Texas Republicans: Morally Bankrupt And Proud. And Other Election Results.
Republicans nominate a crook. Democrats nominate a movement.
Note: There are a few races we’re still waiting on the results for, but it’s already late. We’ll catch up on those three tomorrow.
At some point, the charitable explanation runs out. Texas Republicans were told, repeatedly, who Ken Paxton is, by his own party’s House members who impeached him, by the women he betrayed, by the donors he allegedly shook down. They voted for him anyway.
This is a party that looked at a man credibly accused of fraud, corruption, and abuse of power, saw the enemies he’s made among the people they hate, and said, “Good enough.” The “values voter” was always a fiction. What was real was always the grievance, against Black voters, against trans kids, against immigrants, against women who won’t comply. Paxton delivers on all of it, and that’s the whole platform.
And Paxton won the Republican Senate runoff.
He’s not even from Texas. He’s from North Dakota. And I bet you most of the people who voted for him are from California and call themselves “Commie-fornia Refugees.”
It’ll be a fun five months until the election.
Mayes Middleton won the Republican Attorney General runoff. Tonight, when he drinks his nightly elixir of fetal endicrines, before going to sleep upside-down in a cave somewhere, he’ll surely tell himself, “Money well spent.”
Bo French? Still counting.
There were a bunch of Republican down-ballot races, too. If you’re interested in those races, you can see more election results here.
The Democratic runoffs.
Nathan Johnson wins the Democratic Attorney General runoff race. Senator Johnson has been a good debater in the Texas Senate, which is why I know he’s probably a great attorney and will make a good Attorney General. His biggest challenge in the future will be going up against Middleton’s mountains of cash. Middleton is a soulless oil billionaire, willing to spend his fortune to gain power. It could wind up being an expensive race.
Vikki Goodwin wins the Democratic Lt. Governor runoff race. Goodwin is more suited for this role than just about anyone. She has the knowledge and deep understanding of this seat that few people really grasp. But elections are rarely won on knowledge. If they were, no Republican would ever win. Goodwin’s biggest challenge will be winning the hearts and minds of the Democrats, whose first choice was someone else.
Yolanda Prince won TX01 by wide margins. We talked about this recently because of the difference I saw between organizers in that district and online. Always listen to organizers on the ground. This will be a hard district to flip in November, but we’ll absolutely talk about it again.
Chelsey Hockett won TX05. This district is absolutely flippable, but there will be some challenges. Hockett has been an extremely hard-working candidate and has built meaningful coalitions across this district. She can pull it off, but it’s going to take a lot of work.
TX14? Still counting.
Casey Shepard won TX17. Milah Flores actually dropped out of the race a few months ago. I don’t remember if I mentioned it, but I meant to. I haven’t met Shepard yet, but I’ve heard good things. This is Pete Sessions’ district. Right off the top of my head, I don’t think this is a targeted district, but it’s definitely on the table this year.
Christian Menefee won TX18. And immidiately put out the classiest press release ever.
Congressman Al Green is an icon. This is a safe blue seat. Menefee will return to the 120th Congress.
Kevin Burge won TX24. Get ready to say goodbye to Beth Van Duyne, also known as “Xenophobic Barbie.” This is an easily flippable seat if Burge puts in the work from now until November. The people of TX24 have had it with Van Duyne’s philandering, racist ways. And since Texas is expecting a wave election come November, her goose is as good as cooked. We’ll all be glad when she loses.
Colin Allred won TX33. Good for him. Y’all know I haven’t been his biggest fan, but I have been impressed by how he’s come around and moved left on several key issues in recent months. I also haven’t liked how dirty the Julie Johnson campaign seemed willing to play this last week. That doesn’t mean the battle is over for Dallas, but it’s probably a move in the right direction, especially if Allred is willing to change his positions on the issues the base cares about most.
Johnny Garcia won TX35. Despite being a cop and an establishment guy, he’s landed the endorsement of like every Democrat in the country by now. This was a weird election. But we can flip it. And a centrist is much better than a fascist. I know, not by much, but at least he won’t spend his days on Fox News crying about “the others.” The Republican winner of the TX35 runoff, Carlos De La Cruz, is Monica De La Cruz’s brother. Need I say more? Like, what are the chances that Congresswoman De La Cruz is corrupt and against the people, and that her brother isn’t the same?
Allison Bush won SBOE05. This was the one election I wasn’t paying attention to. Sorry.
SBOE09? Still counting.
Oziel “Ozzie” Ochoa JR won HD37. Lone Star Left endorsed Ochoa, and we’re expecting him to beat Janie Lopez (R) in this easily flippable district in November, being one of the 14 crucial flips we need to flip the Texas House, and another progressive voice in Austin.
Julio Salinas, another one of Lone Star Left’s endorsements, won in HD41. This is a huge milestone for the progressive movement in Texas, which has been working to gain a foothold in the Rio Grande Valley for several years. This is a blue seat, which is expected to stay blue.
Montserrat Garibay won HD49. Garibay will be filling Gina Hinojosa’s old seat come January, and carrying on the legacy of progressivism in this safe blue district.
Beth Llewellyn McLaughlin won HD97. This is another seat that can be flipped if Llewellyn McLaughlin can put in the work from now until November.
Venton Jones won HD100. This really wasn’t a surprise, given the political landscape and the demographics of this district. Jones swept this election by 86%.
Adrian Reyna won HD125. Y’all, I’m over the moon. This is another big win for progressives in Texas and another one of Lone Star Left’s endorsements. Sometime in the coming days, we’ll have to revisit all of the races and see how many progressive voices are headed to Austin next year. It’s going to be glorious.
Staci Childs won HD131. This is a safe blue seat, and Childs, who is coming to the House from the SBOE, will be headed to the 90th Legislative Session. This is a big win for the people of Texas and for education.
Darlene Breaux won HD149, beating out long-term incumbent Hubert Vo. This is a safe blue seat, so Breaux will be headed to the Texas House in January.
There are dozens of other races across the state that we haven’t touched on here.
County commissioners and judges. If your county had a runoff tonight, check your local results. Those down-ballot races matter more to your daily life than most people realize, and the people running them deserve your attention even when the cameras are pointed elsewhere.
But stepping back from the individual races, tonight tells a story. Texas Democrats have a deep, talented bench heading into November, progressives winning primaries, good candidates in competitive districts, and a Senate nominee in James Talarico who gives this party a real shot at something historic. Meanwhile, Republicans are busy nominating a man the Texas House tried to remove from office, backed by a president who sees in Paxton a kindred spirit.
They think that’s a strength. Come November, James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa will show them what strength actually looks like.
It’s going to be a fun five months. Let’s get to work.
Click here to find out what Legislative districts you’re in.
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Thanks for catching us up on the candidates. Because of your reporting, I found myself eager to hear the results of those in the RGV especially. It is a long road ahead, so "May the Odds Be Ever In Our Favor".