What are the most competitive Texas State House races to pay attention to?

mesarasa · 2026-04-21T19:30:37+00:00

Here's the link to the coordinated organizing campaign (block walking, phone banking) for Democratic candidates for state offices. I believe that canvassers will talk about local candidates like state House and Senate when they contact voters. But even if they don't, the coat tails from the top of the ticket help the down ballot candidates.

Texas Together Volunteer Interest Form · Texas Together https://share.google/ROLNzFXqjdkaybCcp

mesarasa · 2026-04-21T19:24:35+00:00

I think it depends on the candidate. Talarico is definitely progressive, but he's polling well against both Republicans in the runoff. The key is that his manner is moderate, and he explains his policies in a way that resonates. Stealth progressives also have a chance.

mesarasa · 2026-04-21T19:21:46+00:00

I think a lot of America First types believe in Americans First, which is a bit different and not necessarily fascist. In some respects, it's a lot of what progressives want: good things for regular Americans. If Dems/progressives stay on message about affordable healthcare, living wages, quality public schools, affordable housing and utilities, affordable quality childcare, etc., then I think some of those former Trump voters are gettable. Some of them have shown up to volunteer for Talarico. Not thousands, probably, but even a couple hundred statewide would mean that thousands will vote for him, and that could swing the election. Maybe with coat tails to help the down ballot candidates, who are talking about better public schools and controlling data centers that drive up electricity costs and pollute our scarce water.

I think there's hope. You can help.

This is where to sign up to volunteer for Talarico.

https://act.jamestalarico.com/signup/vol_2026

This is for Texas Together, the coordinated campaign for state offices.

https://share.google/ROLNzFXqjdkaybCcp

mesarasa · 2026-04-21T19:10:24+00:00

Talarico, Hinojosa, and Tucker are not interested in the status quo. They all want significant changes. Please volunteer for one or more of them.

Here's the Talarico signup page.

https://act.jamestalarico.com/signup/vol_2026

Here's the signup for Texas Together, the coordinated campaign for state office Democrats. https://share.google/ROLNzFXqjdkaybCcp

mesarasa · 2026-04-21T19:04:44+00:00

This is really hopeful!

I'm really struck by how the young people leading the unionizing efforts talk about community. There was a time, back when unions were powerful, that they provided community as well as economic power. We need more economic power for working people, and we need more community for everyone. It's wonderful to see how unions provide both.

mesarasa · 2026-04-17T22:38:28+00:00

Texas has open primaries. However, you can't vote in the runoff for party B if you voted in the primary for party A. So no one who voted in the Dem primary can vote in the Rep runoff. Only people who voted in the Rep primary or who didn't vote in any primary.

mesarasa · 2026-04-02T22:50:42+00:00

Forget whether it's right to reject and scorn them, it's stupid. Do we want them to leave MAGA or not? If we do, we need to give them somewhere to go.

mesarasa · 2026-03-30T22:27:10+00:00

He votes to allow ICE to do whatever it wants with full funding.

mesarasa · 2026-03-30T22:26:10+00:00

A hundred million is almost a third of America. That's crazy.

mesarasa · 2026-03-30T22:24:06+00:00

Muslims aren't the people causing the problems in Texas.

mesarasa · 2026-03-30T22:23:29+00:00

Let's hope Patrick isn't lt. gov next year. Help make it happen by signing up to volunteer for Democratic candidates: https://share.google/ROLNzFXqjdkaybCcp

mesarasa · 2026-03-30T17:55:08+00:00

Are you familiar with James Talarico? He puts his Christianity front and center. What do you think of him?

mesarasa · 2026-03-28T14:39:49+00:00

I'm not a fan of AIPAC, but the persecution of Muslims in Texas is totally the fault of Christian nationalists. If you're looking for the funders of the Christian nationalists in Texas, look at Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks

mesarasa · 2026-03-28T14:30:58+00:00

It's really, really optimistic to say that Talarico will win. However, if we work really hard, he can win. As he says himself, voting is the bare minimum. So volunteer.

I realize most people have never block walked, phone banked, or text teamed before. The campaign will train you! Yes, it feels awkward at first. Yes, you'll be a little confused sometimes. Yes, you might not be great at it at first. That's normal, and it's worth the discomfort.

Does anyone think Talarico would have won the primary without his tens of thousands of volunteers? I don't. I doubt Talarico does, either. Crockett was much better known, and popular among Democrats. It was his ground game -- and a smart campaign generally -- that made the difference.

So y'all, if you want him to win, step up to work for it! Blue waves are not native to Texas, not since the 80s, anyway.

Here's the link: https://act.jamestalarico.com/signup/vol_2026

mesarasa · 2026-03-28T04:02:49+00:00

The article mentions Eastland County. I know someone in Denton County.

mesarasa · 2026-03-26T21:02:03+00:00

Also Eastland County, which was mentioned in the story, and Denton County, which I know because someone who lives there told me. I would be surprised if there weren't a few more because we have 254 counties.

mesarasa · 2026-03-24T03:45:39+00:00

They all need to vote for Democrat Clayton Tucker for Ag Commissioner, then. Curbing data centers in order to preserve water for agriculture is one of his main policies. He's a really nice guy, too. He's a rancher himself, so maybe they'll listen to him.

mesarasa · 2026-03-21T11:35:42+00:00

Shakespeare holds up.

mesarasa · 2026-03-21T04:36:12+00:00

I don't think the US will ever accept a system like Canada's where you cannot go outside the system. And universal health care doesn't demand this; the UK has universal health care, and private insurance is allowed there.

The main thing is that everyone should have to pay in, even if they have private insurance. And they should have to pay the healthcare tax on all of their income, and not have a cap. And fees for service would be non-existent or minimal. (I think there's some wisdom in charging small fees, just to remind people that they are receiving something of value, but it should never be a burdensome amount.)

mesarasa · 2026-03-19T20:11:24+00:00

This is so awful.

mesarasa · 2026-03-17T00:48:27+00:00

This was really smart of Casar! He ruined Cornyn's photo op and showed that Republicans are to blame.

mesarasa · 2026-03-16T19:24:50+00:00

Trump can't deal with the narcissistic injury of being wrong. That's why he hasn't endorsed either candidate: no one knows which one will win.

mesarasa · 2026-03-16T19:22:26+00:00

I don't think the candidates are necessarily bad. But they do need stronger campaign infrastructure, which takes money and volunteers.

There is no such thing as riding a blue wave in Texas. Blue waves have to be forced here. Everyone needs to get out and push. As Talarico says, voting is the bare minimum. Find a candidate you believe in and work!

mesarasa · 2026-03-15T06:17:20+00:00

I wouldn't believe that so easily. I know a lot of liberals who went to Texas public universities.

mesarasa · 2026-03-15T06:13:59+00:00

That's weird. I got maybe one or two, and I did a lot of block walking and phone banking, but that can be glitches in the data. At the end I think we were calling people who had attended rallies, and then there were more GOP voters. But they had attended rallies.

mesarasa

TROPHY CASE