David Frum

Since then, Beto O'Rourke has worked in Texas political organizing and fundraising.

Last month, I turned to him for some insight into the bitter contest for the Democratic nomination for the U.S.

Senate in 2026, and we agreed to reconvene after the state primaries on March 3rd.

That primary was won by James Tallarico, who will now face either incumbent Senator John Cornyn or State Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Assuming neither drops out beforehand, that Republican nomination will be decided in a runoff May 26th.

No Democrat has won a statewide contest in Texas since 1994.

No non-incumbent Democrat has won since 1990.

And no Democrat has won a U.S.

senatorship from Texas since Lloyd Benson in the 1980s.

Beto O'Rourke, thank you so much for joining The David Frum Show and for enlightening us about Texas today.

So here's the first question.

I sort of gave a summary of what has gone on in the longer view of Texas.

What is your interpretation of Texas politics as it stands after March 3rd?

So national Democrats have this feeling about Texas that it's like Lucy and the football.

It's always about to happen, but it never quite does happen.

And you have the bruises to show for that.

Why is Texas so inhospitable to Democrats?

It's a highly urbanized state.

It's a state crammed with knowledge industries.

It's a state with rising levels of education.