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finnley's avatar
4hEdited

Progressive Virginia State Delegate Sam Rasoul will form an exploratory committee for Congress. Rasoul lives in Roanoke, which is currently in the solidly red sixth district but may be moved to a more Democratic district pending VA’s redistricting efforts:

https://cardinalnews.org/2025/12/08/rasoul-to-explore-run-for-congress-as-virginia-eyes-redrawing-district-lines/

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PollJunkie's avatar

This is going to be a big AIPAC/DMFI vs the Left primary.

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finnley's avatar
4hEdited

Colorado State Sen. Julie Gonzales of Denver will challenge Hickenlooper from the left:

https://x.com/SenadoraJulie/status/1998001252186378476

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PollJunkie's avatar

Will she have to resign to run? I believe this might just be a ploy to raise her name recognition for a future run.

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brendan fka HoosierD42's avatar

Colorado does not have a resign-to-run law.

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PollJunkie's avatar

and her re-election is in which cycle?

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brendan fka HoosierD42's avatar

Next year, she's term-limited.

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PollJunkie's avatar

Ahh so that's the reason.

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finnley's avatar

Colin Allred has dropped out of the race for Senate and will challenge incumbent Rep. Julie Johnson in the redrawn Tx-33:

https://x.com/ColinAllredTX/status/1998015894878830941

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MPC's avatar

So the TX-SEN primary race will be Crockett v. Talarico. A healthy primary is good!

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alienalias's avatar

He needs to demolish her to have enough funds for the general...

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MPC's avatar

I love Crockett, but Paxton or Cornyn would demolish her in the general. Talarico doesn't have that kind of oppo TX GOP could weaponize in the election.

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PollJunkie's avatar

I have lost my respect for Crockett, I believe as many on X do that she wants to run for President and will leverage the 2026 blue wave close margins for that end. Atleast Beto believed and still believes in what he says.

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MPC's avatar

I think Crockett would have a fighting chance in TX if it had a large plurality of Black metro voters like in Atlanta or Baltimore. She has to win over moderates and some squishy Rs who hate Cornyn/Paxton.

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PollJunkie's avatar

Paxton/Hunt. Cornyn is winning easily. His RINO perception helps him in the general.

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Mark's avatar

She'll lose by double digits even to Paxton.

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alienalias's avatar

She should run for Mayor of Dallas, a job with no duties and a high profile, which is all she wants.

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Ben F.'s avatar

Is there another district that Johnson can feasibly run in?

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bilboteach's avatar

DFW area went from 3 to 2 safe districts. Rep. Veasey is probably running in the 30th while Rep. Crockett is running for Senate. That leaves only the 33rd.

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Techno00's avatar

What is Allred even going to run on to distinguish himself from Johnson? They’re pretty ideologically similar.

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Mark's avatar

What's his thinking here? Is he doing this with the hopes of helping Crockett or helping Talarico?

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Henrik's avatar

My guess is the latter

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PollJunkie's avatar

Why didn't Allred run for LG or AG? Any guesses or inside info?

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Kevin H.'s avatar

Some politicians don't want to settle for such small jobs in their minds and also it's hard to win in Texas even in a potential blue wave so he probably doesn't want another loss on his record.

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PollJunkie's avatar

So, he wants to avoid Betofication? Texas's LG office has much more powers in the legislature compared to other states with Dan Patrick at very low approvals and hated by the Rogan crowd.

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tudor's avatar

There was a meeting back in like June of Castro, O'Rourke, Allred, and Talarico go create a well funded slate for LG, AG, Gov, and Sen - beto wanted to run for sen w allred for governor, talarico for LG and Castro for AG, but seemingly everyone thought they would be the best candidate for senate. Crockett apparently asked Allred to switch to governor recently but he'd already endorsed Ortiz-Jones. Its a huge wasted opportunity. Honestly its a shame those guys didnt invite Crockett, I dont think she would be the best candidate but its partially how this situation came about.

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2hEdited
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alienalias's avatar

She has zero polls saying she can win the general, so it is her fault.

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PollJunkie's avatar

I meant not the group's fault.

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alienalias's avatar

Right, agree. It probably would have been good to keep the whole federal delegation appraised rather than this pure backroom politics, which does come off as arrogant to those on the outside and could have helped with in-out pressure on forming such a slate. Crockett was not at all interested in a run, so it makes sense she wasn't in the insider talks, and I buy they considered reaching out to her for AG but it was "news to [her]" because obviously she would lose that too and the point of a slate is for everyone to be strong enough to win.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/07/politics/jasmine-crockett-texas-senate

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PollJunkie's avatar

Crockett has said she was encouraged to run after GOP and Democratic pollsters began including her in surveys—surveys she consistently led. She’s gained substantial popularity on YouTube and among liberal Boomers on Facebook. It’s not really anyone’s fault other than Crockett.

Allred may have endorsed Hinojosa, but it doesn’t change much—he could still frame his decision as doing what’s best for the team. The reality is that he and other Texas Democrats have been reluctant to challenge Abbott. Hell, Talarico had been saying for years—according to reports—that his dream was to become governor.

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alienalias's avatar

Gina Rodriguez is running for governor, Ortiz-Jones is the new mayor of San Antonnio.

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tudor's avatar

Were both wrong its hinojosa

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alienalias's avatar

oops lol

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alienalias's avatar

He can't use all the federal campaign funds he's raised in a state race and would have to completely start over all fundraising.

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PollJunkie's avatar

The $4.2 Million Question

How much of Bill White's federal war chest could be used in a race for governor? Most of it.

Nope, not true.

https://www.texastribune.org/2009/11/24/white-can-transfer-federal-campaign-money/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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hilltopper's avatar

Allred is going to run for the House in TX-33 against Dem. Julie Johnson. I wish he at least would have run statewide--preferably for AG.

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CKaye 🌞's avatar

I think it's super cute that a Repugnican actually thinks he has a chance of being governor of California.

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Josh's avatar

He does if republicans end up 1-2 in the primary.

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D Stone's avatar

Pleased to be an annual subscriber, keep writing the good write!

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Jeff Singer's avatar

Thank you, glad to have you!

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Diogenes's avatar

After Henry Cuellar filed for reelection to Congress as a Democrat, Donald Trump, who had pardoned Cuellar and his wife for serious corruption charges, lashed out at his "lack of loyalty." Trump slammed Cuellar for “continuing to work with the same Radical Left Scum that just weeks before wanted him and his wife to spend the rest of their lives in Prison - And probably still do!” Cuellar reaffirmed his identity as a Democrat, albeit one who supports Trump more often than some Republicans do. The pardon deprived the Republican candidate for Cuellar's seat, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina, of a major campaign issue.

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alienalias's avatar

Separating from the TX-Sen discussion in the other thread, is Allred going to sweep back into office or does Johnson still have a chance to keep the seat?

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