Local Dems See First Real Primary in Decades

PRIMARY ELECTIONS

Not since the heady days of O.C. Fisher, and Democratic control of the Lone Star State have two Democratic candidates emerged ahead of Super Tuesday to represent the congressional district that includes San Angelo.

The Tom Green County Democratic Party held a candidate forum to determine the candidate they think is best equipped to face August Pfluger in the congressional election this fall. The choice is between Pedro “Pete” Ruiz of Midland, and Claire Reynolds of Austin.

The primary matchup is sparked in part by a mid-decade redistricting that changed the boundaries of Texas’ 11th congressional district to include portions of North Austin. Reynolds says that she comes from a district “so blue they broke it up into three pieces.”

The candidates introduce themselves.

Reynolds speaks first. She introduces herself as a mother of four, an attorney with 24 years of experience, the last 12 at the State Bar Association, where she says she prosecuted attorney misconduct. She is a full-time candidate now, as she was required to give up her position at the Bar to run for office.

She labels herself as a progressive Democrat, and says she plans to pursue progressive legislation if elected. She mentioned healthcare reforms and protections for reproductive healthcare among these. She stated her number one priority is “to make Congress do its job, and that is to stop this president from running roughshod over the constitution.”

Pedro Ruiz hails from Midland but grew up working alongside his parents as migrant laborers. He served in the United States Marine Corps, and now works as a mental health and drug abuse counsellor, and social worker at his own clinic in Midland.

Like Reynolds, Ruiz also intends to push for progressive policies which he explained later but emphasized more of his personal experience which he cites as his formative political education.

“My mother stopped going to school in the 9th grade, because they sent Hispanics and African Americans to school in cattle cars. She said that was indignant,” he said.

Neither candidate is afraid of narrowing down on their Republican opponent, with Ruiz saying of Rep. Pfluger “He’s done nothing for the middle class and the working poor.”

What are the differences?

While Reynolds repeatedly branded herself as a progressive, Ruiz avoided the label. Despite this, both candidates seemed to agree on most matters of policy. They agreed on healthcare reforms, both saying they would support single-payer or “Medicare for All” models. They agreed on rolling back tax cuts for the wealthiest earners.

One distinction came early on when the candidates were asked about oil and gas industry employment. Reynolds states that while she agrees in reforms, any representation of District 11 would have to protect employment in this field. Ruiz isn’t so sure, however. He says that the country needs to be ready to help workers transition out of the oil industry when inevitable slumps in the oil market occur, through training and assistance.

At the end of the day, the choice for local Democrats may come down to how the candidates style themselves. Reynolds, an attorney, is a little more reserved in presentation. Ruiz typically combines more personal experience with policy while answering questions. Ruiz also stated that Democrats need to “stop fighting with each other” in order to defeat the Republican grip on West Texas politics. Which style do local Dems think will work best?

What are they running for?

Since 2016, Democratic candidates in state elections races have run successful campaigns banking on moderate and independent voters’ outrage with President Trump, and preserving the few reforms made under President Obama, such as the Affordable Care Act.

Both candidates spoke to a few of the policies they are running to support, rather than just the opposition to President Trump’s agenda which has defined so much of the last decade of American politics:

“To get the middle class and working poor a better wage,” said Ruiz. “To get them healthcare. To get them tax cuts and quit the tax cuts for upper-earners. We need to make sure people’s rights are protected, that people don’t get pulled over and asked for their papers.”

Reynolds added to Ruiz’ list of priorities, adding “I would like to see federal protections for reproductive freedom,” and “getting big money out of politics.”

She continued “It may be a pipe dream for the near term, but I’d like to see publicly funded elections where we don’t have to wonder who is buying and paying for our representatives.

This final point might make a big difference in the general election, where both candidates pledged to not accept any money from Political Action Committees (PACs) or SuperPACs.

Whoever ends up on the ballot in November will have the others full support, a point brought up by both candidates, who have both agreed to not attack each other during the primary campaign.