Sen. Ted Cruz dismissed idea that blue wave will impact re-election race

For example, if 10 Democrats enter but only two Republicans, and the vote is relatively equal, the Republicans could easily be the only ones on the general election ballot even if two-thirds of people vote for Democrats. “Sarah is a little more on the moderate side of the party”. Hillary Clinton beat Trump in all three districts in 2016, but Democratic primary runoffs may be necessary in all three races.

But while there were some successes down the political ladder, from first-time candidates running for state legislature and judgeships, the blue voter turnout seen in 2018’s first primaries demonstrated that it will be years before red-run Texas becomes politically purple, despite its diversifying demographics. That’s expected to continue this cycle despite any possible “Trump effect” because Democrats fielded little-known candidates against top Republicans, such as Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. That’s why there is so much pent-up passion for Beto, who is emblematic of the Democratic new wave, unabashedly liberal and well-financed.

Both parties will likely fight hard to claim open seats, particularly in two swing districts – House District 54 in Bend and Senate District 3 Southern Oregon. But totals in the primaries for U.S. Senate told a different story: More than 1.5 million people voted in the Republican primary, with close to 100 percent reporting, compared to about 1 million Democrats, also with a near 100 percent reporting.

O’Rourke has said in prior interviews that Cruz is tainted because he has received contributions from the NRA.

Cruz was the first choice of the Mercer family, the funders of Breitbart and other arch-conservative causes during the 2016 presidential primaries.

“Voters are certainly going to have more access than ever before and we think that’s a good thing”, said Woodhouse. “Here in OR, our county parties are fired up, and Democrats have a strong field of candidates running in every corner of the state”. Republicans responded in even larger numbers, passing 1.5 million, breaking the party record of 1.48 million set in 2010. That has left the Republican party searching for a replacement strong enough to defeat a Roy Moore-like rightwinger in an upcoming primary from which Cochran has chose to withdraw. She and Kathaleen Wall, a Republican mega-donor in Houston, were the only congressional candidates that Abbott endorsed in the primary. Elaine Phillips, a Republican from Long Island, said in a statement on her website that she wants to ban military-style assault weapons and bump stocks, and enact stricter background checks. “It’s a uniquely anti-Trump state, because it has a rare combination of diversity and a suburban professional class”. Yes, those were competitive primaries for Democrats while the GOP is running three incumbents who faced token opposition, but those districts are still in play – and they’re happening in the suburbs, where Trump’s approval rating is suffering.

Lupe Valdez, the former Dallas County sheriff, and Andrew White, son of late Gov. Mark White, will duke it out this spring over who will be on the November ballot against Abbott. Land Commissioner George P. Bush, the nephew of former President George W. Bush, and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. Many of those races are heading to runoffs in May.

Texas has a runoff primary system, meaning that if any candidate fails to win a majority of the votes, the top two will face a runoff election on May 22. While his seat is considered safe, he’s facing a challenge from Rep. Beto O’Rourke, a Democrat from the El Paso area. “The more democratic-friendly districts that they got the court to give them, unjustifiably in my opinion, will certainly result in a few democratic pickups”, said Woodhouse. “And I share some of those frustrations”.

“If Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats spent more time working with Republicans on infrastructure and less time thinking of new ways to raise taxes on hard-working Americans, we would be making more progress”, Barrasso said.

GOP operatives have gleefully watched the drama unfold. Texas hasn’t sent a new congresswoman of any ethnicity to Washington in 22 years.

Incumbent Pete Sessions received the Republican nomination for U.S. Representative District 32 with 2,418 votes (76.79 percent.) He will face off against the victor of the Democratic runoff between Allred and Shipp.