CORPUS CHRISTI (Nexstar) \u2014 In 1994, Democrat Bob Bullock was re-elected as the Texas Lieutenant Governor. He wasn\u2019t the only Democratic candidate elected that cycle, but he was the most prominent \u2014 as Governor Ann Richards lost her re-election bid to future President George W. Bush.<\/p>\n
Since then, the Democrats haven\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t see it that way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think at best it may be flat. I think I\u2019m peddling downhill,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Johnson complimented the Democratic party\u2019s Friday night speeches for being \u201cserious,\u201d painting a contrast from his opponent and colleague in the State Senate Mayes Middleton. Middleton\u2019s campaign adverts call him \u2018MAGA Mayes.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201c(Middleton) has led the charge against radical woke policies like DEI, ESG, Critical Race Theory, and allowing men in women\u2019s sports,\u201d his campaign website says.<\/p>\n
Johnson doesn\u2019t believe these are the issues voters care about.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are absolutely sick of the right-wing shenanigans. It\u2019s not helping them economically. The culture wars are tired,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the statewide candidate speeches at the Democratic had a strong focus on \u2018kitchen table\u2019 issues. The social topics they decided to weigh in heavily on: supporting abortion access and opposing the Trump administration\u2019s immigration enforcement policies.<\/p>\n
\u201c(President Franklin Delano Roosevelt)\u2019s new deal made homeownership a reality for millions of Americans\u2026 (and) gave working people the right to unionize,\u201d Democratic nominee for Governor Gina Hinojosa said during her Friday night speech. \u201cThese 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hubris or confidence?<\/p>\n
While Johnson\u2019s confidence appears to contradict the last three decades of history \u2014 there\u2019s 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 \u2014 despite his Republican predecessor Kelly Hancock winning by 20 points in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery place people would think a Republican candidate would win, the Democratic candidate is winning,\u201d Johnson said. Continuing his biking metaphor \u201cI\u2019m not just coasting downhill, I\u2019m having to peddle and watch for potholes, but I\u2019m looking forward to doing that and I think we can provide a great service to Texas if we succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u201csane\u201d choice \u2014 lambasting Democrats for their stances on certain culture war issues.<\/p>\n
\u201c10 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\u2026 that we had to pass laws to prevent our school educators from socially transitioning children behind children\u2019s backs, I would\u2019ve thought it was a joke,\u201d State Rep. Katrina Pierson, R-Rockwall, said Friday afternoon. \u201cBut here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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