1 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: Breaking down politics, culture, and the buzz of the day 2 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 1: with bold conversations about faith, family and living. 3 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 2: What you believe. 4 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 1: This is the Danielle Gill Show. 5 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 3: I am delighted to welcome our guest today, Luke Messias. 6 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 3: He's the host of the Luke Messias Show. He is 7 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 3: an expert on text politics and so Luke, thanks so 8 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 3: much for joining us. 9 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:25,799 Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks for having me on, Danielle. 10 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 3: Oh, well, it's so great I get to chat with 11 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 3: you today. I mean, there's just such big news from Texas, 12 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:38,240 Speaker 3: of course, so exciting Ken Paxton austing Cordon and such 13 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 3: an amazing win. Of course, the margin was so big 14 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 3: in that race, which is great, and we of course 15 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 3: saw you know, the power of President Trump, and I 16 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 3: think just voters wanting more conservative candidates and wanting to 17 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 3: be represented better by the people that they elect. And 18 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 3: of course we saw so many other candidates win as well, 19 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 3: and a lot of these other runoff races and other 20 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 3: races which we could dive into those two. But why 21 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:08,400 Speaker 3: don't just get your reaction, I guess to the Ken 22 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:09,559 Speaker 3: Paxton Cornet race. 23 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 2: Well, the thing you said at the start I think 24 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 2: is really worth focusing on for just a second is 25 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 2: the fact that it was a near thirty percent margin 26 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 2: of victory, and I actually think that that has made 27 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 2: it easier to have Republicans unite after If this had 28 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:28,320 Speaker 2: been a five to six seven point race, then basically 29 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 2: the moderate wing of the GOP would have blamed President Trump, saying, hey, 30 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,479 Speaker 2: we could have kept Cornyn were it not for President 31 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 2: Trump coming in in the last week. But what that 32 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 2: margin made clear was that Ken Paxon was going to 33 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 2: win this election if President Trump had gotten in or 34 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 2: hadn't gotten in. I do think he helped widen that 35 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 2: margin pretty significantly, but I think Ken Paxton was on 36 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 2: his way to somewhere between fifteen and twenty point margin 37 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: of victory prior to President Donald Trump jumping in. So 38 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 2: I actually think that has made it easier for some 39 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 2: of the more establishment Republicans to begin uniting around Packson, 40 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 2: which is very important for November. It does send this 41 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 2: strong signal Texas Republicans, and you and Brandon and a 42 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 2: lot of other people here in Texas have witnessed this. 43 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 2: Every single election cycle, Texas has gotten a little more conservative, 44 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 2: more conservative representation in Congress, more conservative representation in the 45 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 2: Texas House. Last night, there were three or four highly 46 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 2: contested county judge races in mid size red counties where 47 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 2: there was a clear conservative and there was a more 48 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 2: moderate Republican and the conservative one in almost every single 49 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:36,359 Speaker 2: one of those local races, and so up and down 50 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,239 Speaker 2: the ballot we saw Republicans go, who is the more 51 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 2: conservative person? Who is the more republican Republican? That's who 52 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 2: I'd like leading and electing those people. 53 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 3: Yes, absolutely, And it's kind of funny. I think it 54 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 3: was a New York Times reporter who said, you know, 55 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 3: people who are moderate in the GOP feel like they 56 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 3: no no longer have a home anymore. And it's kind 57 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 3: of like, yeah, probably if you're a big New York 58 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 3: Times fan, and you're probably not going to be super 59 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 3: key and all this, but you know, I think it's 60 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 3: kind of the point because for so long we did 61 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 3: have a lot of people who kind of just let 62 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 3: things happen, They let things go, they let conservatism slip away, 63 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 3: and then of course we have all these problems because 64 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 3: we're not as bulgement about them, but very exciting news. 65 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 3: How do you think it's going to go with? I 66 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:27,679 Speaker 3: guess I mean, probably all of these people who were 67 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 3: attached to John Cornyan are freaking out right now. 68 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 2: It is going to be very interesting watching them. Watching 69 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 2: some of them react very poorly is predictable. There have 70 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 2: been quite a few that have come out over the 71 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 2: last twenty four hours and just said, hey, I'm back 72 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 2: Senator John Cornyn. Now I'm coming in to back who 73 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 2: we need to be our next, Senator Ken Paxson. You've 74 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 2: seen that from Leader Thun, You've seen that from local 75 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 2: Republicans in Texas across the board. But you're seeing a 76 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 2: group of them start to dig in. There was a 77 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 2: poll done a week before this election ask Ken Paxson voters, 78 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 2: if your guy loses and John Cornyn is the nominee, 79 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 2: will would you even consider voting for James tall Rico? 80 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 2: And point four percent said yes. Okay, I don't know 81 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 2: who this point four percent are. They're bad people. They 82 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,799 Speaker 2: shouldn't do that. No person voting for KEM. Paxon whatever, 83 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 2: then vote for James tall Rico. They asked the same 84 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 2: question to the smaller group of people voting for John Cornyn, 85 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:25,679 Speaker 2: and two percent said that they were interested in voting 86 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 2: for tall Rico if John corn lost. Now I know 87 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 2: this might seem small, but that is four times larger 88 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 2: than the Paxston supporters. So you have to recognize for 89 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 2: every one Ken Paxton person out there that would try 90 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 2: to dig his feet in and say, okay, now I'm 91 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 2: not going to support the Republican ticket against a very 92 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 2: liberal Democrat, there are four times more John Cornan voters 93 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 2: that would do that, supporters, donors, activists. So we're gonna 94 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 2: have to work to one try to win those people over. 95 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 2: But what President Trump always did was he didn't just 96 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 2: cater to this old class of Republican. He went and 97 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 2: courted new voters. And that's actually one of the things 98 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 2: I think that really ticked off the establishment more than 99 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 2: anything else, is that President Donald Trump did not say, 100 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 2: I have to find a set of policies that makes 101 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,919 Speaker 2: sure that the country club Republican zip codes continue to 102 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 2: vote for me. He actually said, I'm going to see 103 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 2: the rich, wealthy suburb and inner cities blue, and I'm 104 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 2: going to go find working class people that are disenfranchised, 105 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 2: and I'm going to convert them to the Republican Party. 106 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 2: And he did that in much larger droves than the 107 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 2: over five hundred thousand annual income New York Times subscribers 108 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 2: who had typically voted for George W. Bush. I think 109 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:38,840 Speaker 2: you're seeing some of that with Paxton. So I think 110 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 2: he's going to both try to get those people back, 111 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:42,280 Speaker 2: but I think he's going to go into the Riover 112 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: End Valley. We're going to go into the working class 113 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 2: neighborhoods all across Texas and convert those individuals to the 114 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 2: Republican Party or in some cases, just make sure they 115 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 2: come back. These are people that voted for Trump but 116 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,919 Speaker 2: are pretty upset at the cost of living. They're upset 117 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 2: at the current state of things, and we've got to 118 00:05:57,760 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 2: bring them home, right. 119 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 3: How do you compare this race to maybe the Cruz 120 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 3: Beto race, because that was an off presidential cycle. A 121 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:10,359 Speaker 3: lot of people compare Beto to Tall Rico, and I 122 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 3: guess he you know, maybe the Democrats think this is 123 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 3: like a positive playbook for them. They think finding someone 124 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 3: who's seems like a seems like a normal person to them. 125 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:22,799 Speaker 3: I guess they want to run. But obviously in our minds, 126 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 3: we see him and we see right through it all. 127 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 3: But I guess how do you think those two races 128 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 3: might compare this year? 129 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 2: The two similarities are one that you already mentioned, which 130 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 2: is the fact that the environment is similar. So we 131 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,720 Speaker 2: know that November is not a good environment for Republicans. 132 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 2: You would rather be a Democrat in a swing area 133 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 2: than a Republican in a swing area, which then means 134 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 2: in a state like Texas that's not a swing state 135 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 2: but isn't as deep red as people think it is. 136 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: When it's a better environment for Democrats, they have they 137 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 2: have a chance to narrow that margin of victory that 138 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 2: we typically enjoy. So the environment is similar. And then 139 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 2: the way the legacy media is going to treat James 140 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 2: Tallerico is similar to the way they treated Beto. They 141 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 2: are going to roll out the red carpet. You've already 142 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: seen it, by the way, within twenty four hours of 143 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 2: comepacks to winning major legacy media outlet CBS, NBC, ABC 144 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 2: sitting down with James Tallerico doing one on one interviews, 145 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:18,679 Speaker 2: giving him a chance to explain that thing he said 146 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 2: when he's running a vegan campaign, or that thing he 147 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 2: said when he said God is non binary, or there 148 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 2: are six genders. Right, So they're already kind of laying 149 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 2: out the red carpet they're going to cover for his 150 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 2: sins as much as possible and present him in this 151 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 2: kind of moderate light, even though he's a radical Democrat. 152 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 2: I'm going to tell you what's different though. What's different 153 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 2: is that James Talerico, unlike Beto, has a real record. 154 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 2: People in Congress don't actually vote on all that much 155 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 2: stuff anymore, which is unfortunate something we should work to fix. 156 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 2: But the reality is that Beto spent time in Congress 157 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 2: and a time when not a lot of bills were 158 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 2: even voted on. So when he's running for the US Senate, 159 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 2: he had very little record, he had voted on, very 160 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 2: little he could cast himself as a moderate. James Tallerico 161 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 2: has session after session of vote, is one of the 162 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 2: most liberal Democrats in Texas. He's tried to impose a 163 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 2: state income tax on Texas. He has made statements like 164 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 2: God is nine binary and there are six genders, not two, which, 165 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 2: by the way, even you know this, the LGBT community 166 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 2: doesn't even think that they are six genders. They think 167 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 2: there are thirty seven and it's an endless experience of 168 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 2: human emotion, and so we don't even know who what 169 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 2: the six are. By the way, he's never defined the six. 170 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 2: I really would like to know. It'd be a very 171 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 2: interesting conversation. So his record is a problem. And then secondarily, 172 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: Republicans are very aware that we need to take this seriously. 173 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 2: And I think that's the other difference because in twenty eighteen, 174 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 2: nobody woke up to it being bad until September, and 175 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 2: right now everyone knows. If we take this for granted, 176 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 2: we could see Texas maybe not lose, but come within two, three, 177 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 2: four or five points. And if that happens, we're gonna 178 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 2: lose Tarrent County, which is Fort Worth and Arlington. We're 179 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 2: gonna lose Williamson County which is round Rock and Georgetown. 180 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 2: There will be Democrat district attorneys in those counties that 181 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 2: right now there are Republicans in leadership. James Tillery knows 182 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 2: that he's actually willing to lose, but he's hoping that 183 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 2: his candidacy maybe gives Democrats a couple more toe holds 184 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 2: in large counties in Texas that they flip. 185 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:14,119 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, it's crazy because it seems like the Democrats 186 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 3: always had their sights on Texas. It's kind of like 187 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 3: they think that if they get Texas, that's a huge 188 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 3: boon to their momentum, and of course we've seen them 189 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 3: continue to fail. But it's a good thing in a 190 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 3: way that Republicans have woken up to this because they're 191 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 3: not as complacent. I think a lot of Republican activists 192 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 3: are much more bought in. They realize what's at stake 193 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 3: and what's happening, and so I actually think that it's 194 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,440 Speaker 3: going to be a much better race than the Veto one. 195 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,559 Speaker 3: I think we're going to win by a lot more. 196 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 3: And I don't know what the Democrats will have up 197 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 3: their sleeve the next time there's another race, but they 198 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 3: really just must think that this is a winning message 199 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 3: for them, which is it's crazy to me that they 200 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 3: think someone more radical than Veto is a great idea. 201 00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 3: But want to get your reaction to some of the 202 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 3: other Texas races. Maybe you can explain some of them. 203 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 3: What do you think they mean? How do you think 204 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 3: they explain where where Texans are on those races that 205 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:09,199 Speaker 3: came out. 206 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,560 Speaker 2: So there was one state representative race, a legislative seat 207 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 2: in Houston that was really the only one that people 208 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 2: were watching. Most of the legislative seats were handled in March. 209 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:22,080 Speaker 2: There was one there. Sam Harliss is one of the 210 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 2: more moderate state representatives. So within our Republican caucus of 211 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:27,199 Speaker 2: eighty eight, he's always been ranked as one of the 212 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 2: bottom ten to fifteen. He tried to hand pick his 213 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 2: district director to replace him in Sans Casinos and Associated 214 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 2: Republicans of Texas, a much more moderate pack back that individual, 215 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 2: while the conservative side of the GOP all went by 216 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 2: a gentleman named Stan Standard, who's a long time political 217 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 2: Republican activists, has been in the party for decades, and 218 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 2: Stan won his election with over sixty five percent of 219 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 2: the votes. That was a commanding victory. And not only 220 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 2: that moves the Republican Caucus in the Texas House to 221 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,440 Speaker 2: the right, which we already notched six to seven additional 222 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 2: victories in March, so that House caucus continues to get 223 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 2: more conservative. On a statewide level. You had a number 224 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 2: of other races. Mayz Middleton and chip Roy were both 225 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 2: in the Republican primary. The truth is chip Roy is 226 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 2: one of the most conservative congressmen in Congress in the 227 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 2: Republican caucus, and Mays Middleton is one of the most 228 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 2: conservative state senators in the Texas Senate, always ranked within 229 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 2: the top two or three of the twenty state senators 230 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,119 Speaker 2: we have in Texas, So you had two very conservative 231 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,959 Speaker 2: guys who had their own supporters that were in the 232 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 2: conservative grassroots movement, but ultimately Mays won that out, So 233 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 2: that was a little bit grayer of an area for 234 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:36,679 Speaker 2: your average conservative voter. Below that, you had two other 235 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:40,559 Speaker 2: statewide races in which conservative grass roots really rallied more so. 236 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 2: One was Bo French for railerc Commissioner, ended up being 237 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 2: the closest race of the evening. He won by one 238 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 2: point one two percent. When all one million, three hundred 239 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 2: and twelve thousand votes were cast, he won by I 240 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 2: think fourteen four hundred and so really a reminder that 241 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 2: every single vote matters, all the grassroots conservatives that are 242 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 2: educating their friends matter. Because we saw five to six 243 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:04,680 Speaker 2: million dollars spent on the other side, Bo French count 244 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:08,319 Speaker 2: really popular, talking about the Islamification of Texas, which is 245 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 2: a growing concern for many people, talking about how DEI 246 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 2: had entered the Railroad Commission and people were concerned about 247 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:18,439 Speaker 2: any type of DEI creep and a Republican led agency. 248 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 2: So that was the ousting of a Republican incumbent similar 249 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 2: to Paxson beating Cornyn, you had Bo French beating Jim Wright, 250 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 2: and then lastly you had Tom Smith on a court 251 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 2: that most people don't even know exist, but it's the 252 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 2: Court of Criminal Appeals. We have two statewide courts, the 253 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:34,840 Speaker 2: Supreme Court that handle civil matters and the Court of 254 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 2: Criminal Appeals, which handles all criminal matters. But the reason 255 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 2: that court is now more known by people is because 256 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:45,679 Speaker 2: they gutted the Attorney General's office ability to prosecute election integrity. 257 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 2: So our Attorney general used to be able to find 258 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 2: election fraud and then prosecute it, and they tied Ken 259 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 2: Paxson's hands two cycles ago and we've been fighting ever since. 260 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 2: So we defeated three incumbents. Last time. This incumbent did 261 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:00,840 Speaker 2: not run for reelection and Tom Smith was the Conservative 262 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 2: Alison Fox was the person recruited by the bad justices 263 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 2: on the court to run and Tom Smith won that race. 264 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 2: We may we likely have the votes on that court 265 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 2: now to make sure that we can restore the prosecutor 266 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 2: ear the prosecutorial authority to now Attorney General Maze Middleton 267 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 2: so that he can go prosecute election fraud. So I 268 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 2: know that's kind of a I wanted to explain that 269 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 2: complex deal because that's why that victory at that court 270 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 2: level actually mattered in a real way. And a couple 271 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:32,319 Speaker 2: other little victories that we had were just county judge races, 272 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 2: county commissioner races. All these grassroots people were texting me 273 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 2: last night our friend who was running for county commissioner. 274 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 2: I know, you know, David Wiley who got elected there 275 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 2: in Denton County by thirty one votes. This guy was 276 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 2: down by four votes after early voting, won by thirty 277 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 2: one votes. And so again just a reminder conservative grassroots 278 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 2: people that get together can elect people, whether it's the 279 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 2: county commissioner or Congress. John Bond, who replaced Wesley Hunt, 280 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 2: is going to be an excellent conservative voice in Congress. 281 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 2: A great upgrade there. So, just constant victories that were 282 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 2: notched for the more conservative side of the GOP last night. 283 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 3: Yes, such great news, so exciting, such probably just an 284 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 3: amazing feeling, because sometimes a lot of people feel like, 285 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 3: ah never goes our way, even when all the grassroots 286 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 3: put in everything, and so it's so awesome to see 287 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 3: so many great victories. Is there anything you're kind of 288 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 3: looking forward to? Maybe because I know you also were 289 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 3: an expert on Texas House, the state, war, education, all 290 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 3: these different things in Texas. Are there any things on 291 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 3: your mind that are going to be things that Texas 292 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 3: can focus on in the next year or so with 293 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 3: kind of this changing, changing sense of power and things 294 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 3: moving towards the conservatives. 295 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 2: On the legislative side, all these people are going to 296 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 2: swear in in January of twenty twenty seven. I think 297 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 2: the Islamification of Texas is probably going to be the 298 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 2: biggest newest policy debate and discussion. You have Brent Money, 299 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 2: state representative from Greenville who formed the Sharia Free Caucus 300 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 2: and has already garnered well over a majority of the 301 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 2: Republican Caucus. As members of that group, Key Alan Schoolcraft, 302 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 2: Andy Hopper have been getting together regularly to talk about 303 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 2: Joann Schaffner from Nacadocus County, how do we address this issue? 304 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 2: And this likely will not be one bill like the 305 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 2: China land ban we passed last year. It's going to 306 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 2: be a slew of bills all designed to stem the 307 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:25,479 Speaker 2: Islamification of our state, which I think everybody now recognizes 308 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 2: as a major threat to Texas. We're recognizing this threat 309 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 2: early in its infancy, and so I think that is 310 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 2: probably going to be the biggest new policy discussion as 311 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 2: we entered twenty twenty seven. To your point, we're going 312 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 2: to have a lot of these new conservative statewide elected officials. 313 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 2: There's going to be new administrative turnover per se. We 314 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 2: haven't had that since twenty fourteen. We've had the same 315 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 2: Attorney general since twenty fifteen. We've had the same coptroller 316 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 2: since twenty fifteen. We've had the same Agriculture commissioner since 317 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:55,359 Speaker 2: twenty fifteen. So we're about to have three new individuals 318 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 2: in Maze Middleton, Nate Sheets, and Don Huffines. When we're 319 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 2: overseeings with one thousand employees, four thousand employees, three thousand employees, 320 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 2: large agencies that have an opportunity to advance considerable and 321 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 2: significant conservative policies outside of the legislative process. And I 322 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 2: think there's no doubt that those individuals have made some 323 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 2: very firm conservative commitments to get elected. So I think 324 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 2: you're going to see all of these statewide commissions taking 325 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 2: even more action that reflects the will of the voters. 326 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 2: That's the other exciting thing I'm looking forward to. 327 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 3: Yes, that's going to be great how do you think 328 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 3: all of them will work together and get along. How 329 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 3: do you think there are going to coalesce? Also, Abbot, 330 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 3: we have as well in for Stan Patrick. Where do 331 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 3: you kind of see the dynamic being Because like you said, 332 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 3: we haven't had such big change in a long time. 333 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 2: There seems to be real effort for everyone to come together. 334 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 2: Governor Abbot and Don huff Fines, of course, had a 335 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 2: previous Republican primary against each other, and the governor made 336 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 2: it really clear that he talked to Don Huffines within 337 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 2: a couple days of getting elected, that they've had numerous 338 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 2: productive conversation since then, that they have all full intention 339 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:07,160 Speaker 2: of working closely together and being aligned on creating efficiencies 340 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 2: in the Texas budget and moving our state to the right. 341 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 2: So I have really enjoyed the willingness of Republicans to 342 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 2: say we're on the same team. We agree ninety percent 343 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 2: of the time. Let's first win as large a margin 344 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 2: as possible in November, and let's start governing. Governor Abbott 345 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,360 Speaker 2: has moved to the right as the Republican electorate has 346 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,200 Speaker 2: moved to the right, and that's something that we should 347 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 2: all appreciate and I think has been reflected in the 348 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:33,119 Speaker 2: policy priorities that he has set forth. He has a 349 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:35,639 Speaker 2: very bold agenda as we look at next session, to 350 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 2: give the largest amount of property tax relief we've ever 351 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:42,120 Speaker 2: seen given in a single session. To eliminate your homesteaded 352 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 2: property property taxes for your schools entirely, and so any 353 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:49,159 Speaker 2: home you own and live in, fifty percent of your 354 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 2: property tax bill could be eliminated if Governor Abbot's plan 355 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 2: is put into effect and that slow creep that happens 356 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 2: on all the other sides goes away. So I feel 357 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 2: like what you have here is quite a bit of 358 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 2: kind of bold conservative not only rhetoric, but meat on 359 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,159 Speaker 2: the bones when it comes to policy. It seems like 360 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 2: they all want to work together in order to accomplish 361 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 2: those things. 362 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 3: Wow, that is incredible. I would love to see that happen, 363 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:17,640 Speaker 3: because property taxes are crazy. I guess as you look 364 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,919 Speaker 3: at like twenty twenty six, the midterms that we have 365 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,680 Speaker 3: twenty twenty eight, do you think the midterms are gonna 366 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 3: be looking good for us? I mean, it seems like 367 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 3: conservatism is it's going well right now, So I don't know. 368 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 3: I mean, the left acts like this is going to 369 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 3: be a good cycle for them because it's a midterm 370 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 3: and we have the power right now. But what do 371 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 3: you think, Because as a person on the ground who 372 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 3: knows what's going on. 373 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 2: There's always some element to which midterms are difficult for 374 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 2: the party in power, and that has really never not 375 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,879 Speaker 2: been the case. So we can potentially stem that tide, 376 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:53,439 Speaker 2: we can push back, we can defy some of that 377 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 2: natural momentum that's built in, but we're still running uphill. 378 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 2: So we're running uphill for between now and November. One 379 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:01,640 Speaker 2: of the underlying problems we have, and some of this 380 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 2: is due to our conflict with our ran, but it's 381 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:06,679 Speaker 2: also due to the Biden inflation that we inherited, is 382 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 2: that life is still very expensive. So for the middle 383 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 2: class and the lower the middle class, life has gotten 384 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 2: very very expensive, and the unaffordability for working class families 385 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 2: is an issue now. They were mad about that before 386 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:22,479 Speaker 2: President Donald Trump, and they're mad about it now. But 387 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:25,880 Speaker 2: the reality is we're in power, so the more Republicans 388 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 2: can do to help lower the cost of living, the 389 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 2: better position we will be going into November. And I 390 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 2: do think that's one reason why President Trump is highly 391 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 2: prioritizing getting a deal done with Iran, because that deal 392 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:43,880 Speaker 2: can lead to the cost of living coming down before 393 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,639 Speaker 2: we actually are casting votes in the midterm, that is 394 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:48,399 Speaker 2: probably going to be the single biggest factor. 395 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,159 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, it is crazy because they'll show right that 396 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 3: inflation is down. But of course the percentage you're building 397 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 3: off of is a higher one because we're looking at 398 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:00,439 Speaker 3: the last year, the last year, which are all post COVID, 399 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 3: and it seems like ever since COVID things haven't really 400 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 3: gone back to pre COVID levels, and they need to 401 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 3: because people people are struggling a lot. I guess if 402 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 3: you look at what are some things that Republicans should 403 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,199 Speaker 3: focus on in the valley kind of shifting conversations, but 404 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 3: to make sure we have the people who voted for 405 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 3: Trump in twenty twenty four sticking with the Republicans three 406 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 3: twenty six and obviously hopefully twenty twenty eight. Where are 407 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:32,199 Speaker 3: you noticing is things that will resonate. I don't know 408 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 3: if necessarily all of them have moved to become Republicans 409 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 3: or if they just left Trumps. What's your rate on 410 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 3: that you. 411 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 2: And I might have talked about this last time it 412 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:44,440 Speaker 2: came on. I feel like after the last election, because 413 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 2: when we looked at the Rio Grand Valley, if you 414 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:50,640 Speaker 2: recall some of that shift, it's really been an interesting 415 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:54,879 Speaker 2: phenomenon to watch. Typically, Donald Trump converts Hispanics who then 416 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 2: vote for him and Democrats down the rest of the ticket, 417 00:20:57,160 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 2: and then two years later we convert that group to 418 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 2: be full Republicans. And then two years later he runs 419 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 2: again and converts more Hispanics, but they all vote for 420 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 2: him and the rest of the Democrats, and then we 421 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 2: go in and convert the rest of those The reality 422 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,159 Speaker 2: is that while some of those counties has shifted thirty 423 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 2: or forty or fifty points, which we've seen those people 424 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:18,880 Speaker 2: two cycles ago, we're voting Democrat all the way down. 425 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 2: They're not fully catechized into the conservative mindset. That's just 426 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 2: the reality these people are based. It's the same way 427 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,680 Speaker 2: that when somebody comes into the church and they're young 428 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 2: in the faith, they get baptized, you take time to 429 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 2: catechise them. They're a young Christian, right, we talk about 430 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:40,439 Speaker 2: milk and then eventually feeding them meat. And so we 431 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:42,880 Speaker 2: actually have similar things when we look at voters where 432 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:46,679 Speaker 2: somebody just recently started voting Republican, think of that they 433 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 2: voted Democrat for thirty years. They just started voting Republican 434 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:51,640 Speaker 2: the last two cycles. This is not something they're used 435 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,359 Speaker 2: to doing. In fact, their muscle memory can very quickly 436 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:57,239 Speaker 2: go back. The most important thing for Republicans is to 437 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 2: go down to the valley and spend a lot of 438 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:04,160 Speaker 2: time time holding the hands of those individuals. And I've 439 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 2: been down there. These people are patriots, they're red blooded Americans. 440 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:12,640 Speaker 2: Their life it reflects conservative values and principles, the way 441 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 2: they live their lives and the values they hold. So 442 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:16,920 Speaker 2: Republicans have to go down there. They have to work 443 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 2: those areas hard. They have to show up our entire 444 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 2: state wide ticket. I intend I would be very surprised 445 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,159 Speaker 2: to not see them spend a significant amount of time 446 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 2: in the Rio Grande Valley. Those are areas also where 447 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 2: we have a good opportunity to pick up congressional representation 448 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 2: and expand our Republican majority. And so because of that, 449 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:37,680 Speaker 2: and one of the important state Board of Education seats 450 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 2: is also down there, I think Republicans are going to 451 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 2: spend a pretty significant amount of time down there because 452 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 2: those individuals they voted Republican last time. Some of them 453 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 2: voted Republican four years ago. But life's still expensive. There's 454 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 2: still some things in their life that aren't going the 455 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 2: way they want to go, and so they're wanting to 456 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 2: see Republicans' policy solutions and they need to be reminded 457 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 2: about just how radical this Democrat ticket is. Let's just 458 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:02,159 Speaker 2: remember our state. White Democrats are all Austin Democrats. The 459 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 2: gubernatorial nominee is from Austin. She is a flaming liberal. 460 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 2: The lieutenant governor nominee from Austin, flaming liberal. James Tallerico 461 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:16,880 Speaker 2: from Austin, flaming liberal. These people are Austin Liberal, communists, socialists. 462 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:19,360 Speaker 2: So I don't think that reflects what the Rio Grand 463 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:21,720 Speaker 2: Valley wants to see for Texas, and we have to remind. 464 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 3: Him of that definitely. How do you think a lot 465 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:29,919 Speaker 3: of them in the valley react to the illegal immigration discussion? 466 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:35,199 Speaker 3: Because obviously illegal different than legal. But I don't know 467 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 3: if they hear that negatively or not. Obviously it's something 468 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,360 Speaker 3: that Trump talks a lot about. A lot of right 469 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 3: wing conservatives talk a lot about. Do you think they're 470 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:43,880 Speaker 3: with us on that issue? 471 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:49,920 Speaker 2: Well, I'll say this, the Romney McCain approach to immigration 472 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 2: did not convert South Texans to vote Republican. We had 473 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 2: Republicans that ran the George Bush approach converted less Hispanics 474 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 2: to be Publican than what Donald Trump did. Donald Trump 475 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 2: is the one that delivered historic numbers, and that was 476 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:06,640 Speaker 2: while The New York Times was saying, this guy wants 477 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 2: to lock them all up, he wants to put him 478 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 2: in cages, and they cut through that. Ultimately, they see 479 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 2: the border problems as a fundamental threat to their way 480 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:17,640 Speaker 2: of life, and so down in South Texas they take 481 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,359 Speaker 2: the immigration issue very seriously. The ones that are voting 482 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 2: out there are citizens. They actually don't believe that as 483 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:26,120 Speaker 2: long as your skin is close to as brown as mine, 484 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 2: I'm okay if you're here illegally. They take offense to 485 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 2: that they're actually part of this country. They are proud 486 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:35,639 Speaker 2: of this country. And so the immigration issue has actually 487 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 2: shown to convert South Texas Democrats more so than other issues. 488 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 2: It's been the cultural issues and the immigration issue that 489 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 2: has done more to do that than have the other things. 490 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 2: So while we have more moderate Republicans that push these 491 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:54,320 Speaker 2: kind of amnesty light deals, those eventually get thrown out 492 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 2: and they haven't shown to make give us in roads 493 00:24:57,240 --> 00:25:00,200 Speaker 2: at all into that community. It's actually been the hard 494 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 2: right conservative Republican voices on immigration that have been most 495 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 2: appreciated in South Texas. 496 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:09,440 Speaker 3: Yes, And I think another thing too is the crazy 497 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 3: social issues, because so many people that I talk to 498 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:16,719 Speaker 3: from down there, I mean, they're they find it weird 499 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 3: and gross and strange because not a lot of them 500 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:21,879 Speaker 3: are Christian. And I think the left is just really 501 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 3: bought in on the transgender the abortion worship, just all 502 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:29,159 Speaker 3: of that stuff. They're they're they're just so set on it. 503 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:32,439 Speaker 3: They can't get away from it. Even the Democrats, who 504 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 3: are the pretend to be moderate. It's like a tall 505 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:37,440 Speaker 3: rico can't get away from it because they just believe 506 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:41,959 Speaker 3: it so so feverishly. I don't know what the right 507 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 3: word is. I think I'm meant to say, like, yeah, 508 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:48,359 Speaker 3: I don't know, but they're they're just so set on 509 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 3: it they won't give it up. And so so I 510 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 3: think that's very isolating to a lot of people down there. Definitely, 511 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:55,919 Speaker 3: the Democrats are in disarray. I don't know if they 512 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 3: have a clear message that they want to send nationally, 513 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:02,879 Speaker 3: but then in Texas, I guess the message would be 514 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 3: something like I mean, I don't even know what ta 515 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 3: Rico's clear messages to what do you think he's actually thinking. 516 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 3: He's going to say? What is he going to run on? 517 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:15,240 Speaker 3: Have you picked up on anything? 518 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:18,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, James Telrico is going to run primarily on Ken Paxton. 519 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,160 Speaker 2: He's going to take what the legacy media have said 520 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 2: about the attorney general for the last sever more years 521 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 2: and he's just going to try to run a character 522 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 2: assassination campaign from now till November. It's a really, I think, 523 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:33,119 Speaker 2: clearcut framing on tall Rico's part. His goal is to 524 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 2: not spend a lot of time talking about himself, about 525 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 2: his views, about his record, but instead just to say 526 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 2: legacy media outlets like The New York Times will tell 527 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,400 Speaker 2: you Ken Paxton is corrupt. Therefore he is corrupt, Therefore 528 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:47,480 Speaker 2: you should vote for me. And he's hoping that that 529 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 2: makes inroads amongst white suburban voters in Texas and that 530 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 2: then the Democrat energy can turn out more voters. Ultimately, 531 00:26:56,560 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 2: this is a turnout game. One in four people that 532 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:02,920 Speaker 2: voted for President Ronald Trump two years ago are less 533 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 2: motivated to come out and vote this November. This is 534 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 2: the number I keep telling people because I think it's 535 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:09,879 Speaker 2: really important to understand we are not talking about the 536 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 2: Democrats converting people, converting a bunch of people to vote 537 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:15,160 Speaker 2: for Trump to vote for them. We were actually talking 538 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:16,879 Speaker 2: about whether or not all the people that came out 539 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:19,719 Speaker 2: to vote two years ago are still motivated to come 540 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:21,639 Speaker 2: out again. Some of them don't think we have a 541 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:24,399 Speaker 2: real competition in November, so they're not that worried. Some 542 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 2: of them are frustrated with their current situation in life, 543 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 2: and some of them are having a hard time affording 544 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:31,880 Speaker 2: basic things, and that's mostly due to just the price 545 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:33,640 Speaker 2: of gas right now, and then of course the price 546 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:35,639 Speaker 2: that that starts adding on to everything else because everything 547 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:37,800 Speaker 2: needs to move around this country to be sold to 548 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:42,239 Speaker 2: somebody else. So those individuals might just not show up 549 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:44,879 Speaker 2: unless Republicans get to them. Tall Rico is hoping that 550 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:48,680 Speaker 2: Republicans are motivated to show up. That he motivates Democrats 551 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 2: because they believe we're one election away from a Handmaid's 552 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:55,399 Speaker 2: tale everywhere, and that will be his message to those people. 553 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:59,720 Speaker 2: If you do not show up, Republicans are going to dominate, 554 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 2: and they are going to do everything that you could 555 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 2: possibly ever think they would do in your worst nightmare. 556 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 2: That is his message to the left, and then, of 557 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 2: course his message to the middle, which the legacy media 558 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:12,680 Speaker 2: is going to do his work for him, is they're 559 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 2: going to say, this guy's a reasonable moderate who's worked 560 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 2: across the aisle with Republicans all the time. I think 561 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 2: you're right, though, that Republicans in the state don't have 562 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 2: a message the governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, 563 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:27,639 Speaker 2: the comptroller. Because people are happy. They're moving to Texas 564 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:31,120 Speaker 2: for a reason, and our governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller, attorney 565 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 2: general are all Republicans for a reason. We're tough on crime, 566 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 2: we care about your pocketbook, We're pushing property tax reform 567 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 2: and relief, we carry All of the things we are 568 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 2: doing are things that reflect the values of the people 569 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 2: that are coming to Texas. So I do think that 570 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 2: they are going to very much struggle to convince people 571 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:51,280 Speaker 2: that the state should go blue. Tall Rico's going to 572 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 2: just try to capitalize on the fact that Democrats also 573 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:57,200 Speaker 2: need a couple more states to be competitive in order 574 00:28:57,240 --> 00:28:59,240 Speaker 2: to have a better path to the Senate, And so 575 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 2: why not just stump a quarter billion dollars, which is 576 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 2: what I expect. I think the Tallarrico campaign alone will 577 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 2: spend two hundred and fifty million dollars between now and 578 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:09,520 Speaker 2: November trying to win this seat. 579 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 3: Wow, oh my goodness. Well I look forward all the 580 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:15,160 Speaker 3: more to them losing them. That would be great, great 581 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 3: to spend that there. Well, Luke, thanks so much for 582 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:21,120 Speaker 3: joining us. I appreciate it and it's always great to 583 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:21,680 Speaker 3: chat with you. 584 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 2: Thanks. 585 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 1: Danielle breaking down politics, culture, and the buzz of the 586 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 1: day with bold conversations about faith, family, and living. 587 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 2: What you believe. 588 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 1: This is the Danielle gil Show.