The story is similar in Oklahoma, where Republicans control the legislature, all statewide offices and every congressional seat. The state Democratic Party didn’t even field an entire slate of candidates for statewide offices, opting to put most of its energy, and resources, into targeted legislative races and the state’s top prize in November — the open governor’s seat. That leaves candidates such as Anastasia Pittman, the nominee for lieutenant governor, massively outspent and unlikely to win.
More than a bit misleading. Oklahoma Dems are on fire. They have simply picked their battles, as they should in their political environment.
My governor, Baker, is a Republican and the most popular in the country.He’s about as far as you could get from Trump. On one hand, I respect that he hasn’t gone full GOP crazy, but on the other hand I will pull my own teeth out before voting for a republican ever again.
In Texas, Lupe is a bust, because she just didn’t put in the work early on.
BUT we do have bright spots in addition to Beto. Justin Nelson is running hard against our indicted AG, Ken Paxton.
Kim Olson is running a really good campaign against the very gross Sid Miller for Agriculture Secretary.
https://votekimolson.org/
And
Mike Collier has a shot, if we can get turn out up enough, to take down Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is the source of Texas bathroom bills, show-me-your-papers laws, and the education funding crisis. Lt. Go. is actually the most powerful elected position in Texas.
One big problem in most states is at the entry level: state legislature. Most state legislatures are only in session for a few months, and the pay usually isn’t enough to support a family on. But how many employers would be OK with your being away from your job for the length of a state legislative session? Not too many, I’d expect.
About 25 years ago, I considered running for the state legislature in Virginia, where I was living then. It paid about $10K/year back then. Once I found that out, I realized I couldn’t afford to BE a state legislator if I won.