Home · Politics · Oct 20 archive
Sanders Rallies Texas Dems, Talarico Skips Event
Confirmed
In Short: Bernie Sanders rallied Texas Democrats in El Paso, while Senate candidate James Talarico held a separate event in Fort Worth.
Bernie Sanders appeared at the Abraham Chavez Theatre in El Paso alongside former Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Democratic Reps. Greg Casar and Veronica Escobar, as early voting began ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
O'Rourke told supporters that the Republican opposition had spent $368 million against Talarico, emphasizing their desperation.
Sanders criticized the influence of wealthy donors in American elections, saying, 'What you are seeing in this campaign, what you are seeing right here in Texas, all over America, is multibillionaires pouring hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars.'
Meanwhile, Talarico held a separate rally at North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, focusing on the issue of money in politics and targeting Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and billionaire Elon Musk.
Talarico said, 'We have an affordability crisis because we have a corruption crisis,' highlighting his campaign's message about the influence of wealthy donors.
Fox News Digital reached out to Talarico's campaign for comment on why the candidate held a separate event instead of campaigning with the other Democrats.
Casar expressed support for Talarico, stating that electing him would help advance Democrats' legislative priorities.
Talarico's campaign tour, 'Clear Eyes, Full Hearts,' included stops in Denton and Fort Worth, emphasizing his message about the impact of wealthy donors on the Texas Senate race.
Sanders did not mention Talarico by name during his remarks, instead directing his criticism toward wealthy political donors and their influence on American elections.
Political scientists suggest that Sanders' visit could complicate Democrats' messaging on affordability and give Republicans an opportunity to portray Texas Democrats as aligned with the party's left wing.
Background
Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico is facing criticism for his recent absence from public events and media appearances, including a scheduled interview with Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Republican Senator Susan Collins has opened a narrow lead over Democratic challenger Troy Jackson in the race for Maine's Senate seat, according to a new poll.
What's confirmed
- Bernie Sanders appeared at the Abraham Chavez Theatre in El Paso alongside former Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Democratic Reps. Greg Casar and Veronica Escobar, as early voting began ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
- O'Rourke told supporters that the Republican opposition had spent $368 million against Talarico, emphasizing their desperation.
- Meanwhile, Talarico held a separate rally at North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, focusing on the issue of money in politics and targeting Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and billionaire Elon Musk.
- Talarico said, 'We have an affordability crisis because we have a corruption crisis,' highlighting his campaign's message about the influence of wealthy donors.
- Fox News Digital reached out to Talarico's campaign for comment on why the candidate held a separate event instead of campaigning with the other Democrats.
- Casar expressed support for Talarico, stating that electing him would help advance Democrats' legislative priorities.
- Talarico's campaign tour, 'Clear Eyes, Full Hearts,' included stops in Denton and Fort Worth, emphasizing his message about the impact of wealthy donors on the Texas Senate race.
- Sanders did not mention Talarico by name during his remarks, instead directing his criticism toward wealthy political donors and their influence on American elections.
- Political scientists suggest that Sanders' visit could complicate Democrats' messaging on affordability and give Republicans an opportunity to portray Texas Democrats as aligned with the party's left wing.
What's still developing
- Talarico and Paxton are competing for the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. John Cornyn.
- "This election shouldn't be about the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. It's bigger than that," he said.
- Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico and gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa did not attend Sanders' Houston stop on his "Fighting Oligarchy" tour, an absence that comes as polling suggests that democratic socialism remains unpopular with most Texas voters.
- Four years later, Sanders won about 30 percent of the vote, finishing behind eventual Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who received about 35 percent.
- "His more progressive view gels with that take, but also opens up the doors to other kinds of progressive issues Democrats may not want to use as their closing argument to voters."
- "Any Democratic candidate who shows up probably has been poorly advised." University of Houston political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus offered a similar assessment.
- As progressive independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont rallied supporters in Houston on Tuesday, two of Texas Democrats' highest-profile candidates were notably absent.
- "They don't really need to worry about enthusiasm. Donald Trump does that all on his own in terms of motivating Democrats to turn out."
- "In the richest country in the history of the world, we should be able to provide a decent standard of living for every man, woman, and child," he said.
- "But the way that I look at it, it just makes our hearts stronger, beat more powerfully, and in this moment, all of our hearts are coming together at the right time, right when we needed it."
- "Any effort by Bernie Sanders is likely to be more of a negative than a positive for Texas Democrats," Rice University political scientist Mark Jones told Newsweek.
- "I believe James Talarico is right. That's a smart thing to do," Jones said of the Senate candidate's decision not to attend Tuesday's rally.