Jasmine Crockett or James Talarico? Democrats Don't Have an Easy Answer, But They Do Have a Clear One.

"Democrats are choosing between strong candidates, both of whom strongly oppose Trump, but who represent diametrically opposed theories of power, as well as very different views on what the Democratic Party needs now. And the election itself is raising old questions in a high-stakes context: What does it mean to be "electable," and how do race and gender shape perceptions of what a respectable, powerful person looks like?"

"Crockett, 44, is a lawyer and US congresswoman who catapulted to viral fame when she responded to an insult from congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene's by ridiculing her "bleach-blond bad-built butch-body," a phrase she has since attempted to trademark and used to sell campaign merch. Talarico, 36, is a seminarian and Texas state representative who injects progressive Christianity into his politics."

"Texans haven't elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988, but changing demographics and widespread disgust with President Donald Trump and his Republican Party have put the state in play this year. That's particularly true if Republicans, who also vote today, pick their leading candidate, who comes with massive personal and legal baggage."

Texas Democrats are selecting their U.S. Senate nominee on Tuesday, with the state potentially competitive due to demographic shifts and anti-Trump sentiment. The race features two strong young candidates with contrasting approaches: Jasmine Crockett, a 44-year-old lawyer and congresswoman who gained viral attention through confrontational rhetoric, and James Talarico, a 36-year-old seminarian and state representative who incorporates progressive Christianity into his politics. Their contest raises fundamental questions about Democratic strategy, including whether to appeal to the base or attract new supporters, how to respond to Republican aggression, and what characteristics voters perceive as electable and powerful.

Read at Slate Magazine