Can Democrats actually win in Texas this year?
Watch my interview with Democratic strategist Tory Gavito on what it takes to win in the Lone Star State
It’s once again Election Day down in Texas—where Republican Senator John Cornyn is in a fierce runoff battle with Trump-backed Attorney General Ken Paxton. The outcome of today’s election will decide which MAGA candidate gets to face off against Democrat James Talarico in a closely watched U.S. Senate race this November.
For the past decade, Democrats have tried and failed over and over again to flip the Lone Star State from Red to Blue, but despite large cyclical investments, a statewide win has remained out of reach. Texas progressives are hoping that could change this year, but remain clear-eyed about the massive challenge ahead. One of those people is Tory Gavito, a Democratic strategist and co-founder of progressive donor collaborative Way to Win. Ahead of today’s election, I spoke with Tory about the Senate race, what has (or hasn’t) worked in the past, and why investing in Texas is no longer optional for Democrats.
Watch our full conversation here:
We both agree that winning Texas can’t continue to be seen as a pipedream, and that the only way to get there is for Democrats to start playing offense the way Republicans do. By 2030, the electoral map will effectively lock Democrats out of the White House and congressional majorities for a generation if they don’t quickly expand their power in southern states like Texas. As Tory told me, “the multiracial promise of the South makes it ripe for the taking. It’s not about justice or compensation. It’s actually really important fucking strategy.”
“Where are our teeth?” Tory posited to me in our conversation. “Where are our ruthless fighters that are going to stop at nothing and blow through every wall, as opposed to being like, ‘Oh, there’s a wall over there’?” That gloves-off posture, combined with serious, sustained investment in Texas infrastructure (like COURIER Texas!), is what it’s going to take.
Because turning Texas blue isn’t going to be easy - or easy to sustain if it does happen this fall. After crediting the hard-fought work over many years and cycles by a growing bench of talented strategists, organizers, and candidates on the ground for making this opportunity possible today, Tory was clear: “If Texas were to flip this cycle, keeping it purple is going to be war.” We talk about what that war looks like, and how Democrats can win it. I hope you’ll listen and share our conversation, and think about ways you can support efforts to turn Texas, and the South blue.
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