It appears Democrats will need the Lone Star State to come through for them if they hope to win back the Senate next year.
As POLITICO reports,the electoral map is so grim for the Dems that they’re relying on taking Ted Cruz’s Senate seat from the G.O.P. But the odds of a victory are long in the traditionally Republican stronghold of Texas.
However, the Democrats got a shot of adrenaline this week when popular three-term House Rep. Beto O’Rourke announced he would run for the seat. O’Rourke, who represents El Paso, is a Spanish-speaking former rock musician and internet impresario, and he maintains a loyal following in the southwestern part of the state.
Democrats insist that Senator Cruz’s focus on becoming president has hurt him, and they say his seat is vulnerable. And with O’Rourke in the running and a historically unpopular Republican president in the White House, they’re starting to think they have a shot.