Expanding the Senate Map

We all know we need to expand the Senate map to make up for the probable loss of Joe Manchin’s seat!

Thanks to Our Supporters

First off, I want to express my huge thanks to Bilboteach and all of the hard work he does for each of these diaries! Here is the original diary. Please read this for the details on the race.

TX-SEN: We Haven’t Won Statewide in Texas in 30 Years. Can Rep. Colin Allred Break Through?

The Challenges Ahead

Granted, there are a lot of hurdles here. There are currently no elected Democrats in statewide offices. And as I have said before, 2022 felt like a death to me as I knocked on a lot of doors for Beto. I really thought he had a shot.

Texas is also an expensive state to campaign in with the Metroplex, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio media markets that need to be covered.

Why We Can Win

Still, the Perfect Storm is coming together, and I think this is a race we can win! This all being said, this is a winnable race for the following reasons I put in the original diary. Here are my comments from the original diary:

My Texas Experience

From 1985-1989, I went to college there. From 1995 until actually 1 year ago today, I lived in Texas. So 32 of the last 39 years I was there. Previously, we started visiting the state in 1980, as my sister lived there from 1980-88. I went to school in Seguin, then lived in San Antonio and Austin. I lived in Austin from 1997 until 1 year ago today.

Changing Demographics

First off, if you notice the map, ALL of the major metropolitan areas are Blue. Ft. Worth is more purple, but the rest are Blue. And that is a change since I was there. Dallas used to be fairly Red. The suburbs are a bit more red, but the county itself used to be red.

And more people are moving there. Texas has no state tax, but they make up for that in property taxes. But they are bringing blue state politics there. Travis County where Austin is, has always been very blue. But in my time there, one of the amazing things I saw was the change in Williamson County. Williamson is just north of Travis and it used to be BLOOD Red. I mean, I am talking almost a fascist county. It is now purple due to the people who have moved there and they have elected Democrats. If Williamson can change, so can Texas.

The trends are there for Texas to turn Blue — it is only a matter of when. And Texas Republicans know their days are numbered.

Republican Infighting

Second, the Republicans there are now in a state of Civil War. The Texas House unbelievably impeached that piece of shit crook Ken Paxton — don’t get me started on this motherfucker as I could write all day on him. Now he is on the warpath to primary those Republicans who did. And one of Greg Abbott’s sugar daddies wants to have the state pay for Religious based schools. The Legislature shot that down. Now Abbott is on the warpath against those Republicans. The Texas Legislature only meets in odd numbered years so they are not in session now. But with them fighting each other, it is possible that even with the gerrymandering, Texas Democrats could make some gains.

Abortion Rights

Third, Dobbs and Katie Cox. Abortion could play a big role here. Like Florida, this issue could put the state in play.

Low Voter Turnout

Fourth, and Bilbo touched on this, Texas is not so much Red as it is a non-voting state. In 2014, 68% of Texans didn’t bother to vote. That election crushed me as I had volunteered for the Governor’s race. Battleground Texas is still going on there and they have been making enough inroads that Texas Republicans are getting nervous.

Ted Cruz’s Failures

Finally, Ted Cruz himself. I don’t have to write on this as we all know what a piece of shit he is! And Bilbo did a good summary of this.

Remembering Snowpocalypse

Let me tell you about Snowpocalypse — In February 2021, we had a huge snow and ice storm. Texas, in its infinite stupidity, is not connected to the national electric grid, and as long as they power companies pay off Greg Abbott, they won’t be. I am 6’2”, and in Austin, we had snow up to my knees. That had NEVER happened — we would get dustings but nothing like that. We were lucky as we only lost power for 36 hours, over Sunday and Monday. But then on Wednesday, we lost water. Because of the fact there there was no electricity, the water system could not filter the water. We were without water until Sunday. That was the scarier part! Let me tell you from experience — I was filling up coolers with snow and taking them up to the bathtubs. The amount of water you get from snow is not much.

That was when #CancunCruz decided to flee the state — noticeably leaving his dog there. You should follow his dog on Twitter as it is funny.

HE DIDN’T LIFT ONE MOTHERFUCKING FINGER TO HELP ANYONE IN THE STATE!!

Meanwhile, Beto was mobilizing his base to get water to people and to help out those who needed it.

Hundreds died, yet “The Party of Life” doesn’t give a shit and this is not talked about in the media. People froze in their homes, people’s homes were flooded out, and many people suffered more than we did.

To the best of my knowledge, the state didn’t do shit about this either.

FOR THIS REASON ALONE, CRUZ SHOULD GO!!!

Electrifying Campaigns

I volunteered on Beto’s 2018 campaign, and let me tell you it was ELECTRIC! Beto lit a fire under the ass of a dead state Party and woke it up! While we were not successful then, he came close! So there is an audience to defeat Cruz! That year, we won 12 State House seats and 2 State Senate seats. So they have a viable Party structure there.

Don’t get me started about 2022. I am still heartbroken about this.

I can say this about Texas Republicans — while there support may be a mile wide, it is an inch deep. NO Texas Republican is beloved, especially not Cruz!

Mobilizing the Metro Areas

Bilbo, your analysis of the state is spot on!! The Metro areas need to come out HARD to win this! And if anyone has connections in the Valley, they need to use them! The Hispanic vote there could be a sleeping giant if they could get motivated correctly!

Addressing the Skeptics

Finally let me address this crowd:

I know what is coming in the comments — “F**k Texas, Texas should secede, the country is better off without Texas”. Combine that with the pessimists, and it is no wonder that nobody believes in Texas.

I can speak from experience — there are WAY too many good people in this state to write it off

FAQ’s

Who is Colin Allred?Colin Allred is a Democratic candidate running for the Texas Senate seat currently held by Ted Cruz. He is a former NFL player and civil rights attorney who has been serving as the U.S. Representative for Texas’s 32nd congressional district since 2019.

Why is Ted Cruz referred to as #CancunCruz?Ted Cruz earned the nickname #CancunCruz after he traveled to Cancun, Mexico during a severe winter storm in Texas in February 2021, leaving his constituents to deal with the crisis without his support.

Why should I support Colin Allred in the Texas Senate race?Supporting Colin Allred can help bring better representation to Texas, which has not seen significant benefits from Ted Cruz’s tenure. Additionally, flipping this Senate seat can help expand the Democratic map and counterbalance potential losses in other states.

What are the main challenges facing Colin Allred in this race?The main challenges include overcoming the historical trend of no Democrats winning statewide offices in Texas for the past 30 years, the high cost of campaigning in major metropolitan areas, and mobilizing non-voters to participate in the election.

How has Texas’s political landscape changed recently?Texas’s major metropolitan areas have shifted towards being more Democratic (Blue), and there is an increasing number of people moving to Texas bringing blue state politics with them. Additionally, internal conflicts within the Republican Party and issues like abortion could play significant roles in changing the political dynamics.

What impact did the 2021 snowstorm have on Ted Cruz’s reputation?The 2021 snowstorm severely damaged Ted Cruz’s reputation as he was criticized for fleeing to Cancun while Texans suffered from power outages and water shortages. His lack of action during the crisis contrasted sharply with efforts by other leaders like Beto O’Rourke, who mobilized resources to help those in need.

What are the key issues that could influence the Texas Senate race?Key issues include the handling of the 2021 snowstorm, the state’s stance on abortion following the Dobbs decision, internal conflicts within the Texas Republican Party, and the mobilization of non-voters who have historically not participated in elections.

How close is the race between Colin Allred and Ted Cruz?As of the latest updates, Colin Allred is trailing Ted Cruz by only 2 points, making it a very competitive race. This gap can potentially be closed with strong voter turnout and support.

How can I support Colin Allred’s campaign?You can support Colin Allred’s campaign by volunteering, donating, spreading awareness about his candidacy, and encouraging others to vote. Every bit of support helps in making this race winnable.

Why is it important to not write off Texas as a lost cause for Democrats?Writing off Texas ignores the significant number of good, kind-hearted people who live there and deserve better representation. Turning Texas Blue would have a profound impact on national politics, potentially preventing Republicans from winning the White House again.

What role does voter turnout play in the Texas Senate race?Voter turnout is crucial in the Texas Senate race. Historically, a large percentage of Texans have not voted. Mobilizing these non-voters could be the key to flipping the Senate seat and achieving a Democratic victory.

What is the significance of the Hispanic vote in Texas?The Hispanic vote in Texas is a potential sleeping giant. If effectively motivated and mobilized, it could play a decisive role in turning the state Blue and securing a win for Colin Allred.