Could A Third-Party Candidate Win A Senate Seat in Texas?

This week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune.

By Rhonda FanningJanuary 6, 2017 1:06 pm,

It’s time to talk about the week that was in Texas politics. Emily Ramshaw, editor-in-chief of the Texas Tribune, spoke with the Standard today to talk about what’s been going on across the state.Matthew Dowd, an Austin-based television news commentator and former

Matthew Dowd, former George W. Bush strategist and television news commentator, said he might consider running for Sen. Ted Cruz’s seat. And if he does, he’ll run as an Independent – despite many associating him with the Republican party in the past.

“In the last election cycle [Dowd] has really urged more independent movement and has said if he were elected to the senate, he would not caucus with either the Democrats or the Republicans,” Ramshaw says.

The question is, can a third-party candidate succeed in Texas?

” I think you have to have a big name but historically, even big names in Texas and elsewhere have not done that well on the Independent ticket,” she says.

What you’ll hear in this segment: 

-The potential challengers for Sen. Ted Cruz’s seat

-Lt. Gov Dan Patrick’s intent to rename the “bathroom bill”

-An update on the fetal remains legislation in Texas