cross over to the Dem primary and bolster Jasmine Crockett because Talarico looks so electable they are scared to death of him. I love them both and will support either in the general.Both Crockett and Talarico have made personal appearances in our town--it's very interesting how so many more state wide candidates have come to our community this cycle. It could just be that Dems actually have some hope of winning after 30 years of disastrous policies under Republican rule.

I think that the system allows the voter to choose, in this case, among the 5 top candidates in the two primaries.

If a Republican is voting strategically, he or she would vote for Cornyn, as Paxton weakens the Republican chances.

I would agree with you if Cornyn was running for reelection unopposed, then the perceived weaker Dem candidate may be considered. But in this case, a Republican voter looking forward to the General Election needs to knock out Paxton.

I also think you overlook the double digit unfavorable for Trump. As a result, those Dem voters are looking to flip this state.

There are 4 choices for a voter, as I see it. If you are a MAGA Republican, you're taking a Republican ballot and voting for Paxton. You're not risking voting in the Democratic primary for someone you don't like, while your kindred spirit in in a close fight on your own side. If you're a moderate Republican looking to save the Senate seat, you're voting for Cornyn. If you're a moderate Republican or Moderate Democrat who wants to send Trump a message, you're voting for Talarico. If you're a Progressive Democrat and want to send Trump and the Dem leadership a message, Crocket is your candidate. I don't see crossing over for strategic reasons when there are such diverse choices in very close elections

But I see zero motivation for why republicans would be voting for Talarico *at this point.* Independents, sure. He has a lot of appeal with independents.

But republicans are definitely going to cross over and try to get Crockett through to the general. There is zero chance that red state Texas is electing a Black woman and everyone (except apparently posters on DU who aren't from Texas and are pushing this idea so hard) knows it. They saw what just happened with Taylor Rehmet, a blue collar democrat who just flipped a "safe red" Texas State Senate seat. With the right candidate at the right time, they could be in real trouble, and Talarico, especially if he's running against sleazy Paxton, could give them a run for their money.

I know, I couldn't believe it either.

But if you look at my OP and click on the first link, it's all there.

This is not how voting works in Texas. You can vote in the democratic primary OR the republican primary. You cannot vote in both. Where it is possible to cross over is that they do not care how I voted in previous elections. So I have voted democrat for 30 years. But I could choose to vote in the republican primary this year, rather than the democratic primary. But not both. Then in two years, I could go back to voting in the democratic primary. That's why we have a problem. Some voters cross over to try to get the candidate that will be easiest to beat (Crockett, in this instance) through to the general so that their side will win, especially if they don't particularly care about the outcome of their own race.

Personally, I think both Cornyn and Paxton are awful. Paxton is worse because he's an adulterer and a crook, but if I were a republican, maybe I would be thinking that I didn't really like or dislike either of them more than the other and it was most important to make sure SOME republican won in November, so use my primary vote to push Jasmine through, since sadly, there is a bigger chance of pigs flying than racist redneck Texas electing a black woman. Talarico is concerning to them. He flipped his solid red district to win his seat and they're worried he'll do it again.

There are 5 top candidates. BEFORE I choose a ballot, Rep or Dem. I can select one of the 5 candidates in my mind. If, for example, I choose Talarico, then naturally I pick a Dem. ballot. If I want to vote for Cornyn, then I pick a Rep. ballot.

I'm not saying that there is no a chance of cross over voting to pick a weaker candidate in the opposing party. But not in this election. Both elections are competitive and there are too many choices.

If, as is most likely, the Dems have a candidate win outright in March, but the Repukes are headed to a Paxton, Cornyn runoff in May, then boy, the shoe will definitely be on the other foot.

One will definitely be headed for the November general election after the primary in March. Allred dropped out in December.

there is a third candidate in the Dem. primary, Ahmed Hassan. He is polling at two percent. As I said in my reply, there should be an outright winner in the Dem primary, hence the phrase "most likely". But it is theoretically possible, in a close enough primary, that there is a Dem runoff. I think the betting markets have it an 18% possibility. That's not a lot, but it's not nothing.

Again, as the title of my post stated, I know what I'm talking about.

I did not recall seeing his name on the ballot when I voted.

There are 4 choices for a voter, as I see it. If you are a MAGA Republican, you're taking a Republican ballot and voting for Paxton.

I know you only get one ballot with only the names of your party on it.

I am not confused with the Jungle Primaries in California or Louisianna.

I'm from Massachusetts. It is an "open partisan primary system", but not as open as Texas. In Massachusetts Dems only get a Dem ballot and Rep only get a Rep. ballot. But unenrolled (Independents) can choose either one of the primary ballots

New York and Pennsylvania are "closed" primaries and only enrolled party members get to vote in primaries. Independents can't vote in primaries at all.

Texas is the first time I've heard that anyone can choose either ballot.

As you can tell, I'm pretty knowledgeable of most state primaries.

Jasmine Crockett was elected to the u.s. house of reps. She also was state rep for the 100th district in texas before being elected to the u.s. house of reps. So it is more than possible that she could be elected.
I have already voted, and while I am not too impressed with Mr. Talarico, if the Dem voters decide he is the nominee, then come November, I will most likely vote for him.

There's no evidence it happens with any frequency and the Republicans have their own heated primary race.

True, you can vote in either primary, but you cannot vote in both. You can vote for ONE candidate in each race on the ballot you choose to vote on. And don't be so certain Paxton won't win. Texans love to vote for crooks. Just look at our track record for the last 30 years. I'm not overlooking anything. I know this state. I was not surprised when it became obvious that TSF was implicated in the Epstein files that those that once screamed so loudly about them would find a way to rationalize TSF's behavior. We are going to have to work our asses off to flip this state no matter TSF's unfavorability.

since those Republican primary voters are among the most extremist in the entire country!

They are going to nominate Paxton, and reject Cornyn, although it may go to a run-off....

They'll reject Cornyn because he is "less of a magat" than Paxton---
for one thing, he's never been accused of committing a felony, as far as I know,
and being charged with a felony is a 'badge of honor' for maggot voters!!!


As for the Democratic primary, I now hope that Talarico wins it---
my angry side would like to see Crockett as the Senator from Texas,
but my 'strategic' side would prefer to see Talarico as the party nominee
for that office, ESPECIALLY against Paxton!


(A Democratic Majority in the U.S. Senate is much more important than
the strengths or faults or 'fighting spirit' of any one senator or potential senator...
Now I wish that Crockett had chosen to stay and make a fight to retain her House seat!)

and vote in dem primaries, but in this case, they won't be voting for Talarico. They're voting for Crockett, knowing she's the far easier one to beat if she advances to the general. They're scared to death of Talarico winning the primary because he has crossover appeal and actually flipped a solid red district in order to win his seat. Crockett has only ever been elected in safe blue districts.

In Texas, you do not register to vote by party. Texas is an open primary each voting cycle but once you vote in one party's primary, you are locked into that party's primary for the rest of the two-year voting cycle. That means that if you vote in one party primary for the first round of voting, then you cannot vote in the other party primary for any runoff races. Many local races are non-partisan and there are no primaries but there are usually runoffs if no candidate gets a majority of the vote. There may have been some cross over voters in the past, but Texas has not elected a Democrat to statewide office in about 30 years and so most people stay in their own party primary. Here there are competitive races in the US Senate seat for both parties and so I doubt that there is much crossover. From what I have seen of the GOP senate polling, it is very likely that there will be a runoff in the GOP Senate primary race. If a GOP voter crossed over to vote in the Democratic primary, then that voter will not be able to vote in the GOP senate runoff.

One of the factors that give me hope that Texas is slowly turning blue is the demographic composition of GOP voters. Texas is getting more urban and younger which is not good for the GOP

Link to tweet

...if they don't want us old boomers deciding their fate. If it were up to this old boomer, their lives would be a lot better!

Paxton and Cornyn seem to be competing over who can show greater loyalty to Trump, while their base remains silent. At the same time, the Democratic side has two stellar candidates, yet much of the local commentary relies on overtly speculative interpretations treated as if they were definitive conclusions and absolutes.

Tom Delay? Another POS!😡

While I have already voted for Talarico, I would be very happy to support Crockett if she is the nominee. Texas Democrats are blessed with two amazing persons running for this seat which is why the polling has been all over the place.

Link to tweet

Here is the latest average of the polling

Link to tweet

These numbers are all within the margin of error and so I would not be surprised to see either candidate emerge as the nominee. Again, Texas Democrats are blessed with two amazing candidates and we will be fortunate to have either candidate be our nominee to run against hopefully Paxton.

...crossover to vote for her. But then that leaves their preferred choice of Republican vulnerable.


So: choices choices! 🤔

Let me help you out.

Primaries - we choose either a democratic or republican ballot. We have no registration system, and that choice is only good for that particular primary vote (and accompanying runoffs, if any). Then in fall we go to the regular election and vote for whoever we want.

That's it - and despite all the elaborate schemes that DUers are positing this week (especially by OPs who don't live anywhere near TX), our biggest issue is that most people don't even vote in the primary, so a small number of partisan folks are making the choice for everyone.

I've lived in this state over 20 years, near a major city, and I have no idea who will win. I have seen in social media comments this week that Paxton is mentioned a lot. But, then again, Cornyn has big name appeal so if he is able to hold, he is going to be very tough to beat.

As for the dem side, polls have been all over the place. I wouldn't hazard a guess. We'll see what happens.

primary the likeliness of repubs wanting to make some tiny statement by voting in the Dem primary is even lower. Especially since the only 2 races on the long ballot they would even give a whit about are between Crockett and Talarico.

I am learning about the Texas Primary. I understand that anyone can choose whichever ballot they want (but just one) in a primary.

The fact I don't live anywhere near Texas, I, just as any other American, is impacted by the outcome.

I live, currently, 11 months a year in the Philippines, but lived 70 years in Massachusetts. I still vote as an American overseas. The Senate outcome in this mid-terms affects everyone I know in America.

House and Senate elections affect us all. I would agree with you if the election was for Governor or Mayor. That's none of my business. But a 51-49 Dem Senate majority, or a 50-50 tie effects everyone in the world.

However, you bring up a good point, as we non-Texans try to learn the nuances of your primary system. If I choose a Dem ballot in the March primary, can I choose a Rep. ballot in the May runoff?

You can only vote in the party you choose in the primary. You hold that distinction for one year and can only vote in that initial primary choice for the rest of the calendar year.

So, if you vote in the Dem primary and there is no Dem runoff, you cannot then choose a Rep ballot for that party's runoff.

It all resets in the next year.

After reading this, very few Rep. will choose a Dem ballot in March, thereby nullifying their ability to get a Rep. ballot for the inevitable Rep runoff in May.

When you pick your side, you're locked in for any run-offs that year - and I agree 100% with your assessment. We could have runoffs for either party, but I do think republican side is more likely. Cornyn, Paxton, and Hunt are all getting votes.

Insider knowledge - they publish all our names/addresses publicly (at least in my county) - and then you get campaign mailers from that party for everything upcoming as well ... annoying!

I find the rules fascinating. I actually like them a lot. They let everyone vote' but kinda prevent mischief by locking the voter in for that year.

The rules seem to work in Talarico's favor and makes me think he is more likely to win the Primary and General.

We have people who normally don't vote in primaries voting. Who knows how they lean? Then we've got the predictable:
Republican president: "I'm gonna vote for Democrats".
Democratic president, "I'm gonna vote for Republicans".