I’ll be ecstatic to see either Crockett or Talarico in the US Senate, or any good Democrat from Texas. The state has a history of voting strong black women into office - Barbara Jordan and Sheila Jackson Lee — into congress, but none that I know of have ever run, let alone won, a statewide office. It is the state that gave us Juneteenth.
Out of 14 US black US Senators in history, these were elected in states with high percentage African American populations:
*Raphael Warnock in Georgia (33% AA)
*Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland (32% AA)
*Tim Scott in South Carolina (27% AA, ‘R’)
These are from moderate percent AA populations:
*Cory Booker in New Jersey (15% AA)
*Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware (22%).
*Barack Obama (16% AA, strongly Democratic state)
*Carol Moseley Braun in Illinois (16% AA, strongly Democratic state)
And low percentage AA populations, but wonderfully liberal states:
*Kamala Harris from California (6% AA)
*Edward Brooks from Massachusetts (7% AA, ‘R’)
If Jasmine Crockett gets elected, she will do so in spite of the fact that Texas has only a 12% AA population, widespread voter suppression, and an anti-Democratic state government.
A general election win by either Crockett or Talarico would expand the art of the possible for Democrats. Crockett has fought publicly very well, memorably, against the Trump administration and she cuts through GOP BS narratives incisively like a knife through butter. Talarico has a potential of changing the narrative in the sleepy heads of Texans who have equated Christianity with the Republican Party for too long, he could give some an excuse they need to change teams.
I agree with this writer that they are both ‘more than qualified’. https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5650393-faith-politics-texas-senate/
“The stage is set for a Democratic primary with a Texan who is trying to convince Texans to love all their neighbors versus a Texan who refuses to turn the other cheek. Both candidates are more than qualified; the question is which one will resonate with independents and moderate Republicans. Although Crockett might do better with the Democratic base (let’s be honest, everyone loves a fighter), Talarico might force Texans to really dial down into their intersection of faith and politics.“
The one thing we do NOT need is a loss, because we need every Senate seat we can get, and we need to help Democrats regain strength in Texas.
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