Texas

Turning Texas blue is the white whale of Democratic political ambition. El Paso Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D) has garnered national headlines, enthusiasm and millions of dollars from Democrats around the country who want to see him unseat GOP Sen. Ted Cruz. While O'Rourke has far outraised Cruz, it's yet to be seen whether that national excitement will turn into votes in Texas. Despite Texas' changing demographics, which could benefit Democrats, Trump won the state by 9 points, a larger margin than in Ohio, Arizona or Georgia. Democrats could still make gains at the House level in the 7th, 23rd, 32nd and potentially the 21st and 31st districts. Of those, the 7th, in the Houston suburbs, is expected to be the tightest. Rep. John Culberson (R) is facing Democratic lawyer Lizzie Pannill Fletcher in a tight race. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is also up for re-election but he's expected to defeat former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez (D).