Will Cruz's popularity in Texas encourage the Democrats to target Texas in 2018?

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Its worth a try if O'Rourke or a Dems get a candidate willing to take on Cruz. Don't forget the Latino states did vote in favor of Clinton over Trump and AZ, NV and TX are Latino states. Opposition usually gain seats in offyear elections.

If its an anti Trump wave and Dems win the House, certainly its a possibility.

[Cynthia]

If it happens, it will be about as successful as the GOP's attempt to defeat Barbara Boxer in 2010. There will be a few polls showing a very close race only for Cruz to win by at least 8 points on election day.

Not Boxer, but Murray. TX is not that Republican as CA is Democratic.

[kyc0705]

They should try. I don't think they'll succeed, but it's definitely worth a look.

[Blackacre]

It'll do the Dems good to build infrastructure in the state asap. ell the base it's to target Cruz, but the real goal would be to have the needed framework to win statewide in 2020 and beyond.

[President Johnson]

Hopefully Rafael Eduardo gets kicked out. If not by a Democrat, then by a primary. But I think he will win by about five to ten points in the end. But yes, Democrats will target this seat if Cruz' and Trump's numbers remain that low.

[Figueira]

If it happens, it will be about as successful as the GOP's attempt to defeat Barbara Boxer in 2010. There will be a few polls showing a very close race only for Cruz to win by at least 8 points on election day.

Not Boxer, but Murray. TX is not that Republican as CA is Democratic.

Honestly WA is probably more Democratic than TX is Republican at this point. I'd put this in the same category as Heinrich's 2018 race.

I guess it's likely to be "about as successful as the attempt to defeat Boxer" in the sense that both are ultimately failures, though.

[Virginiá]

I think it might be helpful if Democrats start regularly putting good money into organizing and establishing real infrastructure in Texas, particularly the urban centers, maybe work for legislative seats here and there, but to seriously try and knock out Cruz absent a historic Democratic tsunami, well, I think that would be a waste. Texas doesn't seem to be at the point yet where Democrats can seriously contest a major statewide race - at least based on what has been so far. However, building up the state party to working slowly towards that goal would be a fine idea.

[SCNCmod]

Lyin Ted won in 2014 with just 28.5% turnout.

He could be beaten if Dems and minorities really turn-out

This^^^ 

Ted Cruz will not inspire strong midterm turnout to support him... VS motivated turnout by Dems, women's march, obamacare/trumpcare, etc.   I think Joaquin Castro has a very good shot, Especially when you consider such low turnout in Texas midterms vs Texas General Elections. And considering Texas is a Minority-Majority state.

[SCNCmod]

Who has the better shot of upsetting Cruz due to low mid-term R turnout? ... O'Rourke or Joaquin Castro?

[Shadows]

I think it might be helpful if Democrats start regularly putting good money into organizing and establishing real infrastructure in Texas, particularly the urban centers, maybe work for legislative seats here and there, but to seriously try and knock out Cruz absent a historic Democratic tsunami, well, I think that would be a waste. Texas doesn't seem to be at the point yet where Democrats can seriously contest a major statewide race - at least based on what has been so far. However, building up the state party to working slowly towards that goal would be a fine idea.

I agree. This a 100%, you work your way up. But I would advise about a spending/not spending being taken too early until a range of polls are in showing how close the race is. The urban areas should be targeted including races for Mayor (Dallas 2020 ?? etc), Congressional races & even State Leg/Senate races keeping in mind a 10-12 year plan to turn Texas purple

The best bet would be somehow if Brock & all these slimy organizations secretly pay many Millions to some Evan McMillan type candidate who will claim Lyin' Ted cheated & backstabbed Trump or flip-flopped on immigration or maybe will target the moderate Republican base - Just divide the conservative votes. I don't see any candidate being able to do that successfully vs Cruz but that is the only scenario where Dems win.

[Shadows]

Look @ Lyin' Ted in the Gorsuch hearing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgsDVtS6YOY

Completely clown asking about irrelevant stuff & gushing !

[Orser67]

Republicans are likely to win the race, but Democrats should still target Texas for a few reasons. Texas is so big that investing in the state is worth it for the long-term payoffs in both the congressional and presidential and elections. Given the trend against Republicans in the 2016 election in Texas, I think that Democrats really need to continue to invest in the state. And of course, winning a third Senate seat and taking control of the Senate would be huge (though that assumes that Democrats manage to defend all their own and pick up AZ and NV, which is admittedly unlikely). Add in the fact that a 2018 victory in Texas would mean the defeat of Ted Cruz, perhaps the most prominent conservative in the country, and I think that Democrats have lots of reasons to target Texas in 2018.