Another prominent Texas Republican backs Democrat James Talarico

[0:00] Countdown to election night, the breaking news, another Texas Republican breaking with his party [0:05] in the state's all-important U.S. Senate race. Now, Texas already seeing nearly four and a half [0:09] million early votes cast since voting began there a week ago, four and a half million. [0:14] Thomas Phillips, the former Republican chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, [0:18] endorsing the Democratic Senate candidate, James Tallarico. You heard me right, the Republican. [0:23] Now, Phillips explained why he can't support Republican Ken Paxton. He said, quote, in part, [0:29] Paxton's longstanding reputation will embarrass Texas in ways our state simply cannot afford. [0:34] Even the most fervent Republican would do well this year to remember President John Kennedy's warning [0:39] that sometimes party loyalty demands too much. Out front now, two Republicans who have not shied [0:47] away from speaking out against their party and putting country over party as they see him more [0:52] important in this moment than loyalty. Dade Phelan, Texas state representative and former Texas House [0:57] Speaker and also with me, former Kansas Governor Bill Graves. Representative Phelan, I just want [1:01] to start with you, if I may, here, because we hear this from Texas, you know, judges, Supreme Court [1:08] Justice. How widespread is that sentiment among Texas Republicans? [1:13] It's something we didn't hear. Let's just frame it this way. In 2018, when several statewides barely won [1:21] by less than three points, no one was talking about not voting for Ted Cruz. Ted Cruz is a fierce [1:28] campaigner, debater, fundraisers across campaigns across the state. No one was talking about not [1:35] voting for Ted Cruz. The fact that you're hearing very prominent Republicans, lifelong Republicans [1:41] coming out, not just saying they're skipping the race or they have hesitations about voting for [1:46] Republican facts and they're actually endorsing and voting for the Democrat is pretty telling. And I [1:53] think it, that's why the polls are where they are. You know, you can say the polls are wrong and [1:58] that, you know, it's fake polls, but they're undercounting Republicans, which I don't think [2:03] they undercount Republicans in midterms. I think in midterms, the polls are more accurate than [2:09] presidential years. And so, yes, I think that people are splitting their tickets this cycle [2:15] more than ever. And we're kind of seeing that in the turnout at the polls right now. [2:20] So I'm not surprised that some of these more prominent Republicans, lifelong Republicans, [2:27] are turning their back at some of these high ticket Republicans. [2:31] So, you know, Governor Graves, it's obviously, you hear what Representative Phelan is saying [2:36] about Texas, but it's happening in South Carolina. The Democratic Senate candidate there, [2:41] Annie Andrews, just got endorsed by the former South Carolina Republican Governor David Beasley, [2:46] who put out a video talking about Andrews alongside a former Democratic governor of the state, [2:52] Jim Hodges. Here they are. [2:55] We may have served as your governor from different political parties, but we agree South Carolina [3:00] deserves better than more of the same political fighting. [3:06] And so they're endorsing the Democrat. I mean, Governor, you were one of the first Republicans [3:10] to do this, this cycle, to break ranks and come out when it was a very lonely thing to do. [3:14] You endorsed the Democrat. What do you think is driving Republicans from very different states? [3:20] Right here, we're now talking about Kansas, Texas, South Carolina, Republicans endorsing [3:27] Democrats in these elections. [3:30] Yeah, and I should I should mention Mark Roscoe, formerly of the Bush administration, [3:35] who's endorsed in Montana. I mean, there are there are a number beyond that. First of all, [3:40] I want to say, Aaron, I served with David Beasley, so I know him well. He is a is a standup guy, [3:46] very conservative. And this is came as even a surprise to me. But I'm very proud of David for [3:53] doing it. And I think he feels like like Gabe and I feel the Republican Party. We're still Republicans [4:01] and we want our party to be vibrant and strong. But this isn't this isn't the party that we know. [4:09] And we're left with very, you know, very few options. You either set it out or you figure out [4:15] a different strategy to engage. And in this case, you know, the only other partner to dance with [4:21] happens to be a Democratic candidate. And in my case, a very, very fine one. Adam Hamilton is [4:27] makes no bones about the fact that he runs right in the middle of the road, which is where Kansans [4:32] are. And I think he's the kind of guy that that can possibly make a difference in Washington. [4:39] I mean, some of these candidates that you're talking about are people who have [4:42] focused on pragmatism. When you're talking about people like Annie Andrews or James Tallarico, [4:47] at least in terms of political message, we've heard from them and data. I know you've worked [4:50] with Mr. Tallarico, obviously, in the Texas House. The Justice Department said today that [4:55] it's sending 1000 election monitors to every state, which is 150 percent increase from the [5:01] 2022 election. Right. So two and a half times. It comes amid the situation in the Alaska Senate race [5:08] where Trump's already directed the DOJ to file a lawsuit to block the certification of the election [5:13] if the Republican loses, because they're both named Dan Sullivan, even though it's clearly [5:18] labeled incumbent and all the reasons that Lisa Murkowski said that this didn't add up [5:22] on the ballot. Here's what Attorney General Todd Blanche told my colleague Dana Bash this weekend. [5:30] We are not doing anything improper. We're not doing anything we're not allowed to do. [5:33] And we have to let the process play out. But I do think it's important for the American people [5:38] to understand that we are not, President Trump is not trying to take over a state election in any way, [5:43] shape or form. Representative Phelan, what do you make of Blanche's explanation? [5:51] You know, a thousand election monitors across the U.S. is really not that many people. [5:58] That's instead of Texas, that was sand on the beach. We've got thousands and thousands and [6:04] thousands of polling locations. I don't know what the purpose of this is. I don't know what one [6:09] person standing in the room watching people vote will do or not do. I don't know what message [6:15] they're trying to send here. But we have counties where there's hundreds of polling locations in the [6:20] state of Texas. So a thousand across the state of Texas. I really I really don't know what you think [6:26] even though it's a two and a half times increase, you're saying it's still not enough to make a [6:30] difference. So what's what are they really trying to do? Yes, I mean, you would you need hundreds [6:36] of thousands of maybe I'm wrong. Governor, you tell me, but you need hundreds and hundreds of thousands [6:41] of poll watchers. And if you're trying to make an impact, because there are so many locations just [6:48] in the state of Texas alone that I don't know. I don't know what the purpose of this, you know, [6:53] this initiative is. Governor, you've certified elections. What what what what do you read into [6:58] this? Well, I mean, obviously, I do have a concern about it in those locations where these individuals [7:06] show up it causing some, let's call it discomfort amongst well established, you know, election [7:14] officials that have been doing this for years, volunteers, paid workers that have been doing [7:19] this for years. But I have to tell you, Aaron, I look at it maybe a little differently in that [7:25] I have so much confidence in the people running our elections. I actually like the fact that I think [7:33] all these people are going to show up and there's not going to be anything for them to find. I mean, [7:38] the political parties have been able to send poll watchers to every polling place forever and they [7:45] normally do. So this is just another layer that that will make it that much more difficult for this [7:51] president to argue that there was some sort of of irregularity in this election. All right. Well, [7:57] I appreciate both of you. And thank you so much, as always, for being with me.