It’s time for the week that was in Texas politics with The Texas Tribune’s multimedia reporter Alana Rocha.
Republican Congressman from Texas, Pete Olson, announced he will retire and not run for reelection in 2020. Now, Democrats are hoping to flip his seat. Rocha says the election could be similar to that of Beto O’Rourke’s success in flipping districts and suburbs across Texas in the 2018 midterm elections.
Also this week, Wendy Davis announced she will run to represent Texas’ 21st Congressional District, and try to unseat Republican Chip Roy who won in 2018. Roy was chief of staff for Sen. Ted Cruz. Rocha says Davis raised $250,000 in the first 24 hours of announcing her bid, which was half of what Roy raised in a three-month span.
“She has name recognition, she’s a darling of the Democrats, and so, while she has challengers in the primary, she’s likely to emerge as the favorite,” Rocha says.
As for the 2020 Senate race, Royce West announced this week that he’s running, joining fellow Democrats Amanda Edwards and MJ Hegar. All are hoping to beat incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Rocha says the 2018 election cycle emboldened Democrats to try to turn Texas “purple.”
“You have a whole cast of characters running for the Democratic nomination,” Rocha says.
Written by Chloe Bennett.
