Texas Democrats Searching for a ‘dynamic, Authentic' Candidate for Governor in 2018

Do you have a dynamic personality? Can you raise money and mobilize people in support of a cause? Do you mind eating bad food and making the same speech over and over again?If you answered yes to at least one of these questions, you could be the Texas Democratic Party's 2018 candidate for governor.Yes, even you.Texas Democrats are looking for a candidate to challenge incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and help lead a slate a candidates in what could be a pivotal election year.Since last year's stunning election of Donald Trump, Democrats have been mobilizing to resist the new president's policies, and turn their new-found energy into victories in the 2018 midterm contests. Texas Democrats hope that Trump, unpopular outside of his base, will be the tonic they need to finally win a statewide contest and make electoral gains elsewhere in the state, including North Texas.Manny Garcia, deputy executive director for the Texas Democratic Party, says 2018 will be the midterm election of a lifetime, a watershed year for his party and progressives in the Lone Star State.But Democratic operatives are having a dickens of a time convincing a legitimate candidate to be the party's standard bearer in the race for governor, the most watched contest of the midterm season.If Democrats can't find a good candidate, they risk squandering the energy and resources developed this year, at least when it comes to seizing the governor's mansion for the first time since Ann Richards won it in 1990.Garcia, who has been asked enough questions about candidates for governor to irritate him, is telling folks to relax. He says it's still early, pointing out that recent Democratic Party nominees didn't announce their campaigns until the fall. Meanwhile, Abbott could announce his re-election bid later this week. "We are talking to several people and we will have a candidate," Garcia said. "We're looking for a candidate who can connect with Texas voters and energize the base."Garcia said it is important to have a likable person at the top of the ticket who can maintain an "authentic voice.""That's hard to find," he said.Democrats also need a strong candidate for lieutenant governor and several other statewide contests.Several big-name Democrats have opted against a 2018 race for governor. This was the year that former U.S. Housing Secretary and former San Antonio mayor Julian Castro was supposed to make a long-anticipated campaign for governor. He declined.To this point, other leaders have not stepped up. Rep. Rafael Anchia of Dallas and former Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio at this point won't be in the statewide mix in 2018, though both have been mentioned and approached for statewide candidacies.So Democrats are on the lookout for out-of-box candidates.But a guy like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has a taste for presidential politics. Doubt that he would consider it.Trump has shown us that reality stars can win in politics.So how about reaching out to Dallas lawyer Rachel Lindsay, the star of this season's The Bachelorette? Her dad, Sam Lindsay, is a federal judge. I bet she can get 40 percent of the vote.Given that Democrats are out of power, it's not surprising they don't have a long list of champions to slate.  Continue reading...

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