Gang, we have a lot to unpack and analyze from Tuesday night’s stunning midterm election, so I believe I’ll take it on a little at a time.
That said, I’ll start with the obvious, which is the Democratic victory in several statewide races.
It has been a minute or two since Democrats won anything statewide in Texas. The midterm results made up for a whole lot of lost ground. James Talarico is heading to the U.S. Senate, pummeling Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Gina Hinojosa is the first Latina elected governor, ending Greg Abbott’s reign at three terms. Vicki Goodwin knocked off GOP Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to take the reins of power in the Texas Senate. Down-ballot races fell to Democrats.
Did anyone really see any of this coming? I didn’t think so.
What we likely learned from last night’s bloodbath is that Texans are sick and tired of corruption in government. For too long, Texas GOP voters gave their peeps a pass on these matters. Paxton is as dirty a pol as one can find. He got indicted his first year as AG; he was impeached by members of his own Republican Party; several top aides quit, citing allegations of corruption, including bribery; his wife, Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, divorced him on “biblical grounds,” and we all know that means.
So long, Ken.
We also learned that Donald Trunp’s touch doesn’t turn everything to gold. It turned endorsees this year to crap!
It’s a new day in Austin. And in Washington. Texas Democrats now must govern. May they learn quickly how to do what their forebears did so well in the old days.