Joan Esposito: Live, Local & ProgressiveJoan Esposito is joined by Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder. The interview focused on Texas Democrats’ election gains in last week's midterm election and the party’s approach to turnout, candidate selection, and coalition-building.
Here are a few highlights from the conversation:
- Scudder said a Texas research consortium’s final polling accurately projected several races, but the party exceeded expectations by flipping 21 state House seats and 18 statewide races.
- He credited the recruiting of candidates across the ballot, including in races Democrats had previously left uncontested.
- He attributed the gains to strong Democratic turnout, weaker Republican turnout, and economic concerns, including property taxes, school vouchers, and data center development.
- He argued that Democrats should focus on working-class needs and avoid treating voting as a search for a perfect candidate.
- Scudder said Texas party officials accepted primary filings without choosing nominees, leaving voters to decide; he said contested primaries strengthened the eventual nominees.
- He emphasized that party and elected officials have different responsibilities and that coalition building requires respect across viewpoints.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
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