Texas 'focal point' of Democratic congressional strategy in 2020

Former House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas. Former House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas. Photo: Evan Vucci, STF / Associated Press Photo: Evan Vucci, STF / Associated Press Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Texas 'focal point' of Democratic congressional strategy in 2020 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

WASHINGTON – Democrats still have Texas on their minds.

Smelling blood after picking up two Texas congressional seats in November – along with Beto O'Rourke's narrow loss in the U.S. Senate race – House Democrats on Monday announced six new 2020 targets in the Lone Star State.

In a wish list of 33 GOP-held or open seats targeted nationally by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Texas figures prominently as a potential battleground, particularly in the suburbs.

The targeted Texas lawmakers include Houston-area Republicans Michael McCaul and Pete Olson. Around San Antonio, the Democrats are putting two other Republicans in their sights: Freshman Chip Roy, a conservative stalwart who worked for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, and moderate Will Hurd, who represents a heavily Latino border district.

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Rounding out the list are Republicans John Carter of Round Rock and Kenny Marchant of Coppell.

"All six have suburban areas experiencing population booms and an increasingly diverse electorate. These factors gave Republicans a taste of what is headed their way." said DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos, an Illinois Democrat, in a memo released Monday.

"In 2020 a rapidly emerging Democratic coalition will make Texas a focal point of the House Democrats' offensive strategy," she continued.

Democrats noted that all six targeted Republicans in Texas won by five points or less, revealing electoral weaknesses in a state that has been dominated by Republicans for a generation.

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In practical terms, the DCCC list indicates the group will be pouring money and organizational resources into those races, including recruitment efforts to help candidates who best match their districts.

But by any measure, the Democrats' Texas hit list is extraordinarily ambitious. Republicans still represent 23 of the state's 36 congressional districts. Flipping six seats would give Democrats a 19-17 majority in Texas.

That wouldn't just be a blue wave; for the GOP it would be a blue cataclysm.

Republicans were playing defense around the nation in the 2018 midterm elections – losing 40 seats. But they say they see cracks in the Democratic coalition that could pay dividends in 2020.

"In less than a month, House Democrats have pushed a radical agenda focused on open borders, anti-law enforcement and turning our backs on our allies in the Middle East," said Bob Salera, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP's campaign arm. "We look forward to them trying to sell that message in Texas."

Texas GOP chairman James Dickey discounted the Democrats' aims.

"The Democrats are still riding the splash of the 2018 elections in hopes that it will carry over into 2020," he said. "But the reality is, they have shown Texas Republicans what can happen if any Republican stays home during these crucial elections. We are engaging a massive campaign effort which started the day after the election to ensure we not only will successfully defend Republican seats, we regain the seats Democrats won from the Beto bump of 2018."

With less than two years before the election, both sides know a major factor in the battle for Congress will be President Donald Trump, whose popularity is at a low ebb following the 35-day government shutdown over his demand for border wall money.

Polls show that Democrats are still fired up, though Trump remains popular with his base. Whatever his fortunes, Trump is now central to the GOP brand.

At the very least, the DCCC memo also laid down a marker that the 2020 elections are already underway.

"It has already started," Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn tweeted in response on Monday. Cornyn, a top Senate Republican, faces reelection in 2020. Among the potential Democratic challengers: O'Rourke, who is still weighing a potential White House run on the strength of his narrow loss to Cruz in the Senate race.

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