Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(157,271 posts)
Sat Jul 12, 2025, 12:49 PM Jul 12

Exclusive: Former Astronaut Terry Virts Reveals Plan to Turn Texas Blue

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Newsweek

Published Jul 12, 2025 at 5:00 AM EDT


Colonel Terry Virts has been an Air Force pilot, a NASA astronaut, and even a International Space Station commander. But now he's embarking on what could be considered his most challenging mission to date—becoming the first Democrat in decades to break the Republican stranglehold over Texan politics.

It's been more than 30 years since Bob Bullock was re-elected as Texas Lieutenant General in 1994, the last time a Texan Democrat won a statewide election.

Since then a succession of Democrats have sought to revive their party's fortunes in the Lone Star State, the second most populous in the Union, but thus far all have been vanquished.

In January, Virts became the latest Democrat to challenge the Republican hegemony when he announced he is running for the Senate in 2026, targeting the seat currently occupied by the GOP's John Cornyn. With the Texas Republican Party rocked by infighting, Democrats hope now is their time to achieve the decades-long dream of turning Texas purple and eroding the GOP's wafer-thin Senate majority.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-former-astronaut-terry-virts-reveals-plan-turn-texas-blue-2097882

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Exclusive: Former Astronaut Terry Virts Reveals Plan to Turn Texas Blue (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Jul 12 OP
good luck in one of the worst anti-science dumb-fuckistans on the planet lapfog_1 Jul 12 #1
Most of Texas's major cities vote blue. summer_in_TX Jul 12 #5
The knee jerk hate towards Texans is getting tiresome. Nt cayugafalls Jul 12 #7
In these days of Trump and his cult destroying anything and everything democrank Jul 12 #2
I don't think Texas is capable of having a free and fair election kimbutgar Jul 12 #3
Now that would be interesting. republianmushroom Jul 12 #4
The real Right Stuff Kid Berwyn Jul 12 #6
AFTER a review by forum hosts LOCKING Omaha Steve Jul 12 #8

lapfog_1

(31,141 posts)
1. good luck in one of the worst anti-science dumb-fuckistans on the planet
Sat Jul 12, 2025, 01:15 PM
Jul 12

120+ and counting dead people including dozens of children because they wouldn't take "communist Biden's federal money" to install a set of flash flood warning sirens along a river KNOWN for having large flash floods.

summer_in_TX

(3,711 posts)
5. Most of Texas's major cities vote blue.
Sat Jul 12, 2025, 02:55 PM
Jul 12

Dallas, El Paso, Austin, Houston, San Antonio. Plus a few counties, including mine: Hays County adjacent to Austin/Travis County.

cayugafalls

(5,889 posts)
7. The knee jerk hate towards Texans is getting tiresome. Nt
Sat Jul 12, 2025, 03:23 PM
Jul 12

democrank

(11,667 posts)
2. In these days of Trump and his cult destroying anything and everything
Sat Jul 12, 2025, 01:44 PM
Jul 12

Colonel Terry Virts seems like a colossal bright light. Good luck to him.

kimbutgar

(25,642 posts)
3. I don't think Texas is capable of having a free and fair election
Sat Jul 12, 2025, 02:10 PM
Jul 12

Too much ignorance and corruption and brainwashed citizens.

republianmushroom

(20,774 posts)
4. Now that would be interesting.
Sat Jul 12, 2025, 02:29 PM
Jul 12

Kid Berwyn

(21,494 posts)
6. The real Right Stuff
Sat Jul 12, 2025, 03:23 PM
Jul 12


“Trump’s chaos must be stopped. The corruption is overwhelming.” — Col. Terry Virts

Omaha Steve

(106,481 posts)
8. AFTER a review by forum hosts LOCKING
Sat Jul 12, 2025, 03:37 PM
Jul 12

Feature story. Can be posted in GD.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Exclusive: Former Astrona...