Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) “has decided not to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Sen. John Cornyn, choosing instead to continue pursuing a fast-rising career in Congress focusing on security and border issues,” the San Antonio Express-News reports.
“Castro’s decision could pave the way for a contest in 2020 between Cornyn and Mary Jennings ‘MJ’ Hegar, an Afghanistan war veteran who ran a strong but losing race for Congress last year and who declared her candidacy last week.”
“MJ Hegar, an Air Force veteran whose viral campaign ads nearly helped her get elected in one of Texas’ most Republican-friendly congressional districts last year, set her sights higher on Tuesday and launched a run for U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent John Cornyn,” the AP reports.
Texas Tribune: “Emboldened after their gains in 2018 — including the closer-than-expected Senate race — the state party is establishing a ‘Cornyn War Room’ to ‘define Cornyn before he defines himself,’ according to a memo. It is unlike anything the party has done in recent history surrounding a U.S. Senate race, and it reflects the urgency with which Texas Democrats are approaching a potentially pivotal election cycle.”
Cornyn responded to the initiative saying he hopes Democrats “spend every last penny they get from their out-of-state puppet masters.”
Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “Cornyn’s team plans to focus on votes Castro took against bills providing aid for Texans impacted by Hurricane Harvey — at times separating Castro from other Texas Democrats.”
“It also highlights places where the San Antonio Democrat, who hasn’t faced a Republican challenger since 2014, sided with the liberal wing of his party on issues such as immigration and the environment.”
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) is “all but certain” to enter next year’s race for U.S. Senate and take on incumbent Republican John Cornyn, Texas Monthly reports.
“The move would profoundly change the dynamics of the 2020 campaign and put Texas squarely on center stage, with two Texans already in the Democratic primary race and Joaquin taking on a longtime Republican senator who many see as vulnerable, especially during a presidential election year.”
“Beto O’Rourke has decided not to run for Senate next year against Republican incumbent John Cornyn and likely will announce a campaign for president soon,” confidants close to the former congressman told the Dallas Morning News.
“Numerous people close to O’Rourke said they expect him to announce his presidential campaign within weeks. For his own part, O’Rourke on Wednesday wouldn’t reveal his future political plans except to say he has made up his mind.”
Said O’Rourke: “Amy and I have made a decision about how we can best serve our country. We are excited to share it with everyone soon.”
A new Quinnipiac poll in Texas finds Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-TX) approval rate at 43% to 26%, putting his net approval at +17.
First Read: “One person who’s probably paying attention to those numbers? Beto O’Rourke (D), who’s being encouraged to run for either president of the United States or to run against Cornyn in 2020.”
“Cornyn is less well known than Ted Cruz (R-TX), who just barely beat O’Rourke in November. (About 31 percent of Texans don’t have an opinion of Cornyn, while only nine percent say the same for Cruz.) But Cruz’s negatives — at 40% disapproval — are significantly higher than Cornyn’s, putting his net approval rating at +11.”
“All of that paints a picture of a much trickier race for O’Rourke over Cornyn than his recent attempt to take on one of the Senate’s most polarizing members.”
A new Public Policy Polling survey in Texas finds Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) just ahead of possible challenger Beto O’Rourke (D) in a U.S. Senate race, 47% to 45% with 8% of registered voters undecided.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) met with former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) last week to discuss a possible 2020 Senate campaign against Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in 2020, Politico reports.
O’Rourke, who lost narrowly against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in 2018, “is considering running for president and hasn’t publicly discussed running again for Senate in 2020. But he also hasn’t ruled it out.”
“Beto O’Rourke appears to be close to jumping into the race for president, but some Texas Democrats hope he’ll run for Senate instead,” the Dallas Morning News reports.
“That’s not to say they would be terribly upset by their favorite son running for the White House. But in terms of what’s best for Texas Democrats, some contend challenging Republican incumbent John Cornyn would provide a greater opportunity for victory and push Texas close to becoming a battleground, if not a bluer state.”
Politico: ““Determined not to get caught off guard by shifting demographics and fired-up Democrats, Cornyn is revving up his reelection campaign earlier than ever after O’Rourke’s near upset of Sen. Ted Cruz. Cornyn has already stockpiled more campaign cash than any other senator: $5.8 million. He’s filling high-level campaign jobs.”
“And crucially, Cornyn secured early endorsements from Cruz and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, two of the most prominent conservatives in the state, in a show of force to prevent a primary challenge. … Millions of new voters have flocked to the state in recent years, and reliably Republican areas in the suburbs outside Dallas and Houston — where Cornyn has racked up big margins in past elections — have shifted hard toward Democrats.”
Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) ended up raising an astonishing $80.1 million in his failed bid to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the Dallas Morning News reports.
“The final tally, released late Thursday, is sure to intensify speculation that O’Rourke could mount a campaign in 2020 against President Trump.”
“Much of the attention on O’Rourke has focused on a frenetic campaign style that helped him come within three points of toppling Cruz — the best a Democrat has done statewide in Texas in years — and a social-media-friendly charisma that captivated liberals all over the U.S.”
Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s (D-TX) impressive bid for the Senate fell short, but his concession speech shows why many don’t think his political future is over.
“In a move that is being decried by several members of the Texas congressional delegation, the U.S. Border Patrol announced Monday that it would be conducting an Election Day crowd control exercise in El Paso, the hometown of Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Beto O’Rourke,” the Texas Monthly reports.
“The exercise will take place next to the Chihuahuita neighborhood, a cluster of about one hundred or so homes along the U.S.-Mexico border that is almost exclusively Hispanic. The exercise is planned to occur within half a mile from at least one designated polling station.“
“Glitchy paperless voting machines are affecting an untold number of early voting ballots in Texas and Georgia, raising the specter that two of the most closely watched races could be marred by questions about whether the vote count is accurate,” Politico reports.
“Civil rights groups and voters in both states have filed complaints alleging that the ATM-style touchscreen machines inexplicably deleted some people’s votes for Democratic candidates or switched them to Republican votes.”
First Read: “Who would you rather be right now — Phil Bredesen in Tennessee or Beto O’Rourke in Texas? Both are trailing in red states by 5 points in the latest polls, though that’s within the margin of error.”
“In Bredesen’s favor are his postitive fav/unfav numbers (while Beto is upside down in the polls we’ve seen). In Beto’s favor is his cult-like status, plus all the money he has.”
“So what plays better for a Democrat in a Republican state — bright colors, or moderation?”
A new UT Tyler poll in Texas shows Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) with a four point lead over Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D) among registered voters, 47% to 43% among likely voters.
When the survey is narrowed to exclude respondents who are “not sure,” Cruz leads O’Rourke 50% percent to 46%.
A new Quinnipiac poll in Texas finds Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) leading challenger Beto O’Rourke (D) by five points, 51% to 46%.
Said pollster Peter Brown: “O’Rourke is within striking distance, but time is running out in a race that Democrats have hoped would deliver an upset victory that would be key to a Senate takeover.”
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.
Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.
Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.
Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.
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