Last week, I encouraged you to tell me how you were thinking about the upcoming Texas primary elections. Wow, did you have thoughts!
Thank you to the many Texans (and other close observers of these races) for writing in.
Today I’m going to share some takeaways about the Senate race after hearing from Texas-based readers, who offered a fascinating window into the current center of the political universe.
But first, a few caveats: This is not a scientific sample of the electorate, just a snapshot of how some readers are feeling. We also heard more about the Democratic primary than the Republican one — but Texas Republicans, I would love to hear more of your thoughts ahead of Tuesday! I’m at [email protected].
Now let’s get into it.
Some of you are excited about Jasmine Crockett …
Representative Jasmine Crockett, a firebrand Dallas Democrat with a national profile, is leaning hard into the “fighter” mantle. At a moment when Democrats are furious with President Trump and the Republican Party, that is resonating powerfully with some.
“I love her outspoken balls-out attitude,” wrote in Ellen Key of Dallas, 82, who described herself as a grandmother and progressive Methodist, and said she had voted for Crockett.
DJ Cheek, 35, a musician from Fort Worth, added that Crockett was “very tough.” He was unconvinced that State Representative James Talarico, the other leading Democrat in the race, would fight as hard on health care, his most important issue.
And Gina F. of Galveston, 64, initially leaned toward Talarico, thinking he had a better shot of winning a general election. But then she began to worry that she was being “misogynistic” with her vote, “going along with the idea of the electable man over the clearly qualified woman.”
“Jasmine is a fantastic candidate; intelligent, highly qualified, and earnest in her representation of her constituents,” she wrote. “I still have reservations about her ability to win in November, but she deserves my vote.”
Polling shows that Crockett does especially well with Black voters, a core part of the Democratic base.
… while others worry about whether she can win.
Many of you said you worried that the very thing that endears Crockett to liberals — her fierce, sometimes highly personal criticism of Republicans — would turn off middle-of-the-road voters, especially in a conservative state like Texas.
“Crockett is too focused on being a ‘fighter’ and just going after Republicans. She has said some obnoxious things,” said Denise Wright, 67, of Irving, Texas. She described herself as a longtime Republican voter who had come to believe that the “Democratic Party is too far left and the Republican Party has gone nuts.”
“Talarico seems more open to finding common ground with moderates like myself and I believe he would have a chance to win,” she added, “whereas Crockett is too one-sided.”
Crockett, a Black woman, has said that efforts to question her electability amount to a “dog whistle.” A number of readers pushed back on that. It is fair game to question her style, some suggested — and some also alluded to the idea that racism and sexism are realities in the state.
“For all the ways it’s unfair and frustrating, Talarico has better odds in ruby-red Texas: He’s white, he’s male, and he’s studying to become a Christian minister,” wrote in Scott Hollinger, 67, of McAllen. “I’d gladly support Crockett, but I don’t think she can win statewide in Texas — and that’s not a dog whistle, it’s just an honest read of the political landscape.”
Some of you love James Talarico’s style.
Talarico, a seminarian, is fluent in the language of faith. And while he has promised to battle billionaires and what he casts as a corrupt political system, he makes a point to preach a politics of unity. His fans find that refreshing.
“Talarico seems to have broader appeal to the moderate Christians as a unifier,” wrote in Melissa, 58, from Austin, who wanted to be quoted only by her first name. “I really like Talarico’s message of compassion but not bleeding-heart with regard to taxes, social programs and immigration.”
Jim Quinn, 66, of Dallas, wrote today to say that after going back and forth about his choice, he voted yesterday for Talarico.
“I’m not a fan of mixing religion and politics, but I think Talarico’s position on what it really means to be a Christian could cause problems for any Republican running against him,” he said.
While he and his wife “love” Crockett, he added, he worried that she “would motivate a lot of Republicans to vote who otherwise would stay home.”
And some Democrats are voting in the Republican primary.
Some Democrats are going well beyond gaming out whether Talarico or Crockett is more electable, and casting their votes in the Republican primary race. One such reader described herself as a “Trojan Horse voter.”
In many cases, these Democrats are hoping to elevate Ken Paxton, the candidate they see as the weakest general-election contender.
Paxton, the scandal-tarred, hard-right state attorney general, is challenging Senator John Cornyn, the incumbent. Representative Wesley Hunt is also in the running. Many Democrats think they have a shot in a general election only if Paxton is their opponent.
Of course, there is risk for those crossing party lines to elevate Paxton: He could very well wind up the next U.S. senator from Texas.
Denise Wright of Irving was struggling with which primary to vote in when she wrote to On Politics.
“Do I play it safe and vote for John Cornyn in the Republican primary?” she wrote last Thursday. “But I have a bad feeling that Paxton is going to win the nomination anyway so maybe I should just vote in the Democratic primary for James Talarico. What to do????”
Today, she wrote again, saying she had decided, reluctantly, to vote in the Republican primary for Cornyn, hoping for “some small chance that Ken Paxton will not be the Republican nominee.”
She signed her email “having heartburn in Texas.”
number of the day
25 percent
That’s how much the birthrate has declined in the U.S. since 2007, when the number first started to fall.
My colleagues Sabrina Tavernise and Jeff Adelson report on how that number is getting politicized.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“For what it’s worth, I don’t have any tattoos.”
That was Gov. Janet Mills of Maine, a Democrat, in a post on X this morning. The remark was the latest barb between Mills, who is running for Senate, and Graham Platner, her progressive opponent.
Platner came under fire on Thursday for reposting a comment from a far-right influencer, which he deleted shortly thereafter. Platner’s biggest controversy, and what Mills was apparently referring to in her post, happened last year, when it was revealed that he had a chest tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol. (Platner covered it up after a backlash.)
Look out, North Carolina Democrats
Several incumbent Democrats in the battleground state are fighting for their political survival ahead of Tuesday’s primary elections, my colleagues David W. Chen and Eduardo Medina report.
Why? Many left-leaning North Carolinians are fed up with the Trump administration and want their representatives to take a more forceful stand.
TAKE OUR QUIZ
This question comes from a recent article in The Times. Click an answer to see if you’re right. (The link will be free.)
What unlikely political duo took a picture together on Thursday, sending the internet into a frenzy?
Taylor Robinson, Hannah Fidelman and Tara Terranova contributed reporting.
Katie Glueck is a Times national political reporter.
The post What You Taught Me About Texas appeared first on New York Times.
