Texas Democrats Announce 22 Targeted State House Districts Ahead of 2020 - Politico

Texas Democrats Announce 22 Targeted State House Districts
                      Ahead of 2020

The Texas Democratic Party and Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee are
excited to announce our target list of the most competitive House districts ahead of the
2020 election.

Texas Democrats only need to win 9 seats to flip the Texas House. In 2018, the top of
the Democratic ticket won a majority of state legislative districts (76-74), laying out a
clear path to victory. We aren’t stopping there. 22 Republican-held seats were won by
less than 10 points by the top of the ticket in 2018.We are targeting every single one of
these seats in 2020. Together, Texas Democrats and allied organizations have
developed a modern and unprecedented data driven strategy, which includes a robust
allied organizing infrastructure, candidate support services, and cutting edge
technology. We are strategically channeling critical resources into Republican-held
districts that, based on significant changes to demographics and electoral trends, are
likely to flip from red to blue.

Texas Republicans have mishandled crisis after crisis. Not only do Texas Republicans
have to run with a hopelessly unpopular Trump leading their ticket, the Texas
Republican Party has been embarrassed by scandal after scandal. Even disgraced
Speaker Bonnen admitted that Trump is “killing” Republicans in suburban and urban
areas.

The Republican’s problems further down the ballot are just as devastating: After a
political career spanning decades, Texas Senator John Cornyn is still unknown or
unliked by upwards of two-thirds of Texas voters. So many Texas Republican Members
of Congress have been running for the hills that the national press gave it a new name:
“Texodus.” Additionally, several high-profile Republican state representatives have had

to retire due to scandal, including Republican Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen
when he debased the State House’s highest office by secretly scheming in the Capitol
with dark money operative Michael Quinn Sullivan.

In short, Republicans at every level are failing in office and vulnerable at the polls. In
order to ensure Texas Democrats maximize progressive gains at the ballot box, we have
formulated a winning strategy to flip key Texas State House districts and turn Texas
blue up and down the ballot.

In addition to these 22 districts, we will keep watch for potential opportunities to flip
any of the additional 35 Republican-held districts being challenged by Democratic
champions, and we will provide support to ensure each is as competitive as possible.

Special Election
TX-28 -- Dr. Eliz Markowitz is fighting for a Texas we can all believe in. She
has bested expectations and is running on Democratic values that Texans
support -- better neighborhood schools, higher wages, expanded access to
healthcare, and a fair shot for all. On the other hand, her opponent,
perennial loser Republican Gary Gates, who has been credibly accused of
abusing his children, has demonstrated that he’s unfit to represent the
people of Texas.

According to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, “Gates children ‘had been given
“throw-up” medicine (ipecac) for eating food they should not have eaten,
and children were required to skip their next meal if they stole food. On
occasion, Gary taped newspaper around a child’s hands to keep him or her
from stealing food.’”

      Child abusers are unfit to serve in the Texas Legislature. Period.

                 Districts that Voted Democratic in 2018
Since our success in 2018, Texas Democrats have seen an unprecedented number of
Democrats and progressives speak out, march, organize, and run for public office. In
2018, Beto O’Rourke defeated Ted Cruz in 9 key Texas House Districts currently held by
Republicans. These districts represent some of the strongest opportunities for Texas
Democratic gains, and we are investing early and strategically in voter registration and
education to lay the groundwork for strong wins in November.

TX-134 -- In this district -- the most Democratic seat held by a Republican --
Democratic and Democratic-leaning independents will rally to support a
Democrat in November to flip the House, elect a Democratic Speaker,
empower Democratic legislators to fight for a fairer redistricting process,
and bring balance back to Texas government.

TX-108 -- Republican Rep. Morgan Meyer, who failed to hold defamed
Republican Speaker Dennis Bonnen accountable for breaking the law, is
vulnerable headed into the general election.

The people of Texas are eager for state leadership that doesn’t tolerate corruption, which
Meyer has demonstrated he’s not willing to do.

TX-112 -- Rep. Angie Chen Button has been a fierce opponent of common
sense gun safety laws. Not only did she co-sponsor the bill allowing college
and university officials to carry concealed weapons, she also voted in favor
of limiting the amount of time required to obtain a concealed-carry permit.

Texas communities have suffered enough at the hands of rampant gun violence. Texas
Democrats are fighting for common sense gun safety laws because the people of Texas
have had enough of Republican inaction. TX-112 is primed for Democratic mobilization
ahead of the November 2020 election.

TX-138 -- With vulnerable Texas Republican Dwayne Bohac not seeking
reelection, Democrats have a substantial pick-up opportunity in district
138. In 2018, Bohac won reelection by only 47 votes, and the Democratic candidates
who have filed to run for his vacated seat in 2020 have already demonstrated the
institutional support, strength and leadership needed to turn the district blue.

Additionally, the district boasts a diverse populace (27.8% Hispanic, 12.6% Black, 11.5%
Asian) as well as a large percentage of young voters (approximately 32.92% of residents
are under the age of 39).

TX-66 -- Republican Rep. Matt Shaheen has spearheaded bills which have
been criticized as posing “significant health and safety risks to Texans.” The
people of Texas deserve better, which is why Texas Democrats are targeting District 66
for heightened Democratic mobilization and registration.

O’Rourke carried the district by over 5 percentage points in 2018, and we believe our
Democratic candidate for the Texas House will be able to reach a similar mark.

TX-67 -- In order to create a Texas we can all believe in, we must defeat
Republican zealot Jeff Leach, one of the poster children for Texas’ divisive
and toxic tea party. A founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, Leach has
sought to hinder meaningful, progressive change in Texas at every turn since he was
elected. The puppeteer of the so-called “Mother’s Day Massacre,” Leach has made it his
mission to be as ineffective in office as possible.

However, Leach’s district is in play ahead of the 2020 general election. Texas Democrats
have targeted District 67 to put an end to Leach’s extreme, ineffective governance, and
elect a Democratic leader who will prioritize actually passing legislation.

TX-26 -- Vulnerable Texas Republican Rick Miller is not seeking reelection
after he was forced to retire due to derogatory comments about people of
color. Racism has no place in Texas; it’s time for new Democratic
leadership in the increasingly diverse Fort Bend County.

Texas Democrats are expanding and protecting the vote at every turn, including in
District 26.

TX-64 -- Rep. Lynn Stucky has sponsored and supported some of the most
extreme bills that threaten a woman’s right to choose. We’ve said it before and
we’ll say it again -- Texans are tired of old men in the legislature dictating women’s
reproductive rights.

Beto O’Rourke won TX-64 in 2018, and Texas Democrats are going to mobilize the
district like never before to ensure a Democratic victory in 2020.

TX-121 -- The districts in and around San Antonio are changing at a rapid
pace, and the 2018 midterm elections proved that a leftward movement is
currently sweeping across the district.

However, Republican infighting has also given Democrats favorability in TX-121.
Democrats are emerging stronger than ever, and more unified than their Republican
counterparts. Going into 2020, voters want to elect Representatives who will prioritize
their needs over the political infighting we’ve seen Republicans use to consume entire
legislative sessions. Texas Democrats are getting stronger while Texas Republicans
continue to stumble over one another.

                         Other Top Targeted Districts

TX-96 -- As part of the Texodos, before having the opportunity to be thrown
out of office, Republican Rep. Bill Zedler decided not to run for reelection.
The vulnerable Texas Republican only won his district last election by 4 percentage
points and, in the time that’s passed since, significant demographic changes, including
increased diversity, have set the stage for a Democratic victory in 2020.

The Democratic nominee, Joe Drago, is steadfast in his dedication to building a better
Texas for everyone. Republicans will experience just how much their party
infrastructure has weakened when the voters head to the ballot box in November.

TX-54 -- District 54 has experienced dwindling Republican support at a
truly remarkable pace. The Republican margin of victory was almost cut in
half between 2016 (13.24%) and 2018 (7.6%). This trend in declining
support has aptly set the stage for a Democratic victory in 2020.

Throughout his stint in the Texas State House, Republican Rep. Brad Buckley voted
against a number of social welfare bills -- including a Hurricane Harvey relief bill -- that
would have improved the lives of thousands of Texans.

Texas Democrats have identified where Republican weaknesses lie, as well as growing
Democratic support, and are working harder than ever before to flip these districts come
November.

TX-97 -- Republican Rep. Craig Goldman has seen his support significantly
dwindle over the years. Between 2016 and 2018, Goldman’s performance
dropped from 57.2% to 53.2%. Goldman losing his grip on the district points to the
statewide trend that has strengthened Democrats across Texas.

The legislator, who received a 92% rating from the National Rifle Association, is
operating in a district with lessening Republican support. Texas Democrats have
pinpointed District 97 for registration and mobilization to ensure we usher in strong
Democratic leadership.

TX-14 -- Rep. John Raney has been an outspoken advocate of allowing
firearms in classrooms, claiming that it will make our schools safer. Texans
are tired of Republican inaction on real solutions when it comes to gun control. Our
state has suffered numerous mass shootings and our communities have had enough. It’s
time for Texans to have real leadership in the Texas House.

TX-14 is a flippable district for Democrats in 2020 because not only does the polling
data highlight Republican weaknesses, but Texans are also tired of the same inaction
from Republican legislators year after year. With 20.8% of the TX-14 population being
18 — 21-year-olds, Texas Democrats have an opportunity to register and mobilize a
winning majority not just for 2020, but for years to come.

TX-92 -- Jonathan Stickland has built his entire political career around
being as ineffective and obnoxious as possible, which is why the defamed
Republican Representative has decided against running for reelection.
Stickland was too far to the right for Texas and represents an increasingly Democratic
district. His margin of victory in the 2018 election was one of the slimmest in the state,
setting the stage for a Democratic victory in 2020.

TX-93 -- Republican Rep. Matt Krause has used his stint in government to
spearhead discriminatory pieces of legislation, like the “Save Chick-fil-A”
bill. In a county and district undergoing a big shift towards
Democrats, rather than fight for meaningful change for Texas families, he’s
set his sights on repressive social bills that are founded on exclusion and
division.

In 2018, the Democratic nominee received 46.1% of the vote. Texas Democrats are
poised to build on that progress. Democrats who are fighting for a better future for all
Texans, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race, or profession, are in a primed
position to beat him. Our pool of qualified Democratic candidates in HD-93 are running
to ensure Texas has better neighborhood schools, higher wages, and a fair shot for all.

TX-94 -- Republican Rep. Tony Tinderholt has spearheaded ultra-
conservative pieces of legislation that are founded in extremism and
misogyny. Tinderholt’s bill, which would have criminalized abortion and
allowed prosecutors to charge a woman who has an abortion with criminal
homicide, is misogynistic and out of touch with the needs of everyday
Texans.

Tinderholt won in 2018, but his Democratic opponent received 43.9% of the vote --
indicating that his seat is very much in play with presidential-level turnout. Texans in

Tarrant County deserve a legislator who’s going to fight for progress, not set his sights
on attacking women’s healthcare.

TX-126 -- In 2018, Republican Rep. Sam Harless only won the district by
54.9%, a big drop from the 58% won by the GOP State House candidate in 2018. The
increasing diversity of the district (49.2% White, 21.1% Hispanic, 18.4% Black, 9.7%
Asian) coupled with Texas Democrats’ expansive voter registration and protection
efforts will turn TX-26 blue in November.

TX-32 -- Since the districts were drawn in 2011, TX-32 has become
increasingly diverse (49.5% Hispanic, 4.3% Black, 1.8% Asian).

We helped fuel the shift in Nueces County -- from 47.12% for the Democrat at the top of
the ticket in 2016 to 50.38% in 2018. That shift was enough to lead to down-ballot wins -
- expanding Democratic representation on the 5-member commissioners court from one
member to Democratic control with three members. In this district, Beto O’Rourke
achieved 47% of the vote, laying the groundwork for a presidential year pick-up.

TX-29 -- Throughout his tenure in the Texas House, Ed Thompson has
spearheaded extreme abortion bans that threaten women’s reproductive
rights. The ideological and demographic shifts in Texas have pointed to one thing --
Texans don’t want conservative politicians dictating what a woman has the freedom to
do with her body. Texas Democrats are closely tracking these shifts and how they
augment Democratic support in key districts like TX-29.

TX-129 -- Rep. Dennis Paul is a megaphone for Donald Trump’s obnoxious
and hostile rhetoric on immigration, despite being from an increasingly
diverse district. Texas Democrats are gearing up to elect leaders that celebrate
inclusion and diversity, not xenophobia and hatred. Rep. Paul’s ineffective governance,
in addition to demographic shifts in the district, have made TX-129 a flippable district
for Democrats.

TX-133 -- Rep. Jim Murphy has shown poor judgment and a questionable
sense of ethics in office -- specifically by earning hundreds of thousands of
dollars a year while serving as a “consultant” for a political subdivision of
the state. Taxpayers are struggling while Murphy gets rich, and Texas Democrats will
make sure he’s held accountable.

TX-133 is primed for Democratic mobilization.