Bruising Battles
This Tuesday is Super Tuesday — the day when people in Texas and 15 other states head to the polls to cast their ballots in the Presidential primaries.
Hotly Contested Primaries
While President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump maintain their leads in the polls, there are several intensive Republican primaries to look out for in Texas.
One notable race is in Texas House District 21, where House Speaker Dade Phelan is fighting to hold onto his House seat in Beaumont. Although Phelan has the support of former Governor Rick Perry, his opponent, David Covey, carries endorsements from Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and now former President Donald Trump.
Another riveting primary battle is in Collin County, where incumbent Jeff Leach is being challenged by Daren Meis in the 67th House District Republican primary. Governor Greg Abbott is backing Leach, while Paxton supports Meis.
Denton County is also witnessing several Republican primary challenges, with Abbott endorsing incumbent House Republicans and Paxton supporting their challengers.
In Dallas County, incumbent Morgan Meyer has the endorsement of Governor Abbott, while Paxton, Patrick, and Trump are backing challenger Barry Wernick.
Determined to win their respective primaries, candidates are seeking endorsements from influential party figures.
Border Politics
In light of the ongoing border crisis, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump made separate visits to Texas. Biden visited Brownsville, while Trump traveled to Eagle Pass. With border security as the top concern for Texas voters, immigration remains a prominent issue.
Polls conducted by the Texas Politics Project and Emerson College Polling show that border security and immigration are key concerns for voters not only in Texas but also in several battleground states.
Furthermore, a controversial bill that grants state and local police in Texas the authority to arrest migrants crossing the border illegally was recently blocked by a federal judge.
Voters’ Vibes
As the Presidential nominations appear imminent for both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, we consulted with Texas Republicans supporting Trump and Democrats supporting Biden on how they believe their respective candidates can secure victory in the upcoming November election.
For more Texas-specific political insights, stay tuned to Eye on Politics, hosted by CBS News political reporter Jack Fink.
