Attorney General Ken Paxton's securities fraud trials on hold for now

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5. Things are looking up

I was completely demoralized when Wendy Davis lost so badly to Abbott, even among Texas women, but I am seeing changes in my very red, rural area.

It's sadly normal for Republicans to run unopposed here, but our county Democratic party has candidates for every local position on the ballot for 2018 - the first time in years! At least at the county level, we are energized, and I am hearing similar reports at the state level.

I'm told Texas is not so much a red state as a non-voting state. Turnout is pathetic, which gives rabidly dedicated and disciplined GOP voters power way out of proportion to their actual numbers. My hope is that maybe people will be more motivated. We finally have some candidates to get behind. GOTV is everything.

I'm donating to Beto O'Rourke in his long-shot bid to replace Ted Cruz. I don't know whether we will follow Alabama's example, but it could happen.