Could someone explain why the NY Democrats agreed to caucus with the GOP? What did they gain from it?
You'd never get that kind of arrangement in Texas and Texas Democrats are far more conservative than NY ones.
Can this possibly be true post-2010? I mean it's Wendy Davis and 1/3rd of the chamber in incredibly safe seats, right? No Blue Dogs have been in the Texas Senate for a while now. Whereas in NY you have a bunch of moderate Democrats and Republicans who are used to deal-making occupying 5X% Obama districts that the GOP drew to be just competitive enough. Are there any 5X% Obama districts in the Texas Senate at all?
Wendy Davis is a moderate Democrat by every standard but those of the Tea Party and the pro-life fundies. She used to vote for Republicans and donate to Republicans!
Ideologically she's closer to a country club GOP-er like John Carona than either of them are to the most hardcore members of their parties (Dan Patrick on the Republican side and probably Sylvia Garcia on the Democratic side).
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