Democrats have tried but failed to flip Texas for years now, but the political analysts I spoke to say that the results of Tuesday's runoff may just give the party *** better shot in an election year where every Senate seat counts. Change was on the ballot, and change won. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton easily defeated four-term Senator John Cornyn on Tuesday. They've made their decision, and I must respect it, and he's just the latest Republican incumbent to be ousted after facing *** challenger backed by President Donald Trump following primary losses from Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massey, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, and several Indiana state senators who oppose the president's redistricting push. I can't think of *** party leader who had this strong of *** hold on his own party. But unlike those other races, political analysts warn that Paxton's brand of conservatism and past corruption allegations. Could risk making the general election more competitive. Ken Paxton probably is *** harder sell based on what we've seen to non-Republican voters, particularly persuadable independents. That is part of the reason why the Koch Political Report is shifting its rating for the Texas Senate race from likely Republican to leans Republican, putting the Lone Star State on this relatively small list of battlegrounds that could decide control of. The chamber. Democratic nominee James Tallarico is bringing in big money so far, but still faces an uphill battle in *** place Democrats have not won statewide for three decades. If we're thinking about this as *** poker hand, this is the best hand Democrats have had probably in 3 decades. It comes as Democrats do face *** difficult path to winning back control of the Senate because they need to hold on to all of the seats that they currently have and flip 4 more. Reporting in Washington, I'm Jackie DeFusco.
Is Texas in play? How Paxton's win could shape the fight for Senate control
Political analysts say that Ken Paxton's victory in the Republican primary could give Democrats a better shot at flipping a U.S. Senate seat in Texas.
Democrats have failed to flip Texas for several election cycles, but political analysts say the results of Tuesday's runoff may give the party a better shot in a midterm election year where control of the U.S. Senate is up for grabs. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton easily defeated four-term Sen. John Cornyn after a bruising Republican primary. Cornyn is the latest Republican incumbent to lose his seat after facing a challenger backed by President Donald Trump, following Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, and several Indiana state senators who opposed the president's redistricting push. "President Trump is the leader of our party, and his endorsement in this is the most powerful force in politics," Paxton said in his victory speech on Tuesday. Unlike other GOP primaries that the president has weighed into, the selection of Paxton could have consequences for the general election. Following Paxton's win, the Cook Political Report immediately changed its rating for the Texas Senate race from "likely Republican" to "lean Republican," arguing that his corruption allegations and "brash conservatism" could turn off moderate Republicans and Independents. The shift puts the Lone Star State on a small list of battlegrounds that could decide control of the upper chamber and widens a relatively narrow path for Democrats to regain the majority. The party would need to defend all of its existing seats and flip four more to accomplish that goal. "Ken Paxton is probably a harder sell, based on what we've seen, to non-Republican voters, particularly persuadable independents," said James Henson, who directs the non-partisan Texas Politics Project. "On the other hand, Paxton may well be the better candidate to turn out Republican voters, who may otherwise be somewhat unenthusiastic." The Democratic nominee, James Talarico, has been pulling in lots of campaign cash while trying to appeal to a broad range of voters, as Paxton works to frame him as too far left for Texas. Kirby Goidel, a political science professor at Texas A&M University, said Democrats still face an uphill battle. After all, the party hasn't won statewide in Texas for three decades. "If we're thinking about this as a poker hand, this is the best hand Democrats have had probably in three decades," Goidel said. "So Democrats are going to be competitive. I would not bet on them, but they're going to be competitive."
Democrats have failed to flip Texas for several election cycles, but political analysts say the results of Tuesday's runoff may give the party a better shot in a midterm election year where control of the U.S. Senate is up for grabs.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton easily defeated four-term Sen. John Cornyn after a bruising Republican primary.
Cornyn is the latest Republican incumbent to lose his seat after facing a challenger backed by President Donald Trump, following Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, and several Indiana state senators who opposed the president's redistricting push.
"President Trump is the leader of our party, and his endorsement in this is the most powerful force in politics," Paxton said in his victory speech on Tuesday.
Unlike other GOP primaries that the president has weighed into, the selection of Paxton could have consequences for the general election.
Following Paxton's win, the Cook Political Report immediately changed its rating for the Texas Senate race from "likely Republican" to "lean Republican," arguing that his corruption allegations and "brash conservatism" could turn off moderate Republicans and Independents.
The shift puts the Lone Star State on a small list of battlegrounds that could decide control of the upper chamber and widens a relatively narrow path for Democrats to regain the majority. The party would need to defend all of its existing seats and flip four more to accomplish that goal.
"Ken Paxton is probably a harder sell, based on what we've seen, to non-Republican voters, particularly persuadable independents," said James Henson, who directs the non-partisan Texas Politics Project. "On the other hand, Paxton may well be the better candidate to turn out Republican voters, who may otherwise be somewhat unenthusiastic."
The Democratic nominee, James Talarico, has been pulling in lots of campaign cash while trying to appeal to a broad range of voters, as Paxton works to frame him as too far left for Texas.
Kirby Goidel, a political science professor at Texas A&M University, said Democrats still face an uphill battle. After all, the party hasn't won statewide in Texas for three decades.
"If we're thinking about this as a poker hand, this is the best hand Democrats have had probably in three decades," Goidel said. "So Democrats are going to be competitive. I would not bet on them, but they're going to be competitive."
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