What Next | Daily News and Analysis Can Democrats Mess With Texas?
19 snips
Mar 3, 2026 Bayliss Wagner, Texas politics reporter covering elections, redistricting, and the legislature. She walks through the shock special-election flip that energized Democrats. She breaks down the sprawling, chaotic primary and high-stakes statewide fights. She maps intra-party clashes, vulnerable districts, and contests that could reshape fall matchups.
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Unexpected Double-Digit Flip In Trump County
- A Democratic special election flipped a state Senate seat in a district Trump won by 17 points a year earlier.
- Taylor Remitt, an Air Force veteran and union machinist, won by 14 points, signaling a 30-point swing driven largely by Hispanic turnout shifts.
Democratic Enthusiasm Is Making Republicans Nervous
- Democrats show unusually high primary turnout and enthusiasm compared with recent cycles, worrying Republicans about an enthusiasm gap.
- Bayliss Wagner notes Republicans privately fear their base isn't as energized heading into November.
Staffer Death Sparked Affair Allegations Against Gonzalez
- Bayliss recounts the scandal around Rep. Tony Gonzalez after his staffer Regina Santos Aviles died by suicide and allegations of an affair emerged.
- She describes the timeline from denial in November to text evidence and escalating media scrutiny.