Here we go. Texas is in play at the presidential level. But not in the way you think it is. https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/08/texas-democrats-trump-biden/
Former Vice President Joe Biden has consistently polled within the margin of error with President Trump. And that's a big deal. https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/08/texas-democrats-trump-biden/
But here's what really matters: Joe Biden benefits from something no other modern Dem presidential nominee has in Texas - reverse coattails. There is an absolute army of downballot Dem candidates running for office in Texas. https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/08/texas-democrats-trump-biden/
These are obscure Democratic candidates you may never have heard of. But they're running for office in places Dems never competed in only four years ago. And they're raising piles of money. https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/08/texas-democrats-trump-biden/
Biden offers coattails because of his polling. But these candidates in turn offer him a growing GOTV infrastructure and a massive television advertising campaign making the Dem case in some of the most expensive media markets in the country. https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/08/texas-democrats-trump-biden/
Rs are not ceding the state, by any means. And we are looking at a ferocious fight in the coming weeks for control of the state House of Reps and even, unthinkably, possibly a majority in the TX Cong delegation (much longer shot than the former for Dems) https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/08/texas-democrats-trump-biden/
Case in point: My colleague @PatrickSvitek's astonishing story last night on state lege fundraising. https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/07/texas-house-fundraising/
Anyway, nobody knows what's gonna happen in Texas. COVID-19 and newcomers to the state and changing demographics make everything unstable. https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/08/texas-democrats-trump-biden/