1 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to the Texas Tribunes trib Cast for Tuesday, 2 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:24,440 December ninth. I'm Eleanor Klibanoff law and politics reporter, joined 3 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:26,839 as always by Editor in chief Matthew Watkins. 4 00:00:26,839 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 2: How's it going, Matthew? 5 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 3: Doing well? Texas A and M in the college football playoffs. 6 00:00:32,079 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 2: Some say, some thought it would never happen, and here. 7 00:00:35,759 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 3: Again it's never happened. Period, It's never happened the first 8 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,719 first time ever ever. That's I mean, we've only had 9 00:00:42,719 --> 00:00:45,000 a playoff for you know, a few years. 10 00:00:44,799 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 2: But still that's exciting. 11 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 1: Congratulations, thank you, Thank you for our ut listeners are condolence. 12 00:00:52,359 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 2: We'll do a different tip top for them. 13 00:00:54,399 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 3: And also congratulations to our friends at Texas Tech. 14 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:01,079 Speaker 1: Yes, yeah, a very exciting. 15 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 2: You know, postseason for Texas football teams. 16 00:01:04,879 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 1: Indeed, our special guest on this week's episode is Renzo Downey, 17 00:01:09,719 --> 00:01:13,359 lead writer for The Blast, the Tribune's premier political newsletter. 18 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,799 You can sign up for The Blast at support dot 19 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,359 Texas Tribune dot org slash Blast. 20 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:20,159 Speaker 2: Renzo, Welcome to the podcast. 21 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 4: Do you have a college football team? 22 00:01:22,879 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 5: I mean I grew up in the Bay Area, so not. 23 00:01:26,519 --> 00:01:29,480 How would have been my football team. Okay, okay, I. 24 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,439 Speaker 1: Don't want to like fuel any fire about people's potential 25 00:01:32,439 --> 00:01:35,920 perceptions of the Tribune, but two of what six members 26 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:38,480 of the Tribune politics team are from the Bay Area, 27 00:01:39,159 --> 00:01:41,400 which I think does not make for much of a 28 00:01:41,439 --> 00:01:43,719 college football team. 29 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:46,519 Speaker 2: And then two are from Long. 30 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 3: Island, also not a college football. 31 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: Not a college football hotbed. I am solo representing from 32 00:01:54,079 --> 00:01:59,840 the South. So yesterday was the candidate filing deadline for 33 00:01:59,879 --> 00:02:04,760 TI twenty twenty six, which means we finally, after much speculation, 34 00:02:05,319 --> 00:02:07,519 have a slate of candidates who will be running for 35 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:11,199 next year's election. Twenty twenty six promises to be a 36 00:02:11,319 --> 00:02:14,520 very big year for Texas politics. All the state wide 37 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,159 offices are up for reelection or up for election in 38 00:02:17,199 --> 00:02:20,599 some cases. We also have a lot of really closely 39 00:02:20,599 --> 00:02:26,560 watched congressional races with potentially nationwide implications. The filing deadline 40 00:02:26,599 --> 00:02:28,599 is always sort of an exciting day. You never know, 41 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:30,719 like what's going to happen, and they have until five 42 00:02:30,759 --> 00:02:33,800 PM on the deadline to start to make any last 43 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:38,800 minute decisions. This year was extraordinary even for that usual excitement, 44 00:02:39,479 --> 00:02:43,000 because we didn't know until last Thursday, four days ago 45 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,879 what congressional map would be using for next year, which 46 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:51,960 is added to a degree of uncertainty and excitement. I 47 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:56,080 would say, you know, certainly Republicans were proceeding as if 48 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,960 they'd be allowed to use the newly redrawn GOP friendlier map. 49 00:03:00,479 --> 00:03:04,360 Democrats were proceeding as if the court order striking that 50 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,240 map would be allowed to stay in effect. And in 51 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:11,879 the end Republicans made that call correctly, leading to a 52 00:03:11,879 --> 00:03:14,719 lot more last minute seat swapping on the left, but 53 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:16,680 certainly some surprises on the right. 54 00:03:17,759 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 2: We're going to go sort of through. 55 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: The races that await us for Marches primary and Novembers general. 56 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,520 But yeah, any big picture thoughts after the you know, 57 00:03:27,599 --> 00:03:28,800 excitement of filing day. 58 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 2: Any We'll get into the specifics. 59 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:35,599 Speaker 6: But I mean, you know, I think the big news 60 00:03:35,599 --> 00:03:40,280 of the day in Texas and really beyond was the 61 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,800 Jasmin Crockett yes, right, and the way that you know, 62 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:47,439 I think there are a lot of people asking, maybe 63 00:03:47,439 --> 00:03:50,599 from outside the state, whether this is sort of like 64 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,800 a tea party moment for the Democratic Party, you know, 65 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,960 where like for so long the sort of like activist 66 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,199 wing of the Republican Party was ascendant and really took 67 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:04,280 control of the party. Democrats have been able to sort 68 00:04:04,319 --> 00:04:07,280 of the establishment has been able to hold on. Does 69 00:04:07,439 --> 00:04:10,560 Jasmine Crockett jumping in this race against someone who I 70 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:14,360 would say the Democratic establishment is quite excited about already, 71 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,360 does this represented change and what does that mean? 72 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:18,959 Speaker 3: Maybe we'll talk about that a little. 73 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 6: Bit later, but I think you know, whether or not 74 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,360 that we'll have any influence on who actually becomes the 75 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:27,399 US Senator for Texas, I think it's the big most 76 00:04:27,439 --> 00:04:29,160 interesting thing that happened yesterday. 77 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,959 Speaker 5: Yeah, I'd agree with Matthew that the Democratic side is 78 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,920 one hundred percent a flight over what doesn't mean to 79 00:04:34,959 --> 00:04:38,360 be a Texas Democrat and how you go about being 80 00:04:38,399 --> 00:04:43,839 a Texas Democrat. But you know, beyond that, we've got 81 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:48,040 some big fights for some of the biggest seats in Texas. 82 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,279 But also you know, looking at some of the other 83 00:04:51,319 --> 00:04:55,439 state wides. I mean Ken Paxton, longtime Attorney General, he's 84 00:04:56,199 --> 00:05:00,360 running for a different seat, Sid Miller, Agriculture commiss He's 85 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,199 got a bit of a fight on his hands. And 86 00:05:03,199 --> 00:05:04,920 we're starting to see a little bit of a shakeup 87 00:05:04,959 --> 00:05:08,120 of that leadership at the state level that's been in 88 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:09,720 place for over a decade. 89 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 6: Yeah, I've worked at the Tribune for over ten years, 90 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:17,279 and we've had the same kind of top four people, 91 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:20,800 you know, Governor, the chain of governor, Senate us in 92 00:05:20,879 --> 00:05:26,120 it in both seats, and I mean, I guess it's 93 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:28,839 possible that we will emerge from twenty twenty six with 94 00:05:28,959 --> 00:05:31,319 that still set up, but there's like a lot of 95 00:05:31,399 --> 00:05:32,519 sort of shuffling. 96 00:05:33,319 --> 00:05:35,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, it's guaranteed that it will look at 97 00:05:35,639 --> 00:05:38,839 least a little different with Pexton not going to be 98 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:43,800 Attorney general anymore. But yeah, it's an interesting So you 99 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,279 were at the Republican Party of Texas headquarters yesterday, which 100 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:49,160 is worked outside of it side of the Republican Party 101 00:05:49,519 --> 00:05:51,800 Texas sort of what was the energy, what was the 102 00:05:51,879 --> 00:05:54,079 vibe from candidates? I mean, are they feeling pretty victorious 103 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:56,600 about getting to use the map that they were hoping 104 00:05:56,639 --> 00:05:59,399 to use being the redistricting fight, if you will. 105 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,639 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean this map created a lot of opportunities 106 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,360 for Republicans that you know, speaking of this you know 107 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,120 statewide slate that's been in place for a while. I 108 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,800 mean there's been a lot of there have been roadblocks 109 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:13,680 at the top for people trying to move up, and 110 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:18,319 so you know, if you create potentially five new GOP seats, 111 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:21,560 then that's a lot of opportunities for members to jump in. 112 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:23,759 And so I think we'll talk about some of these races, 113 00:06:23,759 --> 00:06:26,560 but you're going to have like a bunch of political 114 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:29,839 newcomers jumping into like one of them is going to 115 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,079 be like probably the next congressman. 116 00:06:32,079 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 1: Right given district, right, which is exciting, terrifying all of 117 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:40,000 the above for us as political reporters. So let's start 118 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:43,040 at the very top of the ticket. Governor's race looking 119 00:06:43,079 --> 00:06:44,959 sort of as we were expecting it would look before 120 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:51,040 the filing deadline approached, Renzo Abbot, Governor Greg Abbott, as 121 00:06:51,079 --> 00:06:54,120 we said, longtime governor, more than a decade running for 122 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:58,560 reelection with more money than God. How is it looking 123 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:00,040 on the Democratic side. 124 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:04,600 Speaker 5: Well, on the Democratic side, it seems like the main 125 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,600 candidates are going to be State Representative Genie in Ajosa, 126 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:13,439 and you've also got a White, you know, son of 127 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,160 former government and White and. 128 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:18,199 Speaker 3: Bobby Cole. 129 00:07:18,279 --> 00:07:21,879 Speaker 4: Yeah, Bobby Cole. Uh think we. 130 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 6: I mean I think it really what this shows is 131 00:07:29,399 --> 00:07:32,480 the strength of Abbott, right, Like, the Democrats like have 132 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:38,439 a pretty decent bench right now of like interesting popular 133 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,240 candidates who can raise money, get people energized. I mean, 134 00:07:42,519 --> 00:07:47,040 James Talerico, Jasmine Crockett, Colin Allred, you know, wanted to 135 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,920 run statewide is now not you know, even people like 136 00:07:50,959 --> 00:07:53,839 Betto the Castro brothers, Like there are folks that like 137 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,480 people can get excited about from a statewide and national level, 138 00:07:57,639 --> 00:08:01,639 and none of them even like looked at glanced at 139 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:05,319 the governor's seat. And and and that's because he is 140 00:08:05,399 --> 00:08:08,399 so popular in the polls and because he has just 141 00:08:08,879 --> 00:08:11,560 an inhuman amount of money to spend. And I don't 142 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,759 think anyone wants to go anywhere near that, even in 143 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,879 a year where I think people think, you know, Democrats 144 00:08:17,959 --> 00:08:20,959 nationally are going to kind of outperform, you know, their 145 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,800 their their sort of regular baseline in this you know, 146 00:08:24,879 --> 00:08:25,600 midterm election. 147 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,199 Speaker 5: And there was a rumor for a while that Colin 148 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,120 Allred was going to drop out of the Senate race 149 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,639 and run for governor. But he didn't even do that. 150 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,519 He decided he was going to try to go back 151 00:08:34,519 --> 00:08:35,120 to Congress. 152 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 1: Right, I do think it's like sort of like someone 153 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,000 has to run for it, and like credit to the 154 00:08:40,039 --> 00:08:43,679 Democrats who are trying, but sacrificial the sacrifice, I mean 155 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:46,679 just the sheer amount of money. It's like it does 156 00:08:46,759 --> 00:08:49,159 matter how people feel about Greg Abbott. It matters more 157 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:52,519 that like he's got the money and obviously the party support. 158 00:08:52,759 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 6: And a pretty sophisticated kind of political apparatus that he's 159 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:59,480 been able to wheeld effectively, you know, to support himself, 160 00:08:59,519 --> 00:09:02,879 but also so you know, shape the legislature and other 161 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:04,240 races in the way he wants. 162 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: And even further down, like he's probably he's vowing to 163 00:09:06,399 --> 00:09:08,320 like turn Harris County red. Right, He's like got so 164 00:09:08,399 --> 00:09:11,759 much money, he's like gonna start going, you know, doing offshoots. 165 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 5: No, that's kind of exactly what I was going to say, 166 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:18,519 is that, you know, because he doesn't have a major 167 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:23,200 fundraising challenger on the Democratic side, I mean, he's going 168 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:25,320 to be free to spend his money however he wants 169 00:09:25,399 --> 00:09:28,440 to boost turnout in South Texas and the rear Grand 170 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:31,559 Valley or in Harris County or wherever else he decides 171 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,720 to support Republicans. 172 00:09:34,879 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 3: Yeah. 173 00:09:36,519 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: Also, I mean a little further down, is it we're 174 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:41,440 not going to have a much of a primary here, 175 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:43,559 so we won't don't need to like go over this 176 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:47,399 to great detail. Dan Patrick, Lieutenant governor, longtime lieutenant governor 177 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:51,159 up against Vicky Goodwin on the Democratic side. We didn't 178 00:09:51,159 --> 00:09:53,840 really see any surprises around the filing deadline with that race, 179 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:56,039 so that's been said, right. 180 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 5: The biggest surprise there would have been before the filing 181 00:09:58,759 --> 00:10:04,480 deadline with Mike Collier, the previous multi time Democratic nominee 182 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:07,759 for lieutenant governor, deciding to take a shot as an 183 00:10:07,759 --> 00:10:13,639 independent in that and we'll see how the independent route goes. 184 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. 185 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:19,639 Speaker 1: And then attorney General, our first non Paxton attorney general 186 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:22,240 race in over a decade. I mean, that one I 187 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:24,320 think is shaping up. Maybe it's just because I'm covering 188 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:25,440 it for the Tribune. 189 00:10:25,039 --> 00:10:26,919 Speaker 2: But like its shaped up to be a very very 190 00:10:26,919 --> 00:10:27,639 interesting fight. 191 00:10:27,639 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: We've got four Republicans, three Democrats, and certainly on the 192 00:10:31,879 --> 00:10:35,759 Republican side, like really a battle over like what does 193 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,799 the next generation of the Attorney General's office look like. 194 00:10:39,759 --> 00:10:43,720 Those candidates are US current US Rep. Chip Roy, former 195 00:10:43,879 --> 00:10:48,600 DOJ lawyer Aaron Wright's state senators Mays Middleton and Joan Huffman, 196 00:10:49,039 --> 00:10:51,240 all presenting sort of different ideas of that office, but 197 00:10:51,799 --> 00:10:55,000 you know, all within the vein of continue this conservative 198 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:57,519 litigation strategy. 199 00:10:57,879 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 5: I think it's amazing that you can have or four 200 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,720 candidates in one primary and they all present a very 201 00:11:03,759 --> 00:11:09,120 different vision and a presentation of what it could mean 202 00:11:09,159 --> 00:11:10,080 to be an attorney general. 203 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:12,279 Speaker 6: Can you break down a little bit like what that 204 00:11:12,399 --> 00:11:14,480 what that vision looks like by this candidates. 205 00:11:14,639 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 4: Yeah. 206 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:19,519 Speaker 5: So chip Roy has been one of the strongest conservatives 207 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:24,039 in Congress, you know, not afraid to buck with leadership 208 00:11:24,039 --> 00:11:27,879 when it when he needs to, and he's kind of 209 00:11:27,879 --> 00:11:31,840 bringing that to the Attorney general's race. But you know, 210 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:35,159 at the same time, going after you know, talking about 211 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:39,320 Epic City and Sharia law. That's kind of been some 212 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:43,840 of his newer talking points. Seems to be newer on 213 00:11:43,919 --> 00:11:48,759 the trail. And Aaron Wrights has taking a very I 214 00:11:48,799 --> 00:11:54,360 think he wouldn't mind me saying militaristic. I think that 215 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:58,639 approach to the role of the Attorney general, talking about 216 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:02,480 the the arsenal that the legislature is creating for the 217 00:12:02,519 --> 00:12:03,279 attorney general. 218 00:12:03,519 --> 00:12:05,279 Speaker 1: I mean he really, I mean using the language of 219 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,320 war and like you know that the battle is happening. 220 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:08,679 Speaker 2: In the courtroom. 221 00:12:08,879 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 4: Yes. 222 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 5: And John Huffman's you know, talking about her background in 223 00:12:13,919 --> 00:12:17,440 criminal law, you know, as a judge and prosecutor, and 224 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:23,600 she wants to bring the criminal side, which historically hasn't 225 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:25,799 really been the role of the Texas Attorney General, but 226 00:12:26,039 --> 00:12:27,799 trying to play. 227 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 1: In that relationship with the DA's and yeah, yeah, yeah, and. 228 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 5: Then Mays Milton has had I'd say it's more similar 229 00:12:35,639 --> 00:12:38,919 to Aaron Wright's, but with a calmer demeanor. 230 00:12:39,159 --> 00:12:39,879 Speaker 2: Yeah. 231 00:12:40,159 --> 00:12:42,919 Speaker 6: So I'm going to test out a take here and 232 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:45,080 let me see. How how do you feel that it 233 00:12:45,159 --> 00:12:46,879 is that this is sort of like the sort of 234 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:51,440 like first post Trump primary. I mean, I know Trump 235 00:12:51,519 --> 00:12:53,240 is still in office and he's still there, but I 236 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,399 feel like I look at this race and I see 237 00:12:55,399 --> 00:12:59,240 this sort of like different ideological corners that are there 238 00:12:59,519 --> 00:13:04,000 that have usually been brought together under the Trump presidency 239 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:08,120 in the Trump candidacy, and now we know that, you know, 240 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,639 in whatever future where Trump is not around, there's going 241 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,080 to be kind of a jockeying for like who is 242 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:17,600 going to emerge and represent those different corners, you know 243 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:21,320 in the national Party. This feels sort of similar to 244 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:26,039 that right now, where it's like each of them sort 245 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:28,960 of take their own cues from Trump and do the 246 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:31,519 things that he does, but they they largely represent like 247 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:36,159 a different idea of like where folks might want the 248 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,240 conservative movement to go once Trump is gone. 249 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 1: I think, like in terms of like personality and style 250 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:46,799 and like, you know, to that quick question like who 251 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,320 who can sort of be the next Trump? Which so 252 00:13:49,399 --> 00:13:52,080 much of Trump is his personality and his like charisma 253 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:54,159 and all that. I think we're seeing that play out, 254 00:13:54,159 --> 00:13:56,440 like do people want a fighter, do they want like 255 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,559 a renegade? Do they want, you know, a law and 256 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:04,759 order conservative? I do think like broadly speaking, certainly three 257 00:14:04,799 --> 00:14:06,480 of these four people, and I think you could make 258 00:14:06,519 --> 00:14:09,600 the case for Joan Huffman as well, are pitching a 259 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,840 very similar like some of this is splitting hairs, right, 260 00:14:12,879 --> 00:14:14,399 And I mean when we think about the fact that 261 00:14:14,399 --> 00:14:17,519 the Texas Attorney General's office is like the most important 262 00:14:17,639 --> 00:14:21,600 red state attorney general's office in the country, I think 263 00:14:21,879 --> 00:14:24,480 no one is like going to come in there republic 264 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,080 No Republicans come in there and pitch like really blowing 265 00:14:27,159 --> 00:14:29,840 up what Paxton's doing and doing something really different. It's 266 00:14:29,919 --> 00:14:33,000 just how do you want that styled? 267 00:14:33,279 --> 00:14:33,399 Speaker 4: Right? 268 00:14:33,879 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: Which I would say there's there are similarities of post 269 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,039 Trump what post Paxton Paxston is in many ways a 270 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:41,919 Trump like figure in Texas. 271 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 6: Uh and they all sort of want to claim the mantle, 272 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,000 like they want to sort of make the case that 273 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:53,759 they're representing what Trump represents, even though he might represent 274 00:14:53,759 --> 00:14:55,000 a different thing to different people. 275 00:14:55,159 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: Exactly right. No one is saying I'm going to do 276 00:14:57,159 --> 00:14:58,120 it that differently. 277 00:14:58,200 --> 00:14:59,559 Speaker 3: Yeah, let's move on from this guy. 278 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: Yeah right, Yeah, it's gonna be I mean, I just 279 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,480 think a fascinating race, and we're already seeing a lot 280 00:15:05,519 --> 00:15:07,399 of campaigning. I mean, I think it is telling how 281 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,279 important this office is for the number of candidates who 282 00:15:10,679 --> 00:15:14,960 are choosing to run for Attorney General. Similarly, on the 283 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:18,960 Democratic side, we have State Senator Nathan Johnson, Joe Jaworski, 284 00:15:19,039 --> 00:15:22,080 who has run at least once before, former Galliston mayor, 285 00:15:22,559 --> 00:15:25,919 and then a sort of political newcomer, Dallas lawyer Tony 286 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:31,559 Box who has worked in US Attorney's office as well 287 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:36,720 as like other legal background, So that will be interesting 288 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:37,639 to see as well. 289 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. 290 00:15:38,159 --> 00:15:40,759 Speaker 6: I mean, again, like a situation of like there's a 291 00:15:40,759 --> 00:15:43,720 lot of good, big, interesting names in the Democratic Party 292 00:15:43,799 --> 00:15:47,559 and they all seem to focus on that one US 293 00:15:47,639 --> 00:15:50,279 Senate seat as opposed to some of the other opportunities 294 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:54,519 that might be there in terms of you know what 295 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:56,320 was the year two thousand and two where it had 296 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,360 like the Democratic Dream Team ticket. They did not get 297 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:02,240 organized enough to do something like that this time around, and. 298 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: There was reportedly talk of trying to do that right 299 00:16:04,799 --> 00:16:05,480 multiple times. 300 00:16:05,519 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 6: Yeah, and you know, maybe when we get to the 301 00:16:08,279 --> 00:16:11,519 Senate we can talk about the reasons why. But but 302 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,480 I feel like when I'm looking at the list, I 303 00:16:14,519 --> 00:16:16,639 really feel it in this AG's race, you know, it's 304 00:16:16,679 --> 00:16:21,159 an open office. You know, most statewide voters in a 305 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:24,559 general election frankly do not know who these people are, 306 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:26,799 with the possible exception of Chip Roy, but even then, 307 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:29,960 I think he has a relatively low name ID, and 308 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:32,600 they really could have been a possibility to put a 309 00:16:32,679 --> 00:16:35,480 Democrat who maybe had higher name ID in that seat, 310 00:16:35,519 --> 00:16:37,480 and they did not do that. 311 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:39,759 Speaker 1: It's the Democrats had no shortage of lawyers that they 312 00:16:39,799 --> 00:16:42,039 could have stuck in there if they wanted to. 313 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:44,879 Speaker 2: Well, let's move I mean, we've been sort of talking around. 314 00:16:44,919 --> 00:16:45,679 Let's let's talk about. 315 00:16:45,679 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 1: I mean yesterday where we saw the most chaos was 316 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,759 in the Senate race. We already sort of had this 317 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:57,159 very contentious fighting primary going on on the right, which 318 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,799 is you know, incumbent long time incumbent Center John Cornyn 319 00:17:01,279 --> 00:17:05,680 being challenged by Attorney General Ken Paxton, which has been 320 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,519 just sort of already a real knockdown, drag out fight. 321 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:11,599 Speaker 2: Then we had the addition of US Rep. Wesley Hunt. 322 00:17:13,319 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 1: The Democrats as of yesterday seemed to be trying to 323 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:18,759 match that chaotic energy that they're seeing on the right. 324 00:17:19,079 --> 00:17:20,920 Renzo talked to us a little bit about you know, 325 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:23,200 where did we start the you know, lead up to 326 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:24,559 the filing deadline and where are we now? 327 00:17:25,559 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 5: Well, I guess going into the final weekend, it seemed 328 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:30,920 like it was going to be I mean, we knew 329 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:33,599 for sure Colin all Red, James tall Rico and jas 330 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:37,960 mccrockett was very publicly a maybe, but seeming like she 331 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:44,640 was leaning towards yes. And on the morning of Colin 332 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:50,640 Allredd decides he's he's dropping out, he's running for Congress, 333 00:17:51,559 --> 00:17:55,440 deciding that, you know, a primary and very likely a 334 00:17:55,559 --> 00:17:59,920 runoff is a bad thing for the Democrats. I mean, 335 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,880 that's time that Democrats are would be spending fighting each 336 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:06,880 other rather than unifying behind the candidate, while on the 337 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:08,960 GOP side they're gonna be they're gonna be going to 338 00:18:09,079 --> 00:18:12,200 run off, so they're gonna be you know, they're gonna 339 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:13,359 have that infighting. 340 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 1: Wasting a lot of time and money, or maybe not wasting, 341 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,680 but using a lot of time and money to battle 342 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:18,079 that out. 343 00:18:18,599 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 5: Did you watch the Crockett I did not, Okay, give 344 00:18:22,279 --> 00:18:24,799 us your take. Well, do I watch the Crockett announcement 345 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:27,519 or the launch video, which. 346 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:28,160 Speaker 2: We should discuss. 347 00:18:28,279 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean, I guess like one of the big 348 00:18:30,039 --> 00:18:32,559 questions I have here is you talk about the desire 349 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,000 not to fight. We saw the James Tallerico statement that 350 00:18:35,039 --> 00:18:36,200 came out and he was sort. 351 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 3: Of like, welcome to the race. We wanted to be united. 352 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 6: Crockett, I think has built a very strong statewide and 353 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:48,200 national following for being a fighter, right like the things 354 00:18:48,279 --> 00:18:52,680 that she said to Marjorie Taylor Green to you know, 355 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:57,240 people like her because she's a fighter. And I'm very 356 00:18:57,319 --> 00:19:01,799 curious to see whether or how long that's sort of 357 00:19:01,839 --> 00:19:03,799 like let's all say nice things about each other in 358 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:09,960 order to not damage each other, you know, idea lasts 359 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:10,319 in this. 360 00:19:10,319 --> 00:19:11,480 Speaker 2: Primary, and I haven't seen. 361 00:19:11,559 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 1: I mean, she is I think James Tallerico is saying, 362 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:15,720 you know, welcome to the We're glad to have you. 363 00:19:15,799 --> 00:19:16,559 Speaker 2: Let's all be friends. 364 00:19:16,599 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 1: I don't know that Jasmin Crockett is making any such promises. 365 00:19:20,519 --> 00:19:23,359 It seems like it's I mean, I guess I'm curious, 366 00:19:23,519 --> 00:19:25,039 and Menzo, maybe you have a better sense of this. 367 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:27,599 Do we think that she is actively going to run 368 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,440 against James Tallerico or is she going to Can she 369 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,240 just run on the idea of like, vote for me 370 00:19:33,279 --> 00:19:35,599 and I'll beat Paxton, Vote for me and I'll beat Cornyan. 371 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,519 Speaker 5: From what it seems like so far, it's all about 372 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,960 Cornan and Abbot and going after the Republicans and energizing 373 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:48,240 the Democratic base. I mean, she was on TV in 374 00:19:48,279 --> 00:19:50,240 the last twenty four hours saying, you know, she doesn't 375 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,599 really need to win over Trump voters, that you know, 376 00:19:53,799 --> 00:19:55,839 she's going to bring in new voters. 377 00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:00,079 Speaker 2: Turnout, turnout, turnout exactly. She'll be interesting to. 378 00:20:00,319 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 1: I mean, I do think to some extent, maybe not 379 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:08,240 contentious energy wise, but a competitive primary does draw people 380 00:20:08,279 --> 00:20:11,160 out in a way that a boring primary doesn't. 381 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:13,400 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean, I'm not sure I completely buy the 382 00:20:13,519 --> 00:20:17,440 argument that like a heated, you know, hoighly contested primary 383 00:20:17,519 --> 00:20:20,720 is bad for a party. Everybody sort of talks about that, 384 00:20:20,799 --> 00:20:23,440 but it just sort of means that your candidate is 385 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:26,359 in the news more, you know, like that there's a 386 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:29,200 little bit more mind share there. People may be a 387 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:34,000 little bit more familiar. I mean, I think if I 388 00:20:34,039 --> 00:20:38,720 were a Democrat, I would maybe be frustrated about again 389 00:20:38,839 --> 00:20:43,400 the clumping of high profile candidates in this race. But 390 00:20:43,559 --> 00:20:46,119 I don't know if they should necessarily be afraid of 391 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:47,640 a primary. 392 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,039 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean certainly you don't want to leave voters 393 00:20:51,039 --> 00:20:53,079 with the idea of like, ah, this is the only 394 00:20:53,079 --> 00:20:54,839 person we could find, like put them up right, it's 395 00:20:54,839 --> 00:20:56,720 like you want to feel I mean I certainly, particularly 396 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:58,640 coming off of the twenty twenty four election, where there 397 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:00,519 was some thoughts of you know, how did we end 398 00:21:00,559 --> 00:21:02,799 up with these candidates? How do these people get chosen? 399 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,319 You know, run a competitive primary. I do think it 400 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:08,319 is helped by the fact that alright is not running. 401 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:10,519 There's not three people we're not going to go to. 402 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:12,160 They're not going to go to a runoff, like we're 403 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:15,799 not going to see the like this might be a cleaner, 404 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:16,920 messy primary. 405 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:18,279 Speaker 3: And I guess, yeah, I guess we'll see. 406 00:21:18,319 --> 00:21:20,160 Speaker 6: Right, because if you look on the Republican side, I 407 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:23,079 think you can envision you know, John Cornyan using his 408 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:26,799 considerable resources to try to make it clear to every 409 00:21:26,799 --> 00:21:29,720 single voter in the state that you know, Ken Paxton 410 00:21:29,799 --> 00:21:33,000 has been under indictment and impeached by a Republican House 411 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:37,440 and you know, was accused of repeatedly, you know, cheating 412 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:40,200 on his wife. And that's probably not the kind of 413 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:41,599 competitive primary. 414 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:42,519 Speaker 3: You want, right But. 415 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:46,839 Speaker 6: I mean, we'll see what happens with this Democratic race. 416 00:21:46,839 --> 00:21:48,599 Maybe they'll dig up some dirt on each other and 417 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,519 that really damages them. But if if it's more about 418 00:21:51,559 --> 00:21:55,720 like substance, more about you know, the politics or the approach, 419 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:59,200 and less about you know, the skeletons in anyone's closet, 420 00:21:59,759 --> 00:22:02,480 I I don't know if that necessarily is a disaster 421 00:22:02,599 --> 00:22:03,440 for Democrats. 422 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:06,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, certainly. Here's a weird thing about me. 423 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:09,519 Speaker 1: I the night before Colin Allred dropped out, there was 424 00:22:09,519 --> 00:22:11,960 some chat chatter in the politics channel about, you know, 425 00:22:12,079 --> 00:22:12,960 is he going to drop out? 426 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,319 Speaker 2: Is he going to switch races? What's happening here? I 427 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:18,319 went to bed that night and had a dream. 428 00:22:18,039 --> 00:22:22,200 Speaker 1: That I was at I was covering Colin Alred's wedding, 429 00:22:22,759 --> 00:22:24,279 but I was very very late, and so I had 430 00:22:24,279 --> 00:22:26,960 to steal a bike and bike there and it was 431 00:22:27,079 --> 00:22:27,640 very stressful. 432 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:29,160 Speaker 2: You would have loved different, so you love biking. 433 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:32,759 Speaker 1: And then Azi's I'm sorry was there and he was 434 00:22:32,799 --> 00:22:37,200 officiating the wedding. Gabby, our DC reporter, has declined to 435 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:38,079 interpret what it means. 436 00:22:38,079 --> 00:22:40,400 Speaker 2: But if either of you have thoughts, I got nothing. 437 00:22:40,759 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna. I'm gonna. I'm gonna recuse myself 438 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:45,160 from that. 439 00:22:46,079 --> 00:22:49,039 Speaker 1: Enough. If anyone listening has thoughts on what my dreams mean, 440 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:52,279 would love that because therapy is expensive. 441 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:53,839 Speaker 2: So okay. 442 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 1: So Allred was running in the Senate race. He dropped out, 443 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:02,960 but moved inself over to the thirty third Congressional district, 444 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:06,359 which is, after redistricting, one of two seats in the 445 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:10,680 Dallas Fort Worth area that remains sort of viable for Democrats. 446 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:12,039 Speaker 2: It has about a. 447 00:23:12,039 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: Third of his former constituents. He is now running against 448 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:23,000 his successor in the House, Julie Johnson. As our colleague 449 00:23:23,519 --> 00:23:26,920 Kate McGee would say, it's a little Lionel MESSI uh, 450 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:31,000 what do you make of all of this, Renzo, How 451 00:23:31,079 --> 00:23:32,480 is this going to shake out? 452 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 4: Yeah, well it's already gotten a little bit heated. 453 00:23:34,839 --> 00:23:40,519 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, particularly on Julie Johnson's part, saying I mean 454 00:23:40,559 --> 00:23:43,960 she received endorsement from Emily's List and said, you know, hey, 455 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:48,200 women don't need to stand by, you know, be the 456 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:51,200 placeholder for a for a man running for office. 457 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:52,359 Speaker 4: I'm paraphrasing. 458 00:23:52,599 --> 00:23:53,319 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I. 459 00:23:53,319 --> 00:23:54,920 Speaker 1: Think it came with a little edge of like a 460 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:57,359 man who has lost his previous races, you know. 461 00:23:57,319 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 2: Like it had a little it was a dig yeah. 462 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:03,640 Speaker 5: Yeah, And I mean in all red statement, he was 463 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:07,640 kind of saying that, you know, he's stepping down from 464 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:10,559 the Senate race to clear the. 465 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:16,079 Speaker 2: You know, save a contentious, more contentious primary. 466 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:19,640 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, trying to clear a path for Democrats there. 467 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:23,640 And I mean he got support from Jamie Harrison, who 468 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:28,000 you know, was saying that this was selfless of all 469 00:24:28,079 --> 00:24:30,960 ready to step down inside to run for Congress again. 470 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:35,680 Speaker 4: So I think you're going to have some I guess. 471 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,319 Speaker 5: Another interesting part of this is that Julie Johnson had 472 00:24:38,559 --> 00:24:43,880 endorsed Tallarico very early, and you know that's all read 473 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,839 successor going hey, I'd rather go with the other guy, 474 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:47,480 right there. 475 00:24:47,519 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 1: Might not there may without knowing anything, maybe there wasn't 476 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:52,079 already like love lost between them. 477 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:53,559 Speaker 2: I don't know what their relationship. 478 00:24:54,559 --> 00:24:58,440 Speaker 5: Yeah, so it should be an interesting primary up there. 479 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:01,559 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's seems like the kind I mean, like you said, 480 00:25:01,599 --> 00:25:04,599 like it's like the two step, right, the first step, 481 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:06,599 people are like, that's a selfless move, step down for 482 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,200 the good of the Democratic Party. Julie Johnson saying like, well, 483 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:11,799 the second step where you went is like sort of 484 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:12,440 maybe not. 485 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 2: As selfless or sort of stepping on me and my plans. 486 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,640 Speaker 1: And I think she certainly seems like unlike she's not 487 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:20,759 doing the tall Rico approach of like, well, welcome to 488 00:25:20,799 --> 00:25:24,880 the to the to the show. We basically just have 489 00:25:25,319 --> 00:25:28,839 because of the redrawing too many Democrats in one area. 490 00:25:28,559 --> 00:25:29,119 Speaker 2: Of the state. 491 00:25:30,559 --> 00:25:34,559 Speaker 1: The previous tenant of the thirty third congressional district before 492 00:25:34,599 --> 00:25:37,519 it was redrawn was Mark v Z. They redrew his 493 00:25:37,559 --> 00:25:40,559 district sort of beyond recognition. He lives in Fort Worth. 494 00:25:40,599 --> 00:25:43,200 The district was redrawn into Dallas. 495 00:25:43,799 --> 00:25:44,759 Speaker 2: There was talk that. 496 00:25:44,759 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 1: He would run for Crockett seat that she vacated, but 497 00:25:48,519 --> 00:25:50,400 at the very last minute he announced that he instead 498 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,440 would be running for Terran County judge to try to 499 00:25:53,519 --> 00:25:58,119 unseat Conservative Tim O'Hare. Did that surprise you, either of you, 500 00:25:58,279 --> 00:26:01,759 I mean, from KNG risk to Terrent County Judge. 501 00:26:02,079 --> 00:26:03,279 Speaker 4: Well, that had been. 502 00:26:05,319 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 5: Pretty openly discussed for a while that you know, he 503 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:11,559 might run for county judge, but that was almost kind 504 00:26:11,559 --> 00:26:15,039 of contingent on Crockett running for reelection as opposed to 505 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,759 running for the Senate. So when it became pretty obvious 506 00:26:18,799 --> 00:26:20,400 that Crockett was going to run for the Senate, and 507 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:22,279 it was like, oh, well, Mark Vic's gonna run for 508 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:30,759 reelection in her district. And what ended up happening that morning, 509 00:26:30,799 --> 00:26:37,920 I believe was Pastor Freddy Hayes jumped into that race. 510 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:41,480 And you know, he's a well respected member of the 511 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:46,920 community up there, and that would have been another expensive, 512 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:53,400 contested primary. Yeah, and so maybe VC decided the best 513 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,880 thing to do was to go for county judge, which 514 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:00,319 I think Democrats think they have a serious shot at 515 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:02,880 flipping Terran County. 516 00:27:03,319 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 6: Yeah, and that's I think that, you know, I mean, 517 00:27:05,279 --> 00:27:07,240 we're sort of looking ahead to the general now, but 518 00:27:07,279 --> 00:27:09,440 I think will be one of the most interesting races 519 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:16,559 in the general election. The way that O'Hare has governed 520 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:21,720 Terran County, you know, very aligned with you know, some 521 00:27:21,759 --> 00:27:24,319 of the most conservative members of the Republican Party. I 522 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:28,720 think Democrats would really like to unseat that race. Terrant County, 523 00:27:28,759 --> 00:27:31,599 of course, has been sort of a swing urban county, 524 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:36,319 something that has you know, real meaning for kind of 525 00:27:36,519 --> 00:27:39,720 you know politics in the state as a whole. Obviously, 526 00:27:39,759 --> 00:27:43,400 they have redistricted that so Republicans, I believe, would most 527 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:46,480 likely be able to maintain a majority on that court 528 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:50,240 even if the Democrat wins the county judge seat. But 529 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:52,759 just I think a pretty fascinating and I think what 530 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,799 will be a pretty hotly contested general election there. 531 00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:58,640 Speaker 5: Yeah, and the other Democratic Canada in that county judge 532 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:02,599 race was that the Democrat that got drawn out of court. 533 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:04,039 Speaker 3: District to ye. 534 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I mean, I just, I mean, Tarrett County 535 00:28:07,519 --> 00:28:09,960 is just endlessly fascinating. But I do think like when 536 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:13,519 I did some reporting out there around redistricting, and you know, 537 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:16,319 the sense from Democrats I talked to was that the 538 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:18,680 part of the reason that they so aggressively pushed this 539 00:28:18,799 --> 00:28:22,279 redistricting plan was to ensure that if Tim O'Hare gets unseated, 540 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:24,880 they could still hold the majority, because you know, it's 541 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:28,640 harder to elect a you know, a county wide seat 542 00:28:28,759 --> 00:28:33,039 versus sort of these you know districts or precincts. 543 00:28:33,039 --> 00:28:35,640 Speaker 2: I think they're called so I just think like that race, 544 00:28:36,559 --> 00:28:37,240 like you said. 545 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:40,559 Speaker 1: Holds so much sort of tea leave freading for the 546 00:28:40,599 --> 00:28:44,240 future of politics in Texas? Do people want this really 547 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:49,319 you know, arch conservative approach when it has direct bearing 548 00:28:49,359 --> 00:28:51,480 on their lives versus you know, I think sometimes at 549 00:28:51,519 --> 00:28:53,839 the state level, it's easy to say, like, well, whatever 550 00:28:53,839 --> 00:28:56,039 the legislature does, like, how will that trickle down to me? 551 00:28:56,079 --> 00:28:58,480 I think at the county level, it's so you know, 552 00:28:58,599 --> 00:29:02,039 there's like they're outsourcing health and human services, they're cutting 553 00:29:02,079 --> 00:29:07,000 these different programs, Like there's real impact to that. Let's 554 00:29:07,039 --> 00:29:11,200 run through some of the other congressional districts that are 555 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:13,279 about to get much more exciting. Some of these are 556 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:19,160 really significantly redrawn as a result of the twenty twenty 557 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:24,599 five redistricting Texas ninth, which was Al Green, a Democrat 558 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,759 who is at least recently best known for repeatedly trying 559 00:29:27,799 --> 00:29:30,880 to impeach Donald Trump. Well, now it seems likely be 560 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:35,319 succeeded by a fight for who can be the most conservative. 561 00:29:36,079 --> 00:29:40,960 We've got State Rep. Briscocaine, Alex Mueller, former US Rep. 562 00:29:41,079 --> 00:29:44,960 Steve Stockman, Renzo what are we looking at in Texas nine? 563 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:49,079 Speaker 5: Yeah, Well, those are some pretty big names who are 564 00:29:49,279 --> 00:29:52,720 running for that seat. I mean Steve Stockman was the 565 00:29:52,759 --> 00:29:56,920 most recent entry into that, you know yesterday filing and 566 00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:01,079 perennial candidate exactly. I mean, he's held seats in Congress 567 00:30:01,079 --> 00:30:06,839 and two separate stints already, and and I believe he 568 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:13,000 was was he pardoned or computed sentence from President Trump and. 569 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:15,839 Speaker 3: Also a prior Cornyan primary challenger. 570 00:30:16,079 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 5: That's right, Yeah, yeah, So, I mean you've got it 571 00:30:19,319 --> 00:30:23,640 was already a big race that was kind of dividing 572 00:30:24,359 --> 00:30:29,039 folks down there, with Briscoe Caine, well respected. 573 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:31,480 Speaker 4: Member of the. 574 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:35,480 Speaker 5: Legislature and strong conservative kind of in and out of leadership, 575 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:38,839 you know, then kind of being more of the conservative 576 00:30:38,839 --> 00:30:46,519 outsider again. And then Alex Mieler, the former Harris County 577 00:30:46,559 --> 00:30:49,319 judge nominee for the Republicans down there. 578 00:30:49,319 --> 00:30:54,000 Speaker 4: I mean, both would have been fairly big names. 579 00:30:53,119 --> 00:30:58,039 Speaker 1: Speaking of people who've had their sentences commuted or in 580 00:30:58,079 --> 00:31:01,680 this case pardoned by President Trump. Texas twenty eight we've 581 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:08,400 got Henry Quayar, still a Democrat versus the Webb County judge, 582 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:11,599 as well as Jay Furman. What are we looking at there? 583 00:31:11,599 --> 00:31:13,079 I mean, one of these districts that is sort of 584 00:31:13,079 --> 00:31:13,960 a question mark. 585 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, Quaard is probably going to win his 586 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:24,200 Democratic primary, and he seems to have support from national 587 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:28,559 figures still. I mean, and Jefferies is kind of supporting 588 00:31:28,599 --> 00:31:31,880 him as well. That's been the case, you know, he's 589 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:36,920 had the support of Democratic leadership in his recent elections. 590 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:40,640 But on the Republican side, you've got I think the 591 00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:44,920 big name there is Tano tier Ina. 592 00:31:44,759 --> 00:31:47,880 Speaker 4: Who's the Webb County judge. 593 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 5: He flipped parties, was almost now a Republican almost a 594 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:53,319 year ago to the day it was happy earlier. 595 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:57,920 Speaker 6: So we have a Democrat who was pardoned by Republican 596 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:00,359 President Trump and a Republican who you to be a 597 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:03,319 Democrat possibly going up against each other in. 598 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:07,519 Speaker 5: Correct, Yeah, and both yeah, both would have been while 599 00:32:07,559 --> 00:32:10,799 they were both Democrats. They both would have been conservative Democrats. 600 00:32:11,319 --> 00:32:15,039 So I mean, this is kind of a small lane 601 00:32:15,079 --> 00:32:15,880 that they are right. 602 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:19,000 Speaker 1: It's I mean, it's such a statement on like the 603 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:21,720 political leanings of the Rio Grand Valley. I mean, just 604 00:32:22,359 --> 00:32:24,920 each side sort of wanting to claim like total ownership 605 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:27,200 over it. And the answer might just be like they 606 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:29,559 want someone in the middle. 607 00:32:29,279 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 6: On certain Issuesah, can we just talk about the quair 608 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:37,880 and I mean, you know, I mean, I think the 609 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:42,559 most popular, so much has happened that it's sort of 610 00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:44,920 kind of washed over and then moved on that just 611 00:32:46,319 --> 00:32:50,319 you know, what the hell happened there? It's so fascinating, right, 612 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:54,960 So he the pardon just sort of gets announced on 613 00:32:55,039 --> 00:32:58,200 truth Social. Everyone's like, what's the other shoe that's going 614 00:32:58,279 --> 00:33:01,640 to drop? Is he going to switch parties? Quaar essentially, 615 00:33:03,119 --> 00:33:06,920 then you know, a few hours later, files to run 616 00:33:07,079 --> 00:33:12,880 in the Democratic primary, says that he like didn't even 617 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:15,880 know that this was going to happen until it happened. 618 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:19,119 And then you know, a few days later, Trump kind 619 00:33:19,119 --> 00:33:21,759 of blasts him on truth Social, saying like, you know, 620 00:33:21,839 --> 00:33:23,559 he's ungrateful or whatever, which. 621 00:33:23,359 --> 00:33:26,000 Speaker 5: Was just yes, saying he was he wasn't loyal to 622 00:33:26,359 --> 00:33:28,839 Texas voters and to his. 623 00:33:28,839 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 1: Daughters, right, which was an interesting I mean, the implication 624 00:33:32,839 --> 00:33:35,599 for President Trump, right being that when he pardoned him, 625 00:33:35,599 --> 00:33:38,319 he thought he would switch and run as a Republican, right, 626 00:33:38,359 --> 00:33:41,640 which is uh, you know, not great. 627 00:33:41,799 --> 00:33:44,359 Speaker 4: But he also said that he didn't speak to Quaar r. 628 00:33:44,519 --> 00:33:47,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, so he maybe had the you know, just be 629 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:48,279 so grateful. 630 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 6: Yeah, yeah, but but then also just like how how 631 00:33:51,599 --> 00:33:55,519 how do you feel as a Republican candidate in that race, 632 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:58,279 being like, we're going to go after him for you 633 00:33:58,279 --> 00:34:02,759 know facing, you know, federal you know, corruption charges, and 634 00:34:02,799 --> 00:34:04,799 then all of a sudden the president in your own 635 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:09,880 party pardons him, and I think in some ways sort 636 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:12,039 of takes that issue off the table because now all 637 00:34:12,119 --> 00:34:15,159 Koair has to say is like, look, even your presidential 638 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:17,960 you know, the leader of your party is saying that 639 00:34:18,039 --> 00:34:20,159 this was a bs ridiculous thing. 640 00:34:20,199 --> 00:34:26,559 Speaker 1: I mean, it just particularly if you are gonna run again, 641 00:34:26,639 --> 00:34:29,639 as you likely are, as Henry Quaar has repeatedly like 642 00:34:30,039 --> 00:34:32,159 run to the middle right, and you're basically gonna say like, 643 00:34:32,159 --> 00:34:34,639 if you're a Republican, you can vote. You could like 644 00:34:34,679 --> 00:34:37,159 President Trump and vote for me. I could be Trump's 645 00:34:37,159 --> 00:34:41,239 guy in some ways, right, Like that's yeah, it has 646 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:43,880 really muddled that path, I think for the Republicans hoping 647 00:34:43,920 --> 00:34:45,760 to unseat him. 648 00:34:46,239 --> 00:34:47,400 Speaker 2: Okay, another. 649 00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:54,039 Speaker 1: The Texas twenty three Tony Gonzalez versus Brandon Herrera and 650 00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:56,599 last minute entt entrant. 651 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:01,639 Speaker 2: I hope I'm pronouncing its correctly, Kiko, that's right. 652 00:35:02,039 --> 00:35:06,400 Speaker 1: Keiko Consecco, former congressman who I saw on Twitter, responded 653 00:35:06,440 --> 00:35:11,400 to our Hurst colleague Bayliss Wagner, asking whether or not 654 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:16,000 he had entered the race in French, which I found interesting. 655 00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:18,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, fluent in French. 656 00:35:19,079 --> 00:35:21,280 Speaker 4: Well, he yeah, fluent in several languages. 657 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:23,360 Speaker 1: Fluent in several languages. If that's what you're voting on, 658 00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:26,000 you should know that. Yeah, how's that race looking? 659 00:35:26,679 --> 00:35:27,039 Speaker 3: Well? 660 00:35:27,559 --> 00:35:29,800 Speaker 5: I will say that when I called him yesterday, he 661 00:35:30,159 --> 00:35:33,079 said that he's kind of the mature Canada in this race. 662 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:35,159 Speaker 2: In English, in English. 663 00:35:35,719 --> 00:35:38,920 Speaker 5: And then after we hung up, he called me back 664 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:41,000 about five minutes later and said, I just want to 665 00:35:41,039 --> 00:35:42,960 be clear. When I said mature, I'm not talking about 666 00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:44,519 my wrinkles. I'm talking about. 667 00:35:47,320 --> 00:35:50,960 Speaker 2: Age and how that plays these days. 668 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:51,679 Speaker 4: Yeah. 669 00:35:51,679 --> 00:35:56,719 Speaker 5: I mean, you've got a ton of Gonzales. This is 670 00:35:56,760 --> 00:35:59,119 going to be his third term if he wins re election, 671 00:35:59,280 --> 00:36:03,000 third or fourth. But you know, he's been there. But 672 00:36:04,239 --> 00:36:08,880 Brandon Herrera, the YouTuber, the gun tuber, the ak guy, 673 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:13,760 second amendment activist. Uh, he took him to a runoff 674 00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:20,039 last year and nearly won. And that was before these 675 00:36:20,360 --> 00:36:24,440 allegations that are kind of looming over Tony Gonzalez that 676 00:36:24,519 --> 00:36:28,719 the Tribune has not confirmed that you know, he allegedly 677 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:32,280 had an affair with the staffer that has since passed away. 678 00:36:33,360 --> 00:36:38,280 I mean he has denied that very strong yes, but 679 00:36:38,440 --> 00:36:40,559 that is still looming over that race there. 680 00:36:40,639 --> 00:36:43,519 Speaker 1: I can certainly imagine that the Republican candidates are going 681 00:36:43,559 --> 00:36:45,280 to make that an issue, whether or not it's ever 682 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:46,480 borne out to be true. 683 00:36:46,360 --> 00:36:52,480 Speaker 5: Right, I mean, Brandon Herrera recently went after Gonzales for 684 00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:55,800 that for the first time in a fundraising pitch. 685 00:36:57,559 --> 00:36:57,760 Speaker 3: Yeah. 686 00:36:57,800 --> 00:37:01,199 Speaker 2: I mean, just that promises to be a very messy race. 687 00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:01,800 I think. 688 00:37:03,119 --> 00:37:06,639 Speaker 1: Another one that's sort of just the most complicated thing 689 00:37:06,639 --> 00:37:08,480 we've ever talked about, and every time we talked about it, 690 00:37:08,480 --> 00:37:12,440 I get a headache, which is Texas eighteen, where we. 691 00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:15,320 Speaker 2: Currently have a runoff for a special election. 692 00:37:16,039 --> 00:37:18,920 Speaker 1: That is a Houston district sometimes called the Barbara Jordan 693 00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:22,199 District that has been without representation for close to a 694 00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:23,280 year now. 695 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:26,519 Speaker 2: They have a runoff for that seat in. 696 00:37:28,559 --> 00:37:32,000 Speaker 1: Early next year, which is between the county attorney, Christian 697 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:37,079 Menafie and Amanda Edwards, former Harris. 698 00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:40,079 Speaker 5: County Houston Houston. 699 00:37:39,079 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 1: City Council thank you, and then they will again soon 700 00:37:43,039 --> 00:37:44,920 after that. They are one of them is elected, they 701 00:37:44,920 --> 00:37:46,760 will have to run again in the primary. They've both 702 00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:49,159 entered to run the primary for the sort of the 703 00:37:49,159 --> 00:37:52,440 permanent seat, and then confusing matters further, Al Green has 704 00:37:52,440 --> 00:37:53,800 stepped into that district. 705 00:37:55,400 --> 00:37:56,079 Speaker 2: Lionel Messy. 706 00:37:56,239 --> 00:38:01,079 Speaker 1: I think we can say, I mean poor in that district. 707 00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:05,000 Speaker 5: Yeah, it seems like Harris County gets that a lot, 708 00:38:05,039 --> 00:38:09,000 where they have to vote back to back to back 709 00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:12,239 to back to back. I mean, this is going to 710 00:38:12,280 --> 00:38:17,559 be you know, there was this special election when Sheila 711 00:38:17,679 --> 00:38:23,679 Jackson Lee died. They were concerned, they being Harris Kunty Democrats, 712 00:38:23,719 --> 00:38:25,519 they were concerned at the time that you know, that 713 00:38:25,639 --> 00:38:26,960 was going to go to a runoff and then they 714 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:30,480 just wouldn't have a member of Congress because the runoff 715 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:36,920 would have been after the next term. So Sheila Jackson 716 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:43,760 Lee's daughter, whose name I'm sorry, Erica Lee Lee. Oh 717 00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:45,599 my god, well I think she might go by Erica 718 00:38:45,679 --> 00:38:52,480 Jackson Lee. That's right. Yes, she kind of cleared clear 719 00:38:52,519 --> 00:38:55,559 the waters there. And then Sylvester Turner ran in the 720 00:38:56,119 --> 00:38:58,880 you know, the general got swapped in on the ticket, 721 00:39:00,119 --> 00:39:04,119 and then he passed away shortly after that, and so 722 00:39:04,199 --> 00:39:09,519 it's really been over a year that that's been vacant 723 00:39:09,559 --> 00:39:13,000 because I mean Sylvester Turner was there, but very briefly, right, right. 724 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:14,760 Speaker 1: I mean certainly it's been swapping hands in a way. 725 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:17,119 That's like people in that district have not had consistent 726 00:39:17,199 --> 00:39:20,079 representation really since Shila Jackson. 727 00:39:19,880 --> 00:39:20,960 Speaker 2: Lee passed away. 728 00:39:22,920 --> 00:39:25,599 Speaker 1: A couple other districts, just briefly, I mean, Texas fifteen 729 00:39:25,639 --> 00:39:28,719 we've got Monica de la Cruz versus Ada Quaar and 730 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:32,000 Bobby Polito, which will certainly get some eyes on that. 731 00:39:32,239 --> 00:39:36,920 And Texas thirty four the San die Gonzalez versus Erica 732 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:39,079 Flores and Myra Flores. 733 00:39:40,159 --> 00:39:45,840 Speaker 4: No relation, Yeah, yeah, Flora's and Flores. I mean, it's 734 00:39:45,920 --> 00:39:46,480 kind of funny. 735 00:39:46,480 --> 00:39:51,239 Speaker 5: We've got multiple former members of Congress who are running again. 736 00:39:51,599 --> 00:39:53,559 Speaker 2: Right, We've got a lot of a lot of people 737 00:39:53,599 --> 00:39:54,760 coming in already. 738 00:39:54,719 --> 00:39:59,760 Speaker 5: And then there'sco there's Dockman, and then there's Mayra Flores. 739 00:40:01,199 --> 00:40:03,119 Speaker 6: It's also interesting, as I'm just like sort of looking 740 00:40:03,119 --> 00:40:07,159 at this list, it does feel possible that we really 741 00:40:07,239 --> 00:40:12,679 lose a lot of kind of colorful elected officials in Texas. Right, Like, 742 00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:15,719 there is a scenario where Ken Paxson is no longer 743 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:18,840 an elected officials in Texas. Al Green is no longer 744 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:24,519 an elected official in Texas. Briscoe Caine is no longer 745 00:40:24,559 --> 00:40:27,559 elected official in Texas. Jasmine Crockett is no longer an 746 00:40:27,559 --> 00:40:29,920 elected official of Texas. Like some of the people that 747 00:40:30,000 --> 00:40:31,639 like get the Internet the most. 748 00:40:31,400 --> 00:40:34,239 Speaker 2: Excited, even James Tallerico, even James Talerico. 749 00:40:34,360 --> 00:40:37,159 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, we might not have anymore. 750 00:40:37,679 --> 00:40:38,960 Speaker 1: But then I look at this list and I look 751 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:40,840 at who's challenging that. But I think I think we're 752 00:40:40,880 --> 00:40:43,159 going to be okay. I'm not too worried about losing 753 00:40:43,199 --> 00:40:47,880 the drama. Brandon Herrera comes to mind. You know, I think, certainly, 754 00:40:48,840 --> 00:40:50,559 I don't think. I think the one thing we can 755 00:40:50,639 --> 00:40:53,599 guarantee right now is that Texas will end this election 756 00:40:53,719 --> 00:40:56,719 cycle with as much drama as it started this election cycle. 757 00:40:56,840 --> 00:41:01,599 Fair enough, that is basically what we are teed up 758 00:41:01,639 --> 00:41:03,760 for for the next three months of the primary or 759 00:41:03,800 --> 00:41:07,519 four months of the primary, and then several more months 760 00:41:07,599 --> 00:41:09,960 until the general election. It's going to be a very 761 00:41:09,960 --> 00:41:13,239 exciting twenty twenty six. If you want to follow along 762 00:41:13,320 --> 00:41:15,679 on all of the insider information, you can sign up 763 00:41:15,679 --> 00:41:18,320 for the Blast, where Renzo is the lead writer at 764 00:41:18,360 --> 00:41:22,159 support dot Texastribune dot org slash Blast. Rerenzo, thank you 765 00:41:22,199 --> 00:41:25,000 for joining us, well, thank you, Matthew, thank you as always. 766 00:41:25,440 --> 00:41:26,280 Speaker 2: That's it for today. 767 00:41:26,480 --> 00:41:28,880 Speaker 1: You can find all episodes of the Tribcast on YouTube 768 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:32,920 or wherever you find your podcasts. Be sure to like, subscribe, 769 00:41:32,920 --> 00:41:34,920 and share the podcast on all your platforms. If you'd 770 00:41:34,920 --> 00:41:36,440 like to get in touch with the team, you can 771 00:41:36,480 --> 00:41:40,280 reach us at Tribcast at Texastribune dot org. Our producers 772 00:41:40,320 --> 00:41:43,239 are Rob and Chris. Our theme music is composed by 773 00:41:43,320 --> 00:41:45,360 Rob and we will see you next week.