Texas Senator Ted Cruz May See Mid-Term Vote

HOUSTON – The popularity of Texas Governor Greg Abbott could help Senator Ted Cruz in his deadly battle for reelection.

Abbott signed a law that would eliminate the amicable vote in the Lone Star state in 2020 – but this year he urged Republicans to vote in the party direction – which could be a coup. whip to Cruz.

"Abbott is committed to supporting the entire Republican ticket and encouraging direct voting," said Mark Jones, a political scientist at the Baker Institute of Rice University, "which means that if Cruz wins by a very small number – say 2, 3, 4, 5 percent – he may have to be re-elected to Governor Greg Abbott. "

Texas is one of eight states that allow voters to choose all candidates from a party with a single ballot. Jones said that this practice could help Cruz, who was stuck in a tight race against his Democratic opponent, Congressman Beto O'Rourke. Recent polls show the Republican president retains a single-digit lead over O'Rourke.

But some doubt that Abbott is making a difference.

"I think Cruz runs his own race. I really do not see Abbott's popularity growing to help Cruz, "said Holly Turner, Republican Strategist and Stampede Consulting Partner. "I think anyone who will vote for Abbott will probably also be a supporter of Cruz."

Direct votes were criticized last week after voters complained that when voting directly, voting machines in at least 80 counties reversed their votes in key races, including the competition between Cruz and O ' Rourke. Some voters said that Cruz's name was chosen despite the choice of Democrats and the intention to vote for O'Rourke.

TEXAS ELECTORS MOVE TO CHOOSE BULLETINS

A spokesman for Secretary of State Roland Pablos blamed the user's mistake, attributing this error to "voters who were pressing a button or using the selection wheel before rendering the screen not be finished ".

Republicans and Democrats, however, believe that the partial ballot will help candidates, especially those running in court.

"What you have is the umbrella Beto O'Rourke who talks to all the grassroots activists they need to vote in the local convention race or the local state. [House] The race may not have the financial means to ask that person to run and vote, "said Chuck Rocha, Democratic strategist and president of Solidarity Strategies.

According to experts, small races are based on larger ones.

"So, if their party is doing well," said Turner, "then they will do well."

According to an analysis by the Austin Community College's Public Policy and Political Studies Center, over 60% of voters chose the one-way ticket option in 2016. Experts say the practice generally benefits Republicans at the state level.

"The big problem in the Senate race between O & # Rourke and Cruz is the turnout, and the Republicans have done a better job in Texas, and that's why it's still a red state. Said Bob Cusack, editor of The Hill in Washington, DC

This option could cause trouble for some candidates, especially those in the 32nd, 23rd and 7th districts, sectors won by Hillary Clinton in 2016.

"They have to worry about the fact that a lot of these Democrats will show up because of O 'Rourke, and they will vote Democrat, Democrat, Democrat," Cusack said.

Some praised Abbott's decision to eliminate the amicable vote in 2020, noting that it would reduce partisanship in the voting process.

"I think it's important for voters to know who they're voting for. I think having the opportunity to make an informed choice will be good for the state of Texas, "said Turner.

Yet others say that without this option, voters will inevitably see longer queues at the polling station, which could dissuade them from voting. Rocha thinks that Democrats, who vote for a ticket in a row, could take a hit.

"The ballot remains the same. You can always make all the decisions knowingly and go from Democrat to Republican from below. All we are saying is to leave the ticket bubble right for both parties, "he said. "If you are in a hurry, you lock all the Democrats, you just have to turn in a bubble. It does not cost you anything. "