WASHINGTON — The Texas Republican Party’s horrible week just got a little worse.
Today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced an unprecedented $100,000 commitment to the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee. The funds will help state Democrats hire staff and build infrastructure in one of next year’s newest and most competitive battlegrounds.
“Texas House Republicans’ days are numbered,” said DLCC President Jessica Post. “They see the writing on the wall. GOP state legislators are sprinting to the exits and the exodus shows no signs of slowing down.”
“Texas is one of our top targets next year,” Post added. “We’re making early investments so that we can hold Republicans accountable for their years of failed leadership.”
In 2018, Texas Democrats made strong gains across the state and flipped 12 seats in the House, just 9 seats short of a majority. In that year’s Senate election, Beto O’Rourke won 9 districts currently held by Republicans. The GOP carried 17 districts by mere single digits, giving Democrats an ample list of targets as they work to win control for the first time since 2002.
“Texas is a battleground state. We saw it in 2018 when we picked up 12 seats and came incredibly close in a number of others,” said Representative César Blanco (D-El Paso), chair of the HDCC. “The DLCC has a track record of success and I’m glad to have them as a partner as we work to provide real solutions for all Texans and take back the Texas House.”
The approaching elections are already encouraging a number of Texas Republicans to take an early retirement. Elected officials up and down the ballot are throwing in the towel, with three U.S. Representatives announcing their retirements in recent weeks. The wave of departures is the clearest indicator that the once-mighty GOP is feeling the state slip away from them.
“Democrats remain united and focused on one goal: flipping Texas blue next year,” said Post. “Come 2020, we’ll be ready to compete across the Lone Star State and finish what was started last year.”
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