i really don't understand how you guys can keep discussing this as if there is a chance that a democrat could possibly win statewide office in the current conditions...regardless of candidate charisma, pandering, etc... you need to travel outside of austin.
texas is a lost state. it isn't just the east, west, and north texas rural areas. it's the suburbs. it's cypress, it's the woodlands, it's plano and southlake it's waco and georgetown. it's aggy. the lufkins, longviews, tylers, abilenes, of the state are just gravy.
the manifestation of jesus christ, abraham lincoln, george washington, nelson mandela, ghandi, and caeser all in one person would get absolutely obliterated by ted cruz, greg abbot, and dan patrick in a statewide race. ironically, by people voting against their own diabetic, scooter riding interests. this state is irredeemable in terms of numbers.
one of the great ironies that i do find amusing about this state is that the two of the very few blue counties (travis and dallas) are responsible for contributing all of the socialist robinhood funds that every other red county across the state relies on to fund their local education. austin isd, eanes isd, highland park, and plano is where almost all the money comes from. "DON'T BE VOTIN' FOR NO SOCIALISTS, TEXAS! now give us all your money austin and dallas."