General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDemocrats Need More Than Beto O'Rourke If They Want To Flip Texas
Once again, everyone cant stop talking about Beto ORourke.
FiveThirtyEights polling average1 shows a single-digit contest in the Texas gubernatorial race between ORourke and the Republican incumbent, Greg Abbott. Earlier this year, ORourke made headlines for his record-breaking fundraising, and the fallout from a succession of high-profile events in the state the triggering of a preexisting state law banning abortions, continued strains on the power grid and a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history are giving him unexpected leverage against Abbott. As a result, this gubernatorial election could be one of Texass most competitive since Democrats last held the office in the 1990s.
Lets be real about one thing, though: The overall electoral environment might be improving for Democrats, but ORourke is still a serious long shot. FiveThirtyEights 2022 midterm-election forecast2 gives Abbott a 95-in-100 chance of besting his ubiquitous Democratic challenger. But is it possible that after his closer-than-expected Senate race against Ted Cruz in 2018 and rise to national prominence after a nearly eight-month campaign in the 2020 presidential election, a narrow loss against Abbott in November could be a victory for Texas Democrats in the long run?
The idea that ORourke could be laying the groundwork for future Democratic victories in Texas isnt a crazy one. After all, other Southern states like Georgia, Virginia and North Carolina have become somewhat more competitive over the past several election cycles. But another close statewide race for ORourke this year doesnt necessarily mean Texas is on the verge of turning blue or even purple. Thats because ORourke is, well, ORourke, and without a stronger campaign infrastructure throughout the state, it will be hard for most Texas Democrats running in statewide elections to replicate his level of fundraising and fanfare. And, fundamentally, Texas is still a red-leaning state.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/democrats-need-more-than-beto-orourke-if-they-want-to-flip-texas/
MagickMuffin
(15,969 posts)Cause if he doesnt have a democratic congress nothing will get done.
UTUSN
(70,762 posts)dsp3000
(489 posts)Maybe he can inspire more ground game the way stacey abrams is doing in georgia and work behind the scenes and help get other local officials elected, as someone else has already said in here.