An Argument Against Voting for the “Electable” Guy
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Politics
/ March 6, 2026
An Argument Against Voting for the “Electable” Guy
In this week’s Elie v. US, The Nation’s justice correspondent shares his thoughts on the Texas primaries. Plus, a terrible Supreme Court decision and a bad play by Major League Baseball.
Elie Mystal
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Texas Senate candidate James Talarico (D-TX) takes part in a campaign event outside Round Rock Donuts on March 3, 2026.
(John Moore / Getty Images)
This is a preview of Nation Justice Correspondent Elie Mystal’s new weekly newsletter. Click here to receive this newsletter in your inbox each Friday.
Texas held its congressional primaries on Tuesday, and the good news is that turnout was really high for a primary. I have been harping on the idea that voters who do not want to choose between “a lesser of two evils” in November need to show up to vote in the primaries process. I hope to see record engagement all throughout the spring and summer, building toward the November midterm elections.
I am, however, a little disappointed with the results of the primary on the Senate Democratic side. James Talarico defeated Jasmine Crockett, and while I know there are a lot of people who are excited about the prospect of a current seminarian and soon-to-be minister appealing to the racists who clothe themselves in the church, I can’t help feeling very “Beto O’Rourke II” about the whole thing. Talarico can throw down, verse for verse, against the most Bible-humping Republicans Texas has to offer, but getting excited about that presupposes that there are a significant number of Republicans who are guided by their faith and not their bigotry and misogyny.
I don’t believe that. I believe these people vote for white supremacy and the oppression of others. They’re not followers of Jesus; they’re followers of white privilege and whatever version of religion they can manipulate to support it. I do not have faith that Talarico will lead them to the light.
On the other side of the aisle, Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ended up in a runoff to see who will be the Republican candidate this fall. I’ve seen a lot of liberals hoping that Paxton pulls it off, because Paxton is one of the most odious public figures around and Democrats think that he can be more easily beaten in the general election than the stuffed suit that is Cornyn.
I have a problem with that analysis because… Paxton is one of the most odious public figures around. Supporting a worse candidate because you think you can beat him is not something I will ever fall for again. Not after the 2016 presidential election. I’m telling you, if I could go back, …
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Current Issue
Politics
/ March 6, 2026
An Argument Against Voting for the “Electable” Guy
In this week’s Elie v. US, The Nation’s justice correspondent shares his thoughts on the Texas primaries. Plus, a terrible Supreme Court decision and a bad play by Major League Baseball.
Elie Mystal
Share
Copy Link
X (Twitter)
Bluesky Pocket
Ad Policy
Texas Senate candidate James Talarico (D-TX) takes part in a campaign event outside Round Rock Donuts on March 3, 2026.
(John Moore / Getty Images)
This is a preview of Nation Justice Correspondent Elie Mystal’s new weekly newsletter. Click here to receive this newsletter in your inbox each Friday.
Texas held its congressional primaries on Tuesday, and the good news is that turnout was really high for a primary. I have been harping on the idea that voters who do not want to choose between “a lesser of two evils” in November need to show up to vote in the primaries process. I hope to see record engagement all throughout the spring and summer, building toward the November midterm elections.
I am, however, a little disappointed with the results of the primary on the Senate Democratic side. James Talarico defeated Jasmine Crockett, and while I know there are a lot of people who are excited about the prospect of a current seminarian and soon-to-be minister appealing to the racists who clothe themselves in the church, I can’t help feeling very “Beto O’Rourke II” about the whole thing. Talarico can throw down, verse for verse, against the most Bible-humping Republicans Texas has to offer, but getting excited about that presupposes that there are a significant number of Republicans who are guided by their faith and not their bigotry and misogyny.
I don’t believe that. I believe these people vote for white supremacy and the oppression of others. They’re not followers of Jesus; they’re followers of white privilege and whatever version of religion they can manipulate to support it. I do not have faith that Talarico will lead them to the light.
On the other side of the aisle, Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ended up in a runoff to see who will be the Republican candidate this fall. I’ve seen a lot of liberals hoping that Paxton pulls it off, because Paxton is one of the most odious public figures around and Democrats think that he can be more easily beaten in the general election than the stuffed suit that is Cornyn.
I have a problem with that analysis because… Paxton is one of the most odious public figures around. Supporting a worse candidate because you think you can beat him is not something I will ever fall for again. Not after the 2016 presidential election. I’m telling you, if I could go back, …
An Argument Against Voting for the “Electable” Guy
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An Argument Against Voting for the “Electable” Guy
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Current Issue
Politics
/ March 6, 2026
An Argument Against Voting for the “Electable” Guy
In this week’s Elie v. US, The Nation’s justice correspondent shares his thoughts on the Texas primaries. Plus, a terrible Supreme Court decision and a bad play by Major League Baseball.
Elie Mystal
Share
Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky Pocket
Email
Ad Policy
Texas Senate candidate James Talarico (D-TX) takes part in a campaign event outside Round Rock Donuts on March 3, 2026.
(John Moore / Getty Images)
This is a preview of Nation Justice Correspondent Elie Mystal’s new weekly newsletter. Click here to receive this newsletter in your inbox each Friday.
Texas held its congressional primaries on Tuesday, and the good news is that turnout was really high for a primary. I have been harping on the idea that voters who do not want to choose between “a lesser of two evils” in November need to show up to vote in the primaries process. I hope to see record engagement all throughout the spring and summer, building toward the November midterm elections.
I am, however, a little disappointed with the results of the primary on the Senate Democratic side. James Talarico defeated Jasmine Crockett, and while I know there are a lot of people who are excited about the prospect of a current seminarian and soon-to-be minister appealing to the racists who clothe themselves in the church, I can’t help feeling very “Beto O’Rourke II” about the whole thing. Talarico can throw down, verse for verse, against the most Bible-humping Republicans Texas has to offer, but getting excited about that presupposes that there are a significant number of Republicans who are guided by their faith and not their bigotry and misogyny.
I don’t believe that. I believe these people vote for white supremacy and the oppression of others. They’re not followers of Jesus; they’re followers of white privilege and whatever version of religion they can manipulate to support it. I do not have faith that Talarico will lead them to the light.
On the other side of the aisle, Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ended up in a runoff to see who will be the Republican candidate this fall. I’ve seen a lot of liberals hoping that Paxton pulls it off, because Paxton is one of the most odious public figures around and Democrats think that he can be more easily beaten in the general election than the stuffed suit that is Cornyn.
I have a problem with that analysis because… Paxton is one of the most odious public figures around. Supporting a worse candidate because you think you can beat him is not something I will ever fall for again. Not after the 2016 presidential election. I’m telling you, if I could go back, …
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