didn't hide concern he might have pulled off a win in securing the board of education seat. After all, Morrow in 2016 somehow through a series of events managed to become chairman of the Travis County Republican Party — setting off frenzied hand-wringing from his fellow Republicans — before orchestrating his ouster.