U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders closed the Texas Democratic Convention with an anti-oligarchical speech, emphasizing the need to hold President Donald Trump accountable and address issues like high cost of living and unaffordable healthcare.
Local Angle
In the Rio Grande Valley, residents are concerned about affordability, with the cost of living being too high. Julio Salinas, a 26-year-old former legislative staffer running for Texas House District 41, is trying to tap into this dissatisfaction, advocating for investments in transportation and water infrastructure.
Top GOP elected officials have criticized Sanders’ appearance, labeling Democrats as out-of-touch leftists. However, Democrats are betting that leaning into Sanders’ style and embracing economic populist ideas will resonate with voters.
Party Priorities
Party leaders are prioritizing boosting Democrats’ optimism, capitalizing on President Donald Trump’s low approval rating. They are also focusing on supporting Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate James Talarico, who has been endorsed by Sanders and is running against scandal-plagued opponent Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Democrats have dismissed GOP critiques of hosting Sanders, pointing to his popularity among Latino voters. The reception for Sanders at the convention was overwhelmingly positive, with the crowd approving his message with roars of applause.
Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
