Michael Barone: Primary shows Texas not yet turning blue

Published March 7, 2018 10:08pm ET



Texas, the nation’s second-largest state, held its primary election Tuesday. The results, with 99 percent of precincts reporting, show a surge in Democratic turnout. But they are still disappointing for those hoping that Texas is about to turn blue this year.

In the race that attracted the most votes, 16th District El Paso Congressman Beto O’Rourke, who has been conducting a vigorous and well-financed campaign, won the Democratic nomination with 62 percent of the vote against two little-known opponents. In the Republican primary, incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, won renomination against four little-known opponents with 85 percent of the vote.

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