The midterm elections marked a huge win for Texas Democrats, but it wasn’t an ardent endorsement of their policies and candidates. Voters were fed up with a deeply unpopular and antagonistic president, and they took it out on elected leaders who had become his Texas puppets.
Democrats ran some strong candidates — with the earnest, Scripture-quoting state Rep. James Talarico at the top of the ticket. And they ran some weak candidates who nevertheless benefited from a throw-the-bums-out election.
We warn Democrats to be careful about the way they do the hard part — governing the state of Texas.
Here’s some advice, and, as a reminder, Republicans refused to listen when we urged them to change course or lose.
Make good on the promise to serve all Texans. Govern from the middle. Reject the activists who come with bags of money and bundles of bad ideas.
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Welcome independent thinkers, and value knowledge, experience and good ideas wherever they come from. Follow through on campaign promises to work across the aisle. Appoint capable members of the opposing party to committee leadership.
Don’t waste time indulging in retribution. Voters aren’t interested in who you can make pay for years in the political wilderness.
Don’t get dragged into culture-war issues. That will be all your opponents need to drive you from office. Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa steered her campaign away from them, saying they’re “not winnable.” She’s right.
Look for a few easy bipartisan policy wins in the next Legislature. Maybe tougher rules for data centers, Flock-type cameras systems and driverless vehicles. Voters across Texas turned down local bond and tax rate propositions Tuesday. They don’t want big new programs. And they don’t need the state’s surplus spent on inflation-juicing $1,500 checks for all. Don’t assume legalized gambling and weed will be low-risk sources of revenue. Both carry high social costs.
Above all, remember that Texas’ prosperity rises from its business-friendly environment. Do not lard the law with regulatory burdens and unwise “soak the rich” taxes that send businesses and capital to Florida that would rather be here. Don’t attempt to turn this state into an organized labor bastion that repels new investment.
When Democrat Taylor Rehmet was elected to the state Senate in a special election, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick refused to assign him to any interim committees. Rehmet had flipped a GOP district, and he was a bellwether of what was to come.
Patrick failed to learn any lesson from Rehmet’s win. But Rehmet was smart, and the political newcomer studied issues, drafted legislation, provided constituent service and met with community groups. He was friendly, moderate and available.
Rehmet won re-election Tuesday. Patrick didn’t. There’s a lesson in that.
