Despite Touting Texas As A Key Target, Democrats Can’t Find Anyone To Run For Governor

August 9, 2017

The Democratic Governors Association has talked a big game on turning Texas blue – even going as far to label the 2018 governor’s race as a “key target” and set up a redistricting fund that targets the state – but they can’t even find anyone to run. Democrats haven’t won statewide office in Texas since 1994, one of the longest losing streaks in America. And as their failed recruitment efforts show, analysts are noting that it looks as if Democrats in the state have “given up.” As Governor Greg Abbott enters the race with a strong war chest and a solid record of policy achievements, Democrats’ chances of finding a credible candidate to end their losing streak don’t look promising.

The Associated Press reports:

“After high-profile candidates lost decisively in the last two elections, though, the party now finds itself in unprecedented territory for the 2018 ballot: with no major candidate to run.

Democratic leaders haven’t yet lined up a substantial name to represent the party and its message despite months of trying. Any continued faith in a Democratic turnaround in Texas is now colliding with pessimism that it will happen anytime soon.

‘If they didn’t have somebody running for governor it’d be a symbol that they’ve given up,’ said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston.

And the lack of a serious 2018 candidate, following the dismal showing of the Democrats in the 2010 and 2014 governor’s races, could make it harder to capitalize later if the political climate improves, as the party expects.

‘You run the risk of looking irrelevant,’ Rottinghaus said.

Ann Richards, elected in 1990, was the last Texas Democratic governor. Since then, the state has shifted far to the right along with most of the South. The party’s chief strongholds now are congressional and legislative seats representing much of Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Austin. No Democrat has won a statewide office since 1994, the longest losing streak in the nation.”