How Texas could stop Bernie Sanders’ march — or push him to Democratic nomination
Texas’ moment in the Democratic presidential spotlight will be far too brief.
The Lone Star State offers the third-most delegates of any contest. But our primary comes just three days after South Carolina’s vote Saturday, and it’s part of the huge Super Tuesday package, so attention will be diluted.
That’s too bad, because Texas could be one of the key players in a stop-Bernie Sanders movement, if one materializes in the Democratic Party. Or, if the state breaks the Vermont senator’s way, it could help make him the inevitable nominee.
Polls indicate that Sanders and Joe Biden are neck and neck in Texas and far ahead of the rest of the pack. And they represent not just the choice for who should take on President Donald Trump but also the larger debate over the direction of the party, especially in Texas.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHey, who writes these editorials?
Editorials are the positions of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy, columnist; Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor; and Nicole Russell, editorial writer and columnist. Most editorials are written by Rusak or Russell. Editorials are unsigned because they represent the board’s consensus positions, not the views of individual writers.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
How are topics and positions chosen?
The Editorial Board meets regularly to discuss issues in the news and what points should be made in editorials. We strive to build a consensus to produce the strongest editorials possible, but when we differ, we put matters to a vote.
The board aims to be consistent with stances it has taken in the past but usually engages in a fresh discussion based on new developments and different perspectives.
We focus on local and state news, though we will also weigh in on national issues with an eye toward their impact on Texas or the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
How are these different from news articles or signed columns?
News reporters strive to keep their opinions out of what they write. They have no input on the Editorial Board’s stances. The board consults their reporting and expertise but does its own research for editorials.
Signed columns by writers such as Allen, Kennedy and Rusak contain the writer’s personal opinions.
How can I respond to an editorial, suggest a topic or ask a question?
We invite readers to write letters to be considered for publication. The preferred method is an email to letters@star-telegram.com. To suggest a topic or ask a question, please email Rusak directly at rrusak@star-telegram.com.
Progressives say it’s time for bold action on the economy, climate and health care, and if far-left policies turn off moderate voters, they argue, a surge of young Texans and other first-time voters will more than make up the difference.
“Folks have been fighting for decades to get to this point in Texas, seeing candidates who are speaking to these issues of change, willing to put in work to get change for our state,” said Tara Pohlmeyer, communications manager for Progress Texas, which works to move the state to the left.
More centrist Democrats see the culmination of a years-long effort to bring the party back to life in Texas that could be set back by talk of socialism.
“It’s going to be Bernie and his cause taking the party down with him,” U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth recently told the Texas Tribune.
Texas’ outcome can be measured in two ways: momentum and delegates.
A clear Sanders victory would send the message that he can win a big, diverse state and compete in unexpected places. It will be national news if a self-proclaimed democratic socialist wins deep-red Texas, even in a Democratic primary.
A strong Biden showing would give him a boost as the anti-Sanders candidate and, if the field narrows, set up a one-on-one battle.
The most likely result, though, is a split verdict. And that’s where delegate math comes in.
Texas’ primary will divvy up 228 delegates, but it’s far from winner take all. The statewide results will decide 79 of those. The remaining 149 are awarded based on how candidates do in Texas’ 31 state Senate districts. So it’s possible the statewide second-place candidate could win more delegates.
To win delegates in either category, a candidate must get at least 15% of the vote statewide or in the Senate district in question. That brings us to the next tier of candidates in Texas polling.
Michael Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren are both within reach of the 15% threshold in Progress Texas’ most recent poll. And if they take delegates, the message out of Texas will be muddied that much further.
Voters make their decisions for a myriad of reasons. Some vote on issues. Some try to calculate electability in the general campaign, and others vote based on personality. And with early voting, hundreds of thousands locked their choice in without knowing the outcome in South Carolina.
But those hoping to vote strategically and shape the direction of their party have to decide whether Sanders or Biden is the better choice.
Longer-term, voters in both parties have a chance to shape their future, starting Tuesday.
The political parties are weak; that’s part of the reason we’ve seen lifelong outsiders, such as Sanders and Trump, leap to the front of crowded packs in their primaries.
The primaries are the first step for a voter who wants to get directly involved and help shape the party’s future, whether Republican or Democrat. After Tuesday night, both parties begin a process of precinct, county and/or Senate district conventions, culminating in the state and national gatherings, where the parties’ platforms will be decided.
If you want your voice to resonate beyond just your vote, get involved.
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 9:26 AM.