Dem
47
GOP
53
There are exciting senatorial primaries upcoming in Texas. State Rep. James Talarico (D) and fire-breathing U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) are vying for the Democratic nomination to take on whoever wins the Republican nomination. If Texas AG Ken Paxton (R) wins it and faces Talarico, the Democrats have a puncher's chance, otherwise probably not.
On Saturday, the first Democratic debate took place before hundreds of union members and their families at the annual Texas AFL-CIO political convention. Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, was looking to win over Republicans disgusted with what has happened to their party. Crockett, who is Black, was looking to engage Black voters. Surprisingly, the affair was rather low key, with no fireworks. On issues of likely interest to union members, there wasn't a lot of difference between them.
Crockett understands that she is a firebrand and a lot of Democrats don't like her at all. She tried to pre-defend herself by saying that these are not normal times and these are not times for normal responses. She said: "We are not looking at politics as usual." She promised to do edgy things that political consultants tell candidates never to do. For one thing, she wants to destroy ICE—which she called a rogue organization— and impeach Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem.
Talarico wasn't in the mood for arguing about anything. He emphasized his experience in the Texas state legislature to show that he knew what Texans wanted. He also talked about his background as a schoolteacher and a Presbyterian seminarian. The intention was to give off a calming image, not a wild, out-of-control image.
An Emerson College poll taken last week shows Talarico with a 9-point edge. On the Republican side, it showed Paxton with a 1-point edge over Cornyn. The Republican establishment will move heaven and earth to get Cornyn nominated. That said, if the Party decided, then Donald Trump would never have become president. (V)