Republicans and Democrats line up to replace the late representative. Ron Wright
Pierson, Ron WrightGOP’s candidate for the Texas House race, backed by other North Korean representatives, Pierson, will not run in the Dallas area House. (R-Texas) in a special election that is seen as a possible slowdown in the ability of Democrats to rally enthusiasm in Texas and take advantage of its recent popularity in the suburbs.
Twenty-three candidates – 11 Republicans, 10 Democrats, one libertarian and one independent – have run in the May 1 election. Although the 6th Congressional District has been controlled by Republicans since the 1980s, Biden came within 3 points of investing the district, which is made up of the suburbs of Dallas-Fort Worth and the more rural counties of Ellis and Navarro.
“I think it’s a problem, but I think it’s still on the verge of becoming a kind of rocking district,” said Sawyer Hackett, a Texas-based Democratic strategist. “At last [five years] the district has been much more competitive, the state has become much more competitive ”.
A victory in the district would put Texas directly on the map for Democrats to decide where to invest money and energy in the midterm elections.
“It simply came to our notice then. I think the most important thing is if we are able to achieve that, that means it will be a democratic landslide, as if Texas is about to turn blue, ”said a Texas-based Democratic strategist.
The primaries will take place on May 1 and will be the first state election since Republicans dominated the up-and-down vote in November, destroying Democratic hopes of finally turning state blue. Wright won his district, one of the Democrats’ target races, in 2020 by about 9 points
Democrat Jana Lynne Sanchez, who lost to Wright by 12 points in 2018, is seen by many Democrats as the party leader. Sanchez credits her work as a previous candidate, as well as her involvement with Tarrant Together, an organization aimed at registering and involving Democrats, to have an advantage on the ground.
“I already have a high ID name, so it’s a little easier for me than for other candidates,” he told The Hill. “I don’t think it’s a field as full of people as people say. I think the May 1 voters will be pretty sophisticated voters. They will be people who will vote in the municipal and primary elections and will be waiting for the names of the candidates who know that they have a connection with the district and want to serve them ”.
On the Republican side of the race, Wright’s widow, Susan Wright, is seen as the first. The identification of Wright’s name and presence in the district are also considered advantages for his participation in the special elections.
“From the perspective of Tarrant County, [she] she’s really the only known candidate coming out of Tarrant, “said a Texas-based GOP strategist.” The good news for her is that she has no competition in Tarrant and is obviously still a county in its own right. quite robust participation “.
Democrats see some advantages in the race.
In addition to Ellis and Navarro counties, the Dallas area district also includes suburban portions of Tarrant County, a Democratic demographic that saw success in 2020. Demographic changes, especially in the state’s suburbs , have caused the most likely Democratic voters to move to the state. .
In addition, the past two months have been filled with negative coverage for Republicans. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has faced criticism for his leadership during the deadly February winter storm and power outage that affected the entire state. Critics, especially those in urban and suburban districts, have also hit Abbott for lowering coronavirus restrictions in the state, as public health officials urge Americans to be alert.
“Of course, that’s going to be a problem this particular way because it’s early,” Hackett said. “It’s coming to a close and Central Texas is deciding to reopen before these guidelines.”
Democrats also argue that the approval of Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which did not get a single Republican vote, will help the party in the district, given the plan’s popularity among voters.
“It simply came to our notice then Donald Trump
Donald Trump: The Hill’s Morning report, presented by Facebook, Biden will be launched, all the Oregon senator, COVID-19 relief legislator, takes the lead in the Democratic debate on filibuster Juan Williams: the envied deceived by Trump can’t hide his failures MOREThe name that printed it did not move at least some voters, “Hackett said.” The American people and the sixth district of Texas will see the impact of this bill. They will see the impact of the appearance of the good. government and good governance exclusively of Democrats in this case ”.
Still, Democrats warn that the race will likely be a challenging election for the party in a district that Cook’s political report described as Republican.
“The way we’re looking at this is that it’s going to be an uphill battle,” said the other Democratic strategist in Texas, who cited Republican advantages in special elections in Texas and across the country.
Republicans say they are confident in their chances before the election, and cite their historic advantage in the second-round races and in the already conservative-leaning district.
GOP strategists say their candidates should plan their insertion on cultural issues that remain important to rural voters, as well as on issues that affect more urban and suburban voters, such as the pandemic.
Texas-based GOP consultant Brendan Steinhauser called the conservative focus in rural areas like Ellis and Navarro “God, guns and babies,” but added that the pandemic worries more in more populated areas like Tarrant County .
“These cultural issues are already at the heart of what we can say, but urban areas are different; they talk about the pandemic, “Steinhauser said.” Those voters are those rocking voters. ”
Steinhauser openly supports Marine Corps Reserve veteran Michael Wood, who is a outspoken critic of Trump.
In his campaign launch video, Wood remarkably urged the Republican Party to “a cult of personality, a vehicle for a man’s ambitions and grievances.”
The field also includes Trump sponsors, including Sery Kim, who previously served as deputy administrator in the Office of Women’s Business Property in the Small Business Administration under the former president.
“I am running this race because I believe [the American dream] has been broken by the policies of Joe Biden
Joe Biden: The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Biden to be launched, all senator of COVID-19 relief law Oregon senator takes center stage in Democratic filibuster debate This week: Democrats observe the next step after the coronavirus relief bill wins MORE i Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi: The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Biden will launch and promote this COVID-19 relief law This week: Democrats observe next step after winning Biden coronavirus relief bill: research de Cuomo is up and running and we should see what brings us MORE“Kim told The Hill.
Retired professional fighter and Republican candidate Dan Rodimer put aside any concerns the Republican Party had about the district’s trend in blue, saying the party was unified.
“No. Republicans are strong and united – especially now,” Rodimer told The Hill. “We see the need for strong Conservative leadership, even in the disastrous few months of the Biden administration and those of the “They want to take our country in the wrong direction. It’s America First, not America Last!”
Steinhauser said the variety of candidates alongside the Republican Party “is a good thing” because of its diversity.
Ultimately, experts report that it is unclear what effect the outcome of the special elections will have in the interim periods, which are just under two years away.
“It’s hard to get anything out of a race that is so close to the last election or, more importantly, that is very far from the next one,” the other Republican Party strategist said.
“I think if you had to draw what would look like a county or a bellwether district, you would do it that way, but I also think you play a football game on a basketball court.”