CORPUS CHRISTI (Nexstar) — In 1994, Democrat Bob Bullock was re-elected as the Texas Lieutenant Governor. He wasn’t the only Democratic candidate elected that cycle, but he was the most prominent — as Governor Ann Richards lost her re-election bid to future President George W. Bush.

Since then, the Democrats haven’t won a single major race where all Texans had a say. Between elections for Governor, Lt. Gov., Attorney General, U.S. Senate, Comptroller, Agriculture Commissioner and Public Lands Commissioner Republicans have gone 53-for-53.

With such a hefty losing streak, the conventional wisdom is that breaking the cycle of defeat is an uphill battle. But Texas Democratic nominee for Attorney General Nathan Johnson doesn’t see it that way.

“I think at best it may be flat. I think I’m peddling downhill,” he said.

Johnson complimented the Democratic party’s Friday night speeches for being “serious,” painting a contrast from his opponent and colleague in the State Senate Mayes Middleton. Middleton’s campaign adverts call him ‘MAGA Mayes.’

“(Middleton) has led the charge against radical woke policies like DEI, ESG, Critical Race Theory, and allowing men in women’s sports,” his campaign website says.

Johnson doesn’t believe these are the issues voters care about.

“People are absolutely sick of the right-wing shenanigans. It’s not helping them economically. The culture wars are tired,” he said.

Meanwhile, the statewide candidate speeches at the Democratic had a strong focus on ‘kitchen table’ issues. The social topics they decided to weigh in heavily on: supporting abortion access and opposing the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

“(President Franklin Delano Roosevelt)’s new deal made homeownership a reality for millions of Americans… (and) gave working people the right to unionize,” Democratic nominee for Governor Gina Hinojosa said during her Friday night speech. “These were historic wins that created opportunity that built the middle class. These were our proudest days as Democrats. They were our defining days as Democrats. But we have lost the plot. I will say it plainly because somebody in this party has to.”

Hubris or confidence?

While Johnson’s confidence appears to contradict the last three decades of history — there’s reasons to believe Democrats have momentum entering November. In March, more Texans cast a vote in the Democratic primary than in the Republican primary. In a special election for State Senate this January, Democrat Taylor Rehmet won by 14 points — despite his Republican predecessor Kelly Hancock winning by 20 points in 2022.

“Every place people would think a Republican candidate would win, the Democratic candidate is winning,” Johnson said. Continuing his biking metaphor “I’m not just coasting downhill, I’m having to peddle and watch for potholes, but I’m looking forward to doing that and I think we can provide a great service to Texas if we succeed.”

However, Republicans also feel confidence given their strong track record of success. During their counterprogramming event on Friday night, a quartet of Republican State Reps tried to paint themselves as the “sane” choice — lambasting Democrats for their stances on certain culture war issues.

“10 years ago if you had told me that Texas lawmakers would have to statutorily define what a woman is just because radical Democrats have decided to throw basic biology out of the window… that we had to pass laws to prevent our school educators from socially transitioning children behind children’s backs, I would’ve thought it was a joke,” State Rep. Katrina Pierson, R-Rockwall, said Friday afternoon. “But here we are.”

Due to the early timing of Texas primaries, both parties and their candidate still have 130 days to convince voters before the midterms on Nov. 3.

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