James Talarico of Texas, A Senate Candidate to Watch



Readers who are political junkies like me already know about the Democratic Primary in Texas. Two fine Democrats ran, a woman with a women's rights theme and a man who is a Presbyterian seminary student in his mid thirties. Both have histories in Texas politics.

The man, Jame Talarico, won. He campaigned on the old theme of "let's listen and respect each other." But the headlines about him were not such old and tired ideas. They were new and refreshing. He said the Bible does not condemn either abortion or homosexuality. No button is hotter than that one. Nothing could set Republicans on edge more than a candidate saying such things. All the worse, he won with a big turnout. He did well with the black and Hispanic communities in Texas. Even Trump expressed outrage.  

As a clergy-type persona, the "let's listen and respect one another" sounds a little more sincere or has a different quality than it might from someone else. 

I wish I could be in Texas watching the coming campaign play out. I'd like to attend speeches and watch reactions. I'm guessing the Republican, either one of the two who will face each other in a runoff, will be holding up a Bible and going deep on anti-immigration and the sins of homosexuality and abortion. The new and the fresh often blow away the old and tired in politics. Maybe this time the Lone Star will shine. 

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