‘I Hate To Say It – This Might Be the Year’: Former GOP Strategist Sounds Alarm in Texas Senate Race

Former GOP strategist Joseph Moreno spoke out about the upcoming U.S. Senate race in Texas on CNN Friday, remarking, “I hate to say it — this might be the year” that Democrats emerge victorious.

According to polls cited by the network, Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D) is leading Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) 47% to 45%, which is, however, “within the margin of error,” so it’s “statistically insignificant.”

When asked by CNN’s Jake Tapper on Friday’s edition of The Lead if those numbers shock him, Moreno responded, “It surprises me, and it worries me a little bit, Jake. Normally, I would say, ‘I’m not worried about this,’ right? It’s been 30 years since a Democrat won statewide office in Texas.”

“[Former Texas Governor] Ann Richards?” Tapper clarified.

“I think it was, actually. 1994, I believe,” Moreno confirmed. In reality, Richards’ gubernatorial term lasted from 1991 to 1995. “The problem is, here’s what happens — in 2024, the Republican was up by 2%, wins by 8%. In 2020, [Sen. John] Cornyn [R-TX] was up 10%, wins by 10%; 2018 — [Sen. Ted] Cruz [R-TX] is up 4%, wins by 2.6% over [former Rep.] Beto O’Rourke [D-TX]. Now, you’ve got Talarico even, or maybe even ahead of Paxton. Paxton is so flawed. I’m embarrassed as a Republican.”

Paxton’s candidacy, despite winning an endorsement from President Donald Trump over Cornyn, has been scandal-ridden, with questions about alleged voter fraud, lavish vacations with what some call his “mistress,” his office’s plea deal with child sex predator Adam Hoffman, and more.

“So, this might be — I know Democrats get excited every few years that this might be the year for Texas,” concluded Moreno. “I hate to say it — this might be the year for Democrats in Texas.”

In a Fox News poll released last week, to Moreno’s point, Talarico led Paxton 51% to 48%. Again, though, the margin of error was ±3 percentage points.

Watch the full clip above via CNN.

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