Thread by @annehelen

At the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin. I’ve hardly slept, my bag got lost, I haven’t showered, I’m about to go see a panel on women in political power and to either break my heart or restore it

Wendy Davis will be there and also I am eating a breakfast taco, not everything is bad

I’m at a panel about blue wave vs. tsunami; interesting point from Dave Wasserman - rural areas in Texas have become more GOP, but the suburban areas that voted for Trump were never crazy about him, which is why the GOP reps are fighting for their political lives

Wasserman again: “Trump’s been the best fundraiser the Democrats have ever had.” But thinks they should be spending that money to do better polling in longshot races so that they’re actually deploying that money towards potential wins

Now talking about MJ Hegar - a “supernova candidate” who’s running again a solid, solid GOP incumbent. “She could win by losing - by pulling that GOP money into defending this seat and away from other races”

Ali Lapp: Thing about having inspiring Dem candidates, even if they lose, is giving Dems in district something to be excited about - but also giving them an ex. of what a Dem looks, not just limited to national figures like Obama/Clinton who don’t exactly mirror their politics

Polling on Beto. The perfect storm: Enormous conversion from suburban GOP voters, low turnout in rural areas, robust Hispanic turnout. That’s the way to win. Seeing Beto surprisingly up by high single digits in TX suburbs that went strongly for Romney. No movement in rural areas.

Just remembered that Jeff Flake is speaking here tomorrow. That’ll be...interesting.

“The Democrats don’t have a leader right now. But that’s the best thing that’s happened to them, because Trump doesn’t have a foil.”

Frustrating thing about this (very good, and very packed) panel on Gender, Diversity, and Power - like so many panels like this, the audience is 90% women. Men should be here.

Wendy Davis: “I know that reproductive rights are the basis of opportunity for women”

Wendy Davis, speaking about the role of men in this current political moment: “Either get on board or get the hell out of the way.”

Now listening to Oregon Senator Jeff Merkeley, who’s definitely 100% totally not testing a presidential run (reader, he is)

Also here: Avenatti, Castro, Hickenlooper. Here last year: Bullock.

Merkeley denying that his attempt at an injunction earlier this week was a publicity stunt - “I want the press to wake up and help us put our institutions back on track”

Merkeley on Flake: “I know he struggled with it. I respect the fact that at least he struggled.”

This is my first time seeing Merkeley in person, so I don’t know his base line, but he definitely seems as exhausted as I am

Merkeley on Kavanaugh vote: “I’m holding out until the last minute, hoping my colleagues will come to their senses.”

Cheers from the audience, and guy next to me muttered “Nope, not gonna happen.”

Merkeley on Senate vote: “It shouldn’t be the women of the senate who are expected to get this right.”

Merkeley, asked if he’s considering running for President: “I’m exploring it very seriously, yes”

Says that when he gets mad about things that are happening, he tries to think what he can do about it. “We’ve got to do a 180 degree turn here.”

Merkeley asked to comment on the seeming lack of Democratic strategy in the questioning yesterday:

“I thought Dr. Ford’s testimony was the most genuine, authentic, sincere words I’ve ever heard uttered on Capitol Hill” Says there was a strategy, not all may have agreed on it.

Just had to leave @anamariecox’s panel on the intersection of religion and politics early but what a joy it is to hear people talk about that subject with great, expansive nuance, filled with self-interrogation. Truly, a joy.

Now at “The Latina Moment”: We’re called JOLT because when young Latinas come out to vote we’re gonna be a shock to the system.”

One thing we hear as Latinos is “why don’t we vote.” But why *do* we vote?

...”I think one reason we’re voting, especially now, is we can’t stand Trump.” (Laughter) “I’m not being facetious.”

Kumar from Voto Latino: “Texas is our ground zero.” They just brought in 3 Texan board members + America Ferrera, whose husband is from El Paso. “We talk about the Latino vote, and there’s a reason they’re trying to suppress it. Median age of white voter? 55. Latino voter? 18.”

“Texas has one of the lowest voting percentages in the nation and one of the highest rates of Voting Rights Act violations. This is not a coincidence. Connect the dots.”

Re: Voter Apathy - “Young Latinos are not apathetic in any way. They just haven’t found a candidate they can trust....We talk to people who say, I don’t know the difference between the Republican and the Democrat. That’s a failure on the part of the Democrats.”

“If we’re honest, Democrats have not always been good. They have used our community as a political football.”

Back at the Texas Tribune Festival, now listening to Colorado Governor Hickenlooper, another Western White Guy eyeing a presidential run:

“I think Senator Flake deserves tremendous credit for making what for his party was a very unpopular move”

Question about whether it feels as toxic/ripped apart on the ground in a purple state like Colorado -

Hickenlooper says that it’s not that bad, but you’re not allowed to say the word “President Trump” in his office, because it sucks too much time and energy.

Hickenlooper talking a lot about bipartisan compromise and what it’s achieved with decreasing teen pregnancy/abortion....and admitting that they made a mistake rushing background checks through the legislature, which resulted in recall of two Democratic state senators.

Hickenlooper is also winning over this crowd with some pretty funny stories about his precocious son Teddy - it works well for him

Hickenlooper says the Trump tariffs are just devastating Ag in Colorado. “We’re gonna see dairy bankruptcies like we’ve never seen before.”

“Are you running for President?”

Hickenlooper: I never ran for anything until I was 50...but I look at what the country’s going through right now, and some of my experiences seem so germane for what the country’s gotta do.

Hickenlooper, responding to questions re: “moderate” views - says that compromising to actually achieve meaningful change between sides that hate each other? That’s radical, not moderate.

Same for potential ticket w/“bromance” partner Kasich: a radica idea, not a moderate one

Pretty amazing stat re: Legalized Marijuana in Colorado - the only demographic with increased consumption, across the state: Senior Citizens.

Asked the “what can a white guy bring to the table right now” question, Hickenlooper responds: Long history of hiring diverse staffs. When you talk about diversity, you can’t dilute the concerns of people who aren’t sure about it. Like it or not, those people exist.

This quote, from Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper, is going to stick with me for the weekend: “If you get new facts, who are you if you aren’t able to change your mind?”

Now listening to Lupe Valdez, asked about recent allegations of sexual misconduct by a Texas state Senator:

“I have been in a male-dominated occupation for 43 years. I am sick and tired of men who defend other men who act inappropriately.”

Valdez: We have made compromise a bad word. I don’t think it’s a bad word, as long as you hold on to your values - you compromise on the way you get something done.

Valdez, with the message I’ve heard all over #TribFest18: “Texas is not a red state. Texas is a non-voting state.”

Lupe Valdez, on her run for Governor: “People tell me this is an uphill battle. But what other kind of battle is there?”

Spotted at Congress & 7th, Austin, TX:

Now here with all the buzziest Texas candidates whose names aren’t Beto:

This is the impressive thing about #TribFest18: The five congressional candidates with a chance to swing their Texas districts blue, all on one stage

Everyone here rejecting the question of whether they’d support Pelosi if elected. “No one in my district asks me this question. The only people who ask me that question are members of the press.”

All candidates asked specific ways they’re getting out vote in their districts. Most interesting answer: Texas high schools are legally obligated provide 2 opportunities for voting registration each year. Only 1/3 are in compliance. MJ Hagar’s campaign is working to change that

Another good answer: Kopser bright together three databases (recent moves, likely Dems, registered voters) to figure out Dems who’ve recently moved & haven’t yet registered. Sent registration materials to the 17,500 names on that list in his district.

I’ve spent a lot of time attending Trump rallies so very weird to be seeing this sort of merch (outside of Beto rally here in Austin)

Many, many thousands out tonight at Auditorium Shores to see Beto and Willie Nelson. Last time I saw a crowd like this here? Obama, 2007.