General Discussion

I don’t think I do anymore.

Before the 2024 elections, I would have said that Ken Paxton was likely to beat any Texas Democratic candidate. But that was before Donald John’s second inauguration and Individual One’s campaign against “illegal aliens”, a campaign enthusiastically embraced by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Texas state Attorney General Ken Paxton.-

Texas isn’t California. That’s been proven. OTOH, Texas’ demographics aren’t the same as they were when California Republican governor Pete Wilson unintentionally flipped California from a purple state to a blue one.

A funny thing about Texas demographics these days: unlike days of yore, a plurality of Texas population in 2026 is Latino, and many of them look just like the folks being rounded up, caged, and deported.

Add to that Ken Paxton’s rep as an adulterer and a crook. Latinos might not approve of the looser attitudes towards gender roles held by some Texas Democrats, but there are certain behaviors they disapprove of.

I refuse to say that victory is in the bag: I’ve been disappointed too many times. But I think Mr. Talarico’s chances are better than any Texas Democratic candidate’s have been for a good long while.