This is special pre primary election coverage focused on the Texas Senate primaries, where both parties are heading into unusually competitive fights.
On the Republican side, I am joined by Tony Ortiz, a veteran of the 2016 Trump campaign and now the publisher of Current Revolt, a Texas focused outlet covering Republican politics from the inside. Ortiz brings a perspective that is rarely presented among Democratic audiences like mine.
You will not agree with everything Tony says. I most of the time do not. But his commentary reflects how Republicans on the ground are thinking, and that viewpoint adds a new perspective to the conversation.
The Republican Senate primary features incumbent Senator John Cornyn facing two high profile challengers, Congressman Wesley Hunt and Attorney General Ken Paxton. Former President Trump has said he does not plan to endorse in this race, a decision that hangs over an already volatile contest.
On the Democratic side, the primary pits Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett against State Representative James Talarico. The race has drawn national attention, which includes a controversial Emerson poll showing Talarico with a nine point lead.
In this first installment, we examine the Emerson poll and why it has both parties on edge, whether Texas is truly becoming a swing state, and why the Texas Senate race matters far beyond the state itself.
This is Part 1 of a broader pre primary analysis series with Tony Ortiz. In upcoming pieces, we will cover the governors race, the deeply divided Republican attorney general primary, and the primary between former Congressman Colin Allred and Congresswoman Julie Johnson in the newly redrawn TX-33— and more.
I want to be clear about my intention in collaborating with Tony Ortiz. This is not because I agree with him or share his views. The goal is perspective. The goal is to give readers a clearer sense of what Republicans in Texas are actually saying, debating, and worrying about as these races unfold.
I hope this offers something to take away, whether that is clarity, challenge, or at the very least something to think about.
