Texas
South Texas Democrats fight to shape their party’s future in primary runoffs
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It’s not simply Henry Cuellar and Jessica Cisneros.
Democratic major runoffs for congressional and state legislative seats in South Texas are placing on show clearly totally different instructions for the social gathering because it approaches a normal election the place Republicans are set on capturing new territory within the area.
Whereas Cuellar’s battle royale towards Cisneros within the twenty eighth Congressional District continues to captivate nationwide consideration — particularly with the latest information that the U.S. Supreme Courtroom is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade — these further runoffs are additionally deeply significant for Democrats. Additionally they showcase a brand new guard of extra progressive Democrats taking up extra reasonable Democrats, usually backed by extra established native political gamers.
Within the fifteenth Congressional District, Ruben Ramirez and Michelle Vallejo are vying to be the Democratic nominee for an open seat that Republicans contemplate one in all their high pickup alternatives nationwide. In Texas Senate District 27, Morgan LaMantia and Sara Stapleton-Barrera are competing for the Democratic nod to switch a retiring incumbent, Eddie Lucio Jr., who leaves behind an extended legacy of bucking his fellow Democrats on social points. And in Home District 37, Ruben Cortez Jr. and Luis Villarreal are jockeying for the Democratic slot in a brand new battleground district that Republicans created for themselves within the redistricting course of final 12 months.
All of the contests have grown contentious in latest weeks as candidates struggle to indicate they’re the very best standard-bearer for Democrats going ahead in a newly aggressive area. Here’s a take a look at the three runoffs:
fifteenth Congressional District
The fifteenth District arguably carries the very best stakes of all of the Democratic major runoffs in South Texas, on condition that Republicans see it as essentially the most flippable. Already a district that Biden barely carried in 2020, redistricting tilted it slightly extra within the GOP’s favor, prompting the incumbent, Democratic U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen, to hunt reelection in a extra secure neighboring district.
The runoff candidates are Ruben Ramirez, a lawyer and Military veteran who beforehand ran for the seat, and Michelle Vallejo, an activist and small enterprise proprietor. It’s a timeworn matchup between a reasonable Democrat who believes the social gathering will danger the seat in November if it goes too far to the left — and a progressive Democrat who sees it otherwise.
“Extra than simply telling folks issues, I’ve been exhibiting up,” Vallejo mentioned in an interview, noting she has “been capable of earn extra endorsements than Ruben, each domestically and nationally,” and posted higher numbers on the newest marketing campaign finance report.
“We haven’t simply been speaking the discuss, we’ve been strolling the stroll,” she mentioned.
Ramirez has continued to marketing campaign arduous on electability and distancing himself from the nationwide Democratic model, impressing upon audiences that he is aware of South Texas Democrats are totally different. With a watch on the final election, he often namedrops the GOP nominee, Monica De La Cruz, who has emerged as one of many Republicans’ most prized congressional candidates nationwide.
“There’s just one candidate that may win and beat Monica De La Cruz, and that’s me,” Ramirez mentioned throughout a marketing campaign cease earlier this month, noting he was the highest vote-getter within the major, incomes 28% to twenty% for Vallejo. In an announcement for this story, he added, “We gained the first in March, we’ll win the runoff this month, and we’ll win in November to make it possible for we’ve a typical sense fighter for South Texas in Congress.”
Vallejo’s endorsements embody U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachussets; the Congressional Progressive Caucus; two former major rivals; and EMILY’s Record, the influential nationwide Democratic group that helps ladies who favor abortion rights. Ramirez has the backing of Gonzalez, plus the reasonable Blue Canine Coalition in Congress and nationwide teams that mirror his public-service background like VoteVets and 314 Motion.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has been deeply divided on the runoff, with practically a dozen members splitting their endorsements between Ramirez and Vallejo.
One in every of Ramirez’s most useful endorsers recently has been Democratic Majority for Israel, a pro-Israel group that’s spending mid-six-figures on constructive TV advertisements and mailers for him. The most important outdoors spender for Vallejo has been LUPE Votes, a neighborhood progressive organizing group.
The 2 averted open battle for months, however Ramirez just lately despatched out a mailer criticizing Vallejo over one in all their greatest coverage variations: well being care. Ramirez is concentrated on defending the Reasonably priced Care Act and increasing protection, whereas Vallejo helps the much more sweeping single-payer system referred to as Medicare for All. The mailer says such a plan would “finish the Reasonably priced Care Act” and “eradicate non-public insurance coverage,” amongst different issues, which Vallejo’s marketing campaign known as “GOP speaking factors and lies” in a latest fundraising electronic mail.
“I’ll completely preserve speaking about” Medicare for All, together with within the normal election, Vallejo mentioned, calling the proposal extra vital than ever with Roe v. Wade on the road.
There has additionally been rigidity recently round ethics in campaigning. A Ramirez supporter filed a marketing campaign finance criticism final month towards LUPE Votes accusing it of violating a number of legal guidelines for the way it has supported Vallejo; LUPE Votes has not responded to the costs. On Friday, a nationwide progressive group, the Working Households Celebration, mentioned voters had been getting texts claiming to be from the group and urging help for Ramirez, despite the fact that it backs Vallejo; Ramirez’s marketing campaign denied any involvement.
And an Edinburg marketing consultant who had been working for Ramirez’s marketing campaign was just lately indicted on a federal bribery cost unrelated to the race; Ramirez’s marketing campaign reduce ties and mentioned “corruption has no place in authorities.”
Texas Senate District 27
Morgan LaMantia and Sara Stapleton-Barrera are working for the Democratic nod to switch a large in South Texas politics: state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., the Brownsville Democrat who has represented the twenty seventh District since 1991. And he looms prominently over the race on condition that he has endorsed LaMantia, and his socially conservative politics usually are not extensively embraced contained in the social gathering as of late.
However LaMantia has made clear she disagrees with him on some key points — like his opposition to abortion rights — whereas seeking to fend off a persistent progressive campaigner in Stapleton-Barrera, who ran towards Lucio within the 2020 major and compelled him to a runoff. Regardless of LaMantia’s huge spending within the March major — over $1.5 million — she and Stapleton-Barrera completed shut collectively, getting 34% and 33%, respectively.
Now LaMantia has shaken up the runoff with a full-throated message criticizing each Gov. Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden on the border, vowing to face as much as each events to repair immigration.
“To President Biden: The surge is right here, there’s nonetheless no plan, and we on the border are paying the value,” LaMantia says in a TV advert, which is complemented by a mailer that tells Biden to “stroll again your resolution on [ending] Title 42,” the pandemic-era coverage that border officers are utilizing to rapidly expel migrants on the border. One mailer exhibits a grainy, darkish shot inside a migrant detention facility.
Stapleton-Barrera mentioned Biden’s transfer to rescind Title 42 is the “proper factor to do” and “an vital step towards rebuilding the asylum system.” She accused LaMantia of utilizing “nationwide Republican rhetoric and attempting to scare folks right here on the border.”
LaMantia defended the promoting in an interview, saying border communities are “fed up” with inaction by each events on immigration reform. She mentioned the frustrations are resonating even among the many hardcore Democrats that may be anticipated to prove for a major runoff.
There isn’t any scarcity of contrasts, particularly with Stapleton-Barrera’s previous opponent — Lucio — within the combine. She mentioned the district doesn’t want “one other one in all [Lucio’s] mouthpieces,” and even when LaMantia is sounding totally different notes on abortion rights, “I don’t suppose that necwessarily means she’s gonna be a champion or go as much as bat on it.” LaMantia mentioned Lucio remained an asset for her candidacy given all his expertise and the void in seniority the subsequent senator should fill.
Extra broadly, LaMantia pointed to her enterprise expertise — her household owns L&F Distributors, a beer wholesaler all through South Texas — as her important distinction with Stapleton-Barrera.
“The place she enjoys the soapbox, I benefit from the work,” LaMantia mentioned.
Whether or not the GOP is critical about flipping this seat is essentially the most open query among the many Democratic major runoffs in South Texas. However identical to elsewhere, Republicans obtained a head begin in SD-27, finalizing their nominee, Adam Hinojosa, again within the March major.
Home District 37
A lot to the chagrin of Rio Grande Valley Democrats, Republicans divided up state Home districts within the area throughout redistricting final 12 months and got here out with a newly aggressive district based mostly in Cameron County, together with South Padre Island. President Joe Biden would have carried it by solely 2 proportion factors.
Republicans swiftly consolidated behind Janie Lopez, a San Benito faculty district trustee, and he or she simply gained her major in March. However the Democratic major went to a runoff between two candidates who hail from distinctly totally different native factions: Luis Villarreal, a younger former aide to state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville; and Ruben Cortez Jr., a member of the State Board of Training who challenged Lucio within the 2020 major.
Cortez is arguing Villarreal can be “extra of the identical,” a reasonable like his former boss who is simply too cozy with Republicans. He has additionally highlighted that Villarreal just lately labored as an government for a staffing firm that partnered with a troubled nonprofit to open a shelter for unaccompanied migrant kids within the Valley.
“This younger man is poised to develop into the subsequent Ryan Guillen,” Cortez mentioned, referring to the longtime South Texas state consultant who switched events and joined the GOP final 12 months. “He’s not gonna struggle for this battleground district each two years. … He’ll fold to the Republican Celebration.”
Cortez has seized on two donations that Villarreal made to Republicans towards the tip of the 2020 election — $5,000 to the state Republican Celebration and $2,800 to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn — asking if Villarreal is working in the proper major. Villarreal has not shied away from the contributions as he has characterised them as indicative of the sort of bipartisan cooperation wanted within the state Senate.
Requested at a latest discussion board whether it is OK for Democratic candidates to have beforehand donated to Republicans, Villarreal answered within the affirmative, saying it “exhibits character in a means that you just’re keen to work with each side.”
“We’re right here domestically, and we have to be certain that you’re capable of get what you want accomplished,” Villarreal mentioned, “and typically which means working with the opposite facet, as I’ll after I develop into a legislator.”
Cortez has confronted his personal assaults from charter-school advocates, who he has battled on the State Board of Training. One pro-charter faculty PAC, Constitution Faculties Now, is working an advert towards Cortez that hits him as an “unethical” politician “out for himself.” Villarreal has piled on, writing on Fb on Friday that Cortez “has spent the final 18 years milking the federal government’s cow.”
Disclosure: Fb has been a monetary supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan information group that’s funded partly by donations from members, foundations and company sponsors. Monetary supporters play no function within the Tribune’s journalism. Discover a full listing of them right here.
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Texas
Five-Star Aggies WR Target Spurns USC, Sets Texas A&M Visit
The Texas A&M Aggies are picking up steam on the recruiting trail with some of the top talent in the nation.
Already, players such as five-star safety Jonah Williams, five-star tackle Michael Fasusi, and four-star corner Cobey Sellers have all been projected to land in College Station as part of the Aggies 2025 haul.
Now, another top talent is reportedly eyeing Texas A&M, with five-star wide receiver Kaliq Lockett canceling his official visit to USC in favor of a trip to Aggieland, per On3’s Steve Wiltfong.
And for Lockett, it is the impact of new head coach Mike Elko on the program that has made all the difference in his interest.
“The culture change at A&M is eye-catching,” Lockett told On3. “Coach Elko is really making a big impact not only with the players but with the coaches and fans. You can tell he means business.”
Lockett, who currently ranks as the No. 14 overall player, No. 2 wide reciever in the nation and No. 5 player in Texas per the On3 Industry Ranking, has his other visits scheduled for LSU on May 31, Florida State on June 14 and Texas on June 21.
However, this will not be Lockett’s first trip to Aggieland either, after taking an unofficial for the Maroon-White spring game – a visit that was highlighted by his connection with four-star Aggies QB commit, Husan Longstreet.
“Definitely getting to connect with the quarterback commit Husan Longstreet,” Lockett said. “My first time meeting him in person. Great guy and we were talking about the possibility of us linking up at A&M in the future.”
As it stands, the Longhorns are currently favored to land the Sachse, TX product with a 30.8 percent confidence rating for On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, followed by the Aggies at 17 percent and LSU at 14.5 percent.
Texas
OU Softball: Oklahoma ‘Excited’ to Clash With Texas for Big 12 Tournament Title
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma got its wish for the weekend — a shot at revenge.
The No. 4-ranked Sooners dropped their first conference series since 2011 last month to the now-No. 1 Texas Longhorns.
OU could level the season series at 2-2 on Saturday and win the Big 12 Tournament in the process.
The Red River Rivals have dominated softball during their tenures in the Big 12.
Patty Gasso has won 23 conference titles — 15 regular-season titles and eight tournaments — in the Big 12.
Texas has another nine championships — five in the regular season and four tournament crowns.
The Longhorns won’t be able to defend their regular season title in the SEC next year, and neither will the winner of the Big 12 Tournament.
“We were kind of hoping for this opportunity,” Gasso said on Friday after OU dispatched BYU. “Just, one, to face Texas and two, to get better from it. So, yeah. I think everybody’s going to be really excited about the matchup.”
Both teams have dominated in Oklahoma City to set up Saturday’s tilt.
OU manhandled Kansas 10-1 on Thursday before downing BYU 13-2 on Friday.
Texas hammered Texas Tech 13-4 in the quarterfinals, and the Longhorns followed up that performance with a 14-3 drubbing of Baylor on Friday night. That puts the tournament’s top two seeds both at a plus-20 run differential in their first two games.
“They’re a very tough team,” Texas coach Mike White said of Oklahoma on Friday night. “They’re getting hot again. They always play well at home so we’re expecting a good matchup.”
White’s offense is humming, something that he said was influenced in part by watching the Sooners over the past three years.
“We have to take control … be aggressive,” White said. “… That’s what’s been so impressive about Oklahoma over the last several years. That’s what they do. So a rising tide lifts all boats and we’re just trying to catch up and play the game that they’ve been playing.”
There was little to separate the two rivals across three game in Austin.
The Longhorns won both the second and third games of the series 2-1, but OU outscored Texas 7-6 across all three games at Red & Charline McCombs Field.
Oklahoma appears to have snapped out of its offensive funk over the past three games.
Gasso has returned to the basics to get the bats on track. She’s gone back to her roots by returning to small ball to keep her hitters locked into an aggressive mindset, and the decision has looked like a masterstroke.
Through OU’s struggles, she never lost faith that the Sooners would round into shape when the postseason got underway.
“I’ve had frustrating moments for sure,” said Gasso, “where I would go home and go, ‘I don’t have any idea what to do here.’ But we’re not built that way.
“We’re always going to find a way to get something to click, somehow, some way and we’re not going to stop until we figure it out.”
Freshmen hitters Ella Parker and Kasidi Pickering are riding a hot streak to pair with OU’s wealth of experience in center fielder Jayda Coleman, shortstop Tiare Jennings, third baseman Alyssa Brito, outfielder Rylie Boone and catcher Kinzie Hansen.
Gasso has all her pitchers at her disposal as well heading into the title game.
Kelly Maxwell started against Kansas and Kierston Deal mowed through BYU, leaving senior Nicole May fresh alongside Bedlam star Karlie Keeney, who hasn’t pitched yet in the 2024 Big 12 Tournament.
“We just want them to just compete like nobody’s business and not get caught up in outcomes,” Gasso said on Friday. “… Keep your mind free, take your breaths, get in there and throw a competitive pitch every time your arm swings around in a circle because when you do that you’re going to win. More times than not you’re gonna beat that hitter.”
The season’s fourth meeting between Oklahoma and Texas gets underway from Devon Park, formerly Hall of Fame Stadium, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
“I feel really good,” Gasso said. “I think all hands are on deck.”
Texas
KSAT Connect: Aurora borealis spotted in South Central Texas due to geomagnetic storm
SAN ANTONIO – It was a rare sight across parts of the South Central Texas sky Friday night: the aurora borealis!
A strong geomagnetic storm — the strongest since October 2003 — occurring this weekend allowed these colorful waves to extend farther south than usual.
According to the NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, a cluster of sunspots has ejected solar flares, plasma, and magnetic fields towards Earth over the past few days, causing this strong geomagnetic storm.
“CMEs (coronal mass ejections) are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. They cause geomagnetic storms when they are directed at Earth… Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations… Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora on Earth.”
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center
Sightings have also been reported across the country and all over the world.
With more opportunities to spot them into the weekend, the best way to view the aurora borealis in South Central Texas is at a location away from city lights. Because of the sensitivity to light, phone cameras have also been proven to spot the colors better than the naked eye.
Check out some of the photos sent into KSAT Connect:
Robert Lozano
The Northern lights taken from our driveway in Bulverde!
Justin J
Some shots of the Northern Lights in Spring Branch.
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