Sep 27, 2026 · 1h 8m
Listen from 50:31
Listen at 50:31
Texas Democrats see an opening as Republican weaknesses spread
Choosin' Texas with Bobby Pulido
The episode tests whether Democratic gains in Texas could signal a broader national shift while examining the candidates and voters driving it.
- 1James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa are building populist campaigns around Republican vulnerabilities in Texas.
- 2National economic frustration and Donald Trump’s unpopularity are putting Republican House and Senate defenses under pressure.
- 3Bobby Pulido’s rural South Texas campaign illustrates Democrats’ effort to make their message accessible beyond urban strongholds.
Don't miss
Bobby Pulido explains how he is campaigning across rural South Texas while presenting an accessible Democratic message.
The brief
Recorded live at the Texas Tribune Festival, the hosts map Democratic opportunities in Texas, beginning with James Talarico’s challenge to Ken Paxton and Republican concerns about the race.
Gina Hinojosa’s gubernatorial campaign offers a more populist case against Greg Abbott, targeting schools, corporate influence, energy infrastructure, and data-center politics.
The Texas races become a national argument: Trump’s unpopularity, economic pressure, and voter backlash are weakening Republicans while Democrats weigh the size of a possible House wave.
The hosts mock Donald Trump’s ceremonial handling of Xi Jinping’s visit, portraying the White House spectacle as a display of weakness rather than substantive diplomacy.
Tejano musician and congressional candidate Bobby Pulido describes campaigning across rural South Texas against Monica De La Cruz, framing broken promises and accessibility as central Democratic openings.
What was said on this episode
23 statements · 11 positive · 10 negative · 2 neutral
Trump’s Alabama visit could harm Republicans in a deeply red district.
“I think there's a very real chance that Trump could actually, in trying to do no harm, could do real harm even in this very, very deeply red district.”
Listen at 4:50
Two hundred million dollars may not rehabilitate Ken Paxton.
“Do we even think that $200 million can rehabilitate a candidate like Paxton”
Listen at 5:54
A Fox News debate between James Talarico and Ken Paxton probably will not happen.
“I'm skeptical that it'll happen.”
Listen at 9:39
Ken Paxton needs a debate to improve his position.
“Paxton needs the debate. He needs the help of a debate.”
Listen at 9:43
Proposed Texas data centers would require five times current peak power demand.
“The latest data is that the request for power for these new data centers in Texas would require 5 times as much power as is currently peak demand in Texas”
Listen at 12:20
Greg Abbott’s data-center pause preserves post-election policy flexibility.
“He is allowing a process to unfold that could allow him to have basically complete flexibility after the election in November to either return to the policy as it was or paper over it with some sort of cosmetic changes and allow it to continue.”
Listen at 13:23
Gina Hinojosa’s strategy targets 60% of Latino voters and strong urban performance.
“Her strategy is basically to win about 60% of the Latino vote, to blow it out in the 5 big urban counties, and then to get double digits with independents and then peel off as many rural Republicans as she possibly can.”
Listen at 15:11
Winning Texas’s governorship requires Democrats to pursue a high-variance strategy.
“the only way that a Democrat is going to win the governorship in Texas is to run a very high-variance strategy, to take real risks, and she's doing that.”
Listen at 17:46
Republicans aim to limit Democrats’ House majority for a later comeback.
“The goal here is not to preserve the majority, it's to limit the size of the Democratic majority to make it easier for them to potentially get it back in 2028 or 2030.”
Listen at 30:22
Democrats have opportunities in rural and Latino-heavy House districts.
“I think there's some real opportunities in some districts.”
Listen at 33:15
The election could become a 1994-style realigning election.
“it very well could be a little more like '94 where everything changes, where it's a realigning election.”
Listen at 35:56
Winning House seats in 2026 would help a Democratic president pass legislation in 2028.
“that's going to make it more likely for that Democratic president to actually be able to pass a real agenda through Congress because we got all these seats in 2026.”
Listen at 36:31
Susan Collins may outperform expectations again in Maine.
“Susan Collins has overperformed in a bunch of elections. She may very well do so again.”
Listen at 42:53
Abdul El-Sayed wins majority support on Medicare for All.
“you also see Abdul winning on issues like Medicare for All, like 60% majority support Medicare for All.”
Listen at 43:41
The U.S. Senate is more important than a candidate’s rude workplace behavior.
“I think the Senate's more important.”
Listen at 45:53
The Trump-Xi meeting produced no substantive agreement on artificial intelligence.
“they didn't really figure out anything real about artificial intelligence.”
Listen at 49:36
Trump’s airport protocol made him appear submissive to Chinese officials.
“that made them think that Trump looked like subservience.”
Listen at 49:55
Donald Trump can claim the U.S. border is secure.
“The only thing that he can probably hang his hat on is that the border is secure.”
Listen at 55:33
Republican tax-cut policies are bad for business.
“those policies are actually bad for business.”
Listen at 56:13
Candidates need sustained local presence to earn rural voters’ trust.
“The people need to trust you and you can't show up with 3 months or with a commercial to earn their vote.”
Listen at 59:09
Bobby Pulido’s campaign cannot win through advertising alone.
“We're not going to win an election based on commercials or mailers.”
Listen at 59:24
Bobby Pulido advocates affordable healthcare for constituents.
“I just want you to have affordable healthcare.”
Listen at 59:48
Bobby Pulido’s opponents have more campaign money, requiring his campaign to compete financially.
“they have more money than we do, and, um, we need to compete.”
Listen at 1:05:35
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.