General Discussion

yellowdogintexas

(23,682 posts)

123. In Texas, we don't register by party so voters can vote in either primary

Thu Mar 12, 2026, 11:50 PM

Thursday

There is only one rule: If you vote in say the Republican Party you are considered "allied " with the Republican party until the next primary in 2 years, which is only really important if there is a runoff because we can only vote in the runoff for the party we voted for in the original vote.

However, if the voter did not vote in the primary, it is OK to vote in either primary.

There is no Independent primary. Primary flippers drive Precinct Chairs nuts because the #1 way to find Democrats is the party they choose in the primary!! The ones which either trick us by going to the other party (for really stupid reasons) or skip the primary entirely just make me want to throw things

Having said all that we can't tell from the vote how independents went. I get the impression from comments on his FB, Insta, Threads etc accounts that Independents like him. I think he drew a lot of votes from them. He certainly impressed out of state folks, many of whom sent him money.

The best thing about the primary was the turnout in the Mexican community. The RIo Grande Valley has been trending red (at least at the top of the ticket) for the past couple of cycles. Well this year he blew it out of the water there and in the heavily Hispanic areas in the Big 6 metropolitan areas. He put in a lot of work in the valley and it showed in the turnout and the results.

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What are the theories as to why Talarico beat Crockett? [View all] LAS14 Mar 4 OP

More Democrats liked him. DavidDvorkin Mar 4 #1

Why? nt LAS14 Mar 4 #2

Texas Democrats seem to be moderate Polybius Mar 4 #3

According to the Bulwark, Talarico is to the left of Crocket on some issues. iemanja Mar 5 #27

It may come down to style karynnj Mar 4 #12

It was not difficult for me as I have been on Team Talarico since the first time I saw him in person yellowdogintexas Mar 5 #65

What's his appeal among Independents? Metaphorical Mar 5 #103

In Texas, we don't register by party so voters can vote in either primary yellowdogintexas Thursday #123

More progressive and a good speaker womanofthehills Mar 5 #88

I dont know this is entirely true. Texas has an open primary, and his support was boosted by a lot of self described SSJVegeta Mar 5 #52

Because he has a much better shot of getting elected Phoenix61 Mar 4 #4

This is what people are not realizing gay texan Mar 4 #8

Misogyny and racism were probably big factors. Probatim Mar 4 #17

Beto famously quipped "Yes, we are coming for your guns" or something to that effect. harumph Mar 5 #42

THIS!!!!!! hamsterjill Mar 5 #55

His victory speech indicated that he plans to go all out DemocracyForever Mar 5 #75

Just like Katy Porter in California, her ambitions got way ahead of her experience calguy Mar 4 #11

I think they'll both be back. DemocracyForever Mar 5 #76

I hope you're right. I like both of them. calguy Mar 5 #96

As opposed to Talarico? dpibel Mar 5 #106

I knew my comment would trigger some DUers, but if you've read my previous comments... calguy Mar 6 #119

Very odd dpibel Mar 6 #121

You can read into it any way you want calguy Mar 6 #122

Actually I'm glad she ran. It shined a spotlight on them both, and they both shine well. LAS14 Mar 5 #24

Also good at raising Crockett's national profile even more. YodaMom2 Mar 5 #66

Independents or swing voters voted in the Democratic primary, and they voted for Talarico. everyonematters Mar 4 #5

Indies are increasingly the deciding factor Amishman Mar 5 #94

That's why we need to be constantly aware of them and what they are thinking. everyonematters Mar 5 #97

They seem very fickle to me. I volunteer and I will catch a few and sometimes a month after the primary LeftInTX Mar 5 #108

More votes? Fiendish Thingy Mar 4 #6

Did Crockett start after Talarico? I thought she was the first? nt LAS14 Mar 4 #13

Nope she declared on December 8, the filing deadline Fiendish Thingy Mar 4 #15

Crockett declared 3 months after Talarico pinkstarburst Mar 5 #25

It felt like she was desperately looking for a place to run. hamsterjill Mar 5 #61

What I don't understand is her district is very Democratic leaning karynnj Mar 5 #79

The whole state of Texas voted for the Talarico/Crockett race. hamsterjill Mar 5 #83

I should have been clearer karynnj Mar 5 #91

Thank you for the clarification. hamsterjill Mar 5 #92

He announced in Sept; Crockett didn't enter until Dec - TBF Mar 5 #74

No. He's been running since last summer. LeftInTX Mar 5 #107

He got more votes Raven123 Mar 4 #7

Has anyone ventured an opinion .. ? Ummm? Before, during and after .. ? stopdiggin Mar 4 #9

People need to understand social media doesn't mean voters Sympthsical Mar 5 #29

wouldn't disagree with most of that. and - you know your subject better than I do. - - -(nt)- stopdiggin Mar 5 #36

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Mar 4 #10

JT ran a hell of a campaign and is a unique political talent JCMach1 Mar 4 #14

FWIW, JC may not take on Cruz TexasBushwhacker Mar 5 #40

My thought is that Texas is still conservative by in large EdmondDantes_ Mar 4 #16

Let me guess csusan Mar 4 #18

Yep. Just one of these variables is enough to sink someone in the US. Irish_Dem Mar 5 #30

Also, Talarico us VERY good at the southern religion thing ms liberty Mar 5 #44

Yes if he can do the Bible-babble it is a big plus for him. Irish_Dem Mar 5 #45

Latinos broke heavily for him Rstrstx Mar 4 #19

To me, he was more comfortable in diverse media mr715 Mar 4 #20

do we have to say the quiet part out loud? dsp3000 Mar 4 #21

Barbara Jordan. ColoringFool Mar 5 #23

People keep mentioning Barbara Jordan pinkstarburst Mar 5 #26

As an old fart who was a big fan of Barbara Jordan. hamsterjill Mar 5 #64

Jordan never ran a state wide campaign. LeftInTX Mar 5 #109

Texas demographics: Hispanics outnumber African-Americans in Texas Jack Valentino Mar 5 #22

He absolutely crushed it with Hispanics, which are a large portion of Texas Democrats. bearsfootball516 Mar 5 #28

Because Crockett didn't have a prayer in November BeyondGeography Mar 5 #31

Easy... GiqueCee Mar 5 #32

Ran a better campaign, messaging that connects with the moment pinkstarburst Mar 5 #33

Crockett was in the Texas legislature prior to the US House MichMan Mar 5 #41

And he's STILL more experienced than her pinkstarburst Mar 5 #43

You are correct; 8 years of experience in a state house is considerably more than 2 in a state house and 3 in US House MichMan Mar 5 #60

Someone is using fuzzy math LeftInTX Mar 5 #113

Crockett hasn't served two full terms yet MichMan Mar 5 #114

So does Talarico! He isn't finished with his 4th term! LeftInTX Mar 5 #116

7 years compared to 5 in experience is negligible IMO MichMan Mar 5 #117

Talerico won a special/general election in Nov 2018. Jasmine won her state house election in Nov 2020 LeftInTX Mar 5 #111

What do you make of it? Torchlight Mar 5 #34

this didn't help DoBW Mar 5 #35

talarico is a WHITE MALE rampartd Mar 5 #37

And how did Hillary? One of the best brains of our generation vs. a blob of pond scum. And the Scrivener7 Mar 5 #102

He got a large part of the base leftstreet Mar 5 #38

They like Rebl2 Mar 5 #39

Oh, c'mon. We all know why him over her. You are right. They DO like his demeanor and delivery better. Scrivener7 Mar 5 #54

Well Rebl2 Mar 5 #98

Religious is different from leading with your religion. His image is all about his religion. Scrivener7 Mar 5 #99

Her trip to Israel in 23 lost her young progressives womanofthehills Mar 5 #90

Black woman obamanut2012 Mar 5 #46

He appeals to a wide variety of people throughout all spectrums of the base with his style, really. FascismIsDeath Mar 5 #47

Exactly, so people only had a stylistic choice JCMach1 Mar 5 #77

Yea thats part of it. But Talarico has a certain type of charisma no matter who he was running against. FascismIsDeath Mar 5 #82

Answers question with questions GusBob Mar 5 #48

He is a more appealing candidate to the voters in Texas? nt LexVegas Mar 5 #49

It's Texas after all awesomerwb1 Mar 5 #50

If defeating fascism is the goal, biocube Mar 5 #51

You are pushing white male identity politics Quiet Em Mar 5 #70

It's Texas. He's an openly religious white man. I don't like it, but if it gets him elected, I'll take it for now. Scrivener7 Mar 5 #53

Exactly. hamsterjill Mar 5 #58

No public bus will drop you at your door. You hop on the one that gets you closest. Scrivener7 Mar 5 #59

That's a good way of looking at it. hamsterjill Mar 5 #62

I should have said it's not original. I read it somewhere. But it's so true. And so much what some Scrivener7 Mar 5 #63

PEOPLE ARE SICK OF DRAMA & JUST WANT SOMEONE WHO CAN UNIFY, NOT POLARIZE Tim S Mar 5 #56

Who had more campaign money? Emile Mar 5 #57

Lack of a groundgame LetMyPeopleVote Mar 5 #67

His ground game was better... Alansworld Mar 5 #68

Crockett did not appeal to as broad a base as Talarico. hamsterjill Mar 5 #69

How come this principal doesn't seem to apply to magats? LAS14 Mar 5 #71

I don't understand what you're asking me. hamsterjill Mar 5 #73

I was just thinking about how the GOP is caught in a strangle hold... LAS14 Mar 5 #86

But the moderate Republicans (at least the ones that *I* mentioned) ARE thinking about the General. hamsterjill Mar 5 #89

Scared? TBF Mar 5 #72

he's a man. Brainstormy Mar 5 #78

He was in the race long before Crockett and voters liked him and stuck with him Jersey Devil Mar 5 #80

All out of troll food here Pisces Mar 5 #81

How so? Scrivener7 Mar 5 #100

Simple. More Texas Democrats Voted for Him. MineralMan Mar 5 #84

That's a ridiculous thing to post in a conversation board. LAS14 Mar 5 #87

Talarico judged his electorate more accurately DFW Mar 5 #85

What hasn't been mentioned here... carpetbagger Mar 5 #93

He's been on the talk show circuit lately xmas74 Mar 5 #95

he was perceived as having a better shot at the repuke establishment in Texas Skittles Mar 5 #101

1) white Conjuay Mar 5 #104

I'm sure it was Jesus. DJ Synikus Makisimus Mar 5 #105

The republican controlled state shenanigans. Blue Full Moon Mar 5 #110

Jasmine enid602 Mar 5 #112

Yes, Texas legislature has not been in session since early Sept 2025. LeftInTX Mar 5 #118

He was in the face first, it's Texas and it appears that his approach was appealing to a lot Texans Jbraybarten Mar 5 #115

The 24 point swing after Colbert interview krawhitham Mar 6 #120