The Texas Republican revolt |
Following last night’s primaries, Texas Democrats have a clear Senate candidate in James Talarico. Texas Republicans have a civil war. Ken Paxton and John Cornyn are headed for a nasty and expensive three-month runoff that will culminate in an election on May 26. Cornyn has made no secret of his disdain for Paxton, deeming him a “dead weight.” Are Texas Republicans facing an Alamo scenario, a last stand as the Democrats swarm over their defenses to reclaim the Lone Star state and the Senate majority? More than 2.4 million Texans cast ballots in the Democratic primary, the highest number in nearly two decades.
The significance of Talarico’s victory over Jasmine Crockett can hardly be overstated. Crockett has latched onto voting problems at precincts in Dallas and Williamson counties to explain her defeat. Many voters were turned away from polling stations, as new rules assigned specific locations where they were required to vote. But her beef seems unlikely to go anywhere.
Crockett, the congressional firebrand who referred to Texas Governor Greg Abbott as “Governor Hot........