I usually loved my high school English classes except when they made us read Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. I thought the story was okay, but the prose was turgid and downright dull. We were also too young to understand Captain Ahab’s obsession with the white whale. As a geezer, I get it but have no desire to revisit that weighty tome. Instead, I rewatched my birthday twin John Huston’s film adaptation and liked it this time. Stay tuned.

Watching MS NOW’s coverage of the Texas primary, I found myself missing Joy Reid. She was fond of calling Texas the Democrat’s white whale. I stole the post title from Joy. I only steal from the best.

Cycle after cycle, we hear about the rising stars among Texas Democrats. There have been some excellent candidates running this century: Wendy Davis, Beto O’Rourke, and Colin Allred to name a few. They all lost. Lone Star state Democrats last won a statewide race in 1994. Lloyd Bentsen was the last Democrat elected to the US Senate.  The year was 1988, the same year he was Michael Dukakis’ running mate. That Boston-Austin combo lost. Mike Dukakis was no Jack Kennedy.

There’s a glimmer of hope in 2026. The Insult Comedian is as unpopular in Texas as elsewhere in the country. Republicans may be on the verge of having a lowdown and dirty runoff between mild mannered old school Republican John Cornyn and one of the Trumpiest and most corrupt politicians in the country: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Texas pundit, Kevin Williamson, called it a race between a troll and a bore  in an NYT op-ed. Nailed it.

The Insult Comedian is expected to endorse Cornyn and demand Paxton’s exit from the race. It’s unclear if Trump is politically strong enough to force Paxton’s hand. I hope he’ll stay in, so we can learn if MAGA is really falling apart because of Epstein and Iran or if it’s another mirage.

Whatever happens with Paxton, Cornyn remains a weak candidate after receiving only 42% of the vote, a pitiful performance for an incumbent. However the Trump endorsement plays out, Democrats have their best chance since 1988 to win a senate seat in Texas.

On the Democratic side, State Rep James Talarico won a heated primary against US Rep Jasmine Crockett. Talarico isn’t a bore but like Cornyn he’s mild-mannered. Crockett is an inspired troll who loves giving MAGA hell, which is what they deserve.

An ill-considered decision to eject Atlantic writer Elaine Godfrey from a Crockett rally dominated the last few days of the Democratic primary. Godfrey’s crime was writing an unfavorable piece about Crockett. That makes it look as if Crockett can dish it out but can’t take it. A bad look for a troll.

I’m skeptical that Talarico is a more electable candidate than his primary opponent: It’s still Texas, after all. He’s also not as well-known as Crockett and his message of progressive Christian inclusivity seems out of Jimmy Carter’s 1976 playbook. Carter *was* the last Democrat to carry Texas but I’m uncertain if the good shepherd shtick will work 50 years later. The Democratic base wants red meat in 2026. We’re tired of mealy-mouthed politicians who blow with the wind. We’ll see if Talarico is up to the challenge.

Hope springs eternal every presidential election that Texas will turn blue. Bill Clinton came closest in 1992 losing by 3 points against Texans Poppy Bush and Ross Perot. We haven’t come that close since then but the only thing permanent in electoral politics is its impermanence. For example, the California I grew up in was a purple state. It’s now as blue as the Mediterranean Sea.

I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Texas and know many Texas liberals. They’re hungry for victory and will work their asses off to win a senate seat. I hope that Talarico and Crockett will bury the hatchet and unite to take down either Cornyn or Paxton. It might just be time to slay the Democrat’s white whale. Do it for Joy Reid, y’all.

The last word goes to Frankie Laine: