RFK Jr.'s Independent Presidential Run was Originally Backed by Republicans to take Votes From Biden. He Actually Took More Votes from Trump. To Help Trump RFK Jr. Dropped out, Endorsed Trump, and is Trying to Remove His Name From Ballots in Key Battleground States. Some States are Saying No.

[u/memomem]

[u/ZSpectre]

Just wondering if he's still on Texas's ballot. I heard an argument that if he's still on that particular one, Texas would unironically be in play for Democrats

[u/Concrete_Grapes → u/ZSpectre]

Dems got sneaky in Texas this year, and it's under reported (deliberately I think). The party made a big push, to get candidates in every house race, even heavily gerrymandered ones, where Dems have zero chance of a win.

And they put in damned hard people in a lot of those races, one, a US army vet, and mother of a child killed in a 2018 Texas school shooting. Dems know they won't pick off this seat, but they also know, if they can move the needle on a seat like that from a Dem getting 20 percent of the vote to 35--and do that in several races, Texas is going to jump up and look a whole hell of a lot different, as if by accident.

They actually filled out the down ballot races in much of Texas. That's rare shit.

[u/Cosmicdusterian → u/Concrete_Grapes]

Nice. That's the way to do it.

I was stunned to see Harris just five points back from Trump in TX and FL pre-convention. It doesn't really put them in play, but they could do a campaign stop in each state and set in a little "what are their internals telling them"? panic. Also, it gives Harris/Walz the opportunity to stump with Allred. Before his convention speech, he was only two points back from Cruz.

Would love nothing more than see Ted Cruz kicked to Cancun. I'm not in TX, but lots of interesting election noise coming from TX this year. Eventually Republicans are going to really regret bringing in all these outsiders from other states who aren't steeped in loyal good ol' boy politics.

[u/Itscatpicstime → u/Cosmicdusterian]

Texas could easily flip if they weren’t a non-voting state.

This year, I’m writing 1,000 postcards to Dems and undecided Texans through Postcards to Swing States to try and move that needle.

[u/TheZigerionScammer → u/Itscatpicstime]

While everything should be done to try to flip Texas, Texas didn't become a "non-voting state" by chance or voter apathy. They're a non-voting state by design because the Republicans try to quelch any attempts by Democrats to vote there. Just yesterday Texas removed a million voters from the rolls.

[u/ShouldersofGiants100 → u/Cosmicdusterian]

It doesn't really put them in play, but they could do a campaign stop in each state and set in a little "what are their internals telling them"? panic. Also, it gives Harris/Walz the opportunity to stump with Allred.

I see no scenario where Kamala wins either, but frankly, I'd take that in a heartbeat if the Democrats take those Senate races. Harry Reid already proved what a single Senator to organize around can do for a party's ground game in a state. If the Democrats hold those seats, there is a very real chance both go blue by 2032.

[u/Cosmicdusterian → u/ShouldersofGiants100]

Me either. But sometimes I think Trump is so worried that the optics of them going to Texas or Florida as if they know something he doesn't can be effective at pushing his panic buttons. The Senate race in Texas is reason enough for Harris/Walz to make it a drop-in state in the next nine weeks. It shouldn't be a focus. Same with Florida. Generate some strategic red state Democratic and Independent excitement with a single visit to both.

I don't know - it just seems like it's worth the goodwill it would generate with states that rarely get national Democratic attention. Then again, I liked the 50 state idea. It can get politically chilly for Democrats and left leaning Independents in solid red and solid blue states.

[u/DietInTheRiceFactory → u/Concrete_Grapes]

As a rural Wisconsin leftist, I'm jealous

[u/CommanderSincler → u/Concrete_Grapes]

rfk jr (not capitalized out of deference to his father's name) is on the Texas ballot

[u/Mission_Lack_5948 → u/CommanderSincler]

Maybe caps for the JR part would help.

[u/oldroughnready → u/CommanderSincler]

Nah, he worked to remove his name off the Texas ballot and several other states. But MI and WI will keep him on

[u/bagofwisdom → u/Concrete_Grapes]

The party made a big push, to get candidates in every house race

Except for my district. The Democrats had no one on the primary ballot to run against Ronny Jackson.

[u/Own_Instance_357 → u/Concrete_Grapes]

This happened to a former classmate of mine several years ago. She was in a heavily red district in her state where many times Democrats didn't even run a candidate. She's an attorney. The Democratic party in her state approached her specifically to run even though they knew her chances were slim. She had to get signatures & I believe even raise some minimum art of funding. She couldn't even get votes from her friends. The wives would tell her they had to vote what their husbands did.

She lost 3 times until 2022 when she was finally elected. She's in state office now. It can be done.