I went to Waco for the Baylor-TCU game and wound up conducting a completely nonsensical focus group of two at George’s, a local bar known for gigantic $4.75 goblets of beer. The two older gentlemen we met were uniquely Waco: strong opinions about the Branch Davidian siege, Baylor football, and Texas politics. More importantly, they were exactly the kind of John Cornyn voters Ken Paxton needs to bring home.
Both men knew Paxton and had been in a room with him. Neither was impressed. Both had voted for Cornyn, understood why he lost MAGA support, and wished they could vote for him in November. But would they stay home or vote for James Talarico? Absolutely not. They’re voting for Paxton. These aren’t the swingiest voters in Texas, but if people with personal animus toward Paxton still don’t view him as a moral stay-away, that makes me feel worse about Talarico’s chances.
