(PBS NEWSHOUR) — Caption: Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, at a campaign stop in Houston on Nov. 11, 2017. O’Rourke, who is running for the Senate, is part of a wave of Democrats challenging incumbent Republicans in Texas this year.
Last month, moments after Doug Jones’ Senate win in Alabama became official, Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas., sent out a fundraising email with the subject line: “Next stop, Texas 2018.”
Coming from O’Rourke, who is running to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, this fall, the implication was clear: If Jones could win in such a deep-red state, maybe Democrats had a fighting chance across the country.
Energized by last year’s high-profile senate and gubernatorial Democratic victories in Alabama and Virginia, along with wins in state and local races, liberal activists and candidates are taking on Republicans in places where the GOP has gone virtually unchallenged for years.
Click to continue reading. By Jessica Yarvin – Jan 26, 2018.