Democrat Civil War in Texas: GOP Pounces on Party Turmoil

Paul Riverbank, 12/18/2025Democrats face intraparty rifts and GOP attacks as Senate race tensions escalate in Texas and beyond.

Take South Carolina’s Senator Tim Scott, who didn’t mince words in a recent interview. “The Democratic Party, they’re in shambles everywhere around the country—and no place more obvious than Texas,” he said, sounding less like a senator than a sports commentator dissecting a team in the throes of a losing streak. The sentiment caught wind quickly. John Cornyn, Texas’s own Republican senator, was gleeful in his assessment of Representative Jasmine Crockett, a progressive Democrat now vying for a Senate seat. “She can’t win, so I’m really happy she’s decided to run,” Cornyn quipped, looking for all the world like someone watching his rivals trip over their own feet.

Crockett’s decision to jump into the Senate race isn’t just a tremor; it’s more of a shockwave through Texas politics. With millions glued to her social media exploits and a habit for headline-grabbing moments in Congress, she’s not exactly a background character. For Republicans, she’s confirmation that Democrats are sprinting away from the political middle, leaving moderates to wring their hands. Indeed, some within Democratic ranks are openly anxious about the fallout.

Liam Kerr, a strategist with Democratic Party credentials, didn’t sugarcoat his concern. “Any Democrat who can do math should be worried,” he remarked, laying out, in almost clinical terms, how each misstep—a viral gaffe, a line that sounds out of step in suburban living rooms—offers Republicans fresh rhetorical ammunition. “Every time a high-profile Democrat says something out of touch or extreme, it just adds credence to that,” Kerr sighed, as if he’s seen this movie before and doesn’t care for the ending.

Yet the Texan drama is not an isolated episode. Michigan, for instance, finds itself host to a Democratic primary described in tones ranging from ‘tense’ to ‘chaotic.’ The lineup? State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, and Rep. Haley Stevens all jostle for the nomination. Cornyn, never one to miss a chance to comment from the sidelines, labeled it a “devastating manifestation” of a party at war with itself, and threw in a dig about Chuck Schumer being caught in the undertow of the Sanders-AOC wave. It’s a familiar playbook: link mainstream Democrats to the party’s most progressive corners, and let the voters fill in the gaps.

Some Democrats, though, argue there’s an upside to all this disruption. Kaivan Shroff, a political commentator, cast Crockett as “a qualified rising star”—the sort of phrase that plays equally well on cable news and campaign flyers. But even Shroff slipped in a word of caution, warning that primaries need not devolve into “vicious, divisive” affairs where every disagreement is recast as a grand betrayal by “the establishment.” Looking back, he lamented, “We saw Nancy Pelosi be a really unique expert at that... I don’t know that we have a leader in the party that’s able to show that sort of leadership at this time.” The unspoken implication: structure and control are in short supply these days.

Party power appears to be decentralizing with every cycle. Liam Kerr again: “The formal party has less and less power every year that goes by.” In other words, if you’re looking for someone to wrangle candidates behind closed doors, good luck.

Meanwhile, Republicans can hardly believe their luck. “Republicans have developed a very clear framework for voters to view Democrats as elite, out-of-touch, and extreme,” Kerr explained, his tone both analytical and resigned. Tim Scott doubled down, painting his opposition boldly: “Socialism is in vogue in the Democrat Party. It is a sad day around the country for those who believe that the Democrat Party was going to have a comeback. They’re not coming back.”

Still, to say the downward spiral is total would be to miss the subtle countercurrents. In Kentucky, Democratic Governor Andy Beshear celebrated a resounding state Senate victory, as Gary Clemons carried his heavily blue district with room to spare. “This continues the trend of Democrats outperforming previous elections by wide margins all over the country,” Beshear broadcast to his social media followers. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, ever the voice of caution, pumped the brakes: wins like these are not the whole story. “Success in larger elections in 2026 and especially 2028 will require a more affirmative vision,” he said—a gentle nudge back toward reality.

The upshot? The tectonic plates of party politics are shifting. Twitter-savvy candidates, viral moments, and a growing sense that the old guard’s grip is slipping are defining the political moment. Republicans see vulnerability; Democrats, perhaps, see an opportunity to innovate—if they can avoid torching too many bridges between their centrist and progressive wings. If recent months are any indication, the long, unpredictable skirmish for the Senate has only just started.

It’s early—much earlier than usual—for the 2026 Senate races to take on this much energy, but here we are. Already, what’s playing out from Texas to Michigan is less a series of campaigns than a rowdy family argument aired on live television. In the eyes of Republicans, it’s not just a scuffle—it’s an existential crisis for the Democrats.Take South Carolina’s Senator Tim Scott, who didn’t mince words in a recent interview. “The Democratic Party, they’re in shambles everywhere around the country—and no place more obvious than Texas,” he said, sounding less like a senator than a sports commentator dissecting a team in the throes of a losing streak. The sentiment caught wind quickly. John Cornyn, Texas’s own Republican senator, was gleeful in his assessment of Representative Jasmine Crockett, a progressive Democrat now vying for a Senate seat. “She can’t win, so I’m really happy she’s decided to run,” Cornyn quipped, looking for all the world like someone watching his rivals trip over their own feet.Crockett’s decision to jump into the Senate race isn’t just a tremor; it’s more of a shockwave through Texas politics. With millions glued to her social media exploits and a habit for headline-grabbing moments in Congress, she’s not exactly a background character. For Republicans, she’s confirmation that Democrats are sprinting away from the political middle, leaving moderates to wring their hands. Indeed, some within Democratic ranks are openly anxious about the fallout.Liam Kerr, a strategist with Democratic Party credentials, didn’t sugarcoat his concern. “Any Democrat who can do math should be worried,” he remarked, laying out, in almost clinical terms, how each misstep—a viral gaffe, a line that sounds out of step in suburban living rooms—offers Republicans fresh rhetorical ammunition. “Every time a high-profile Democrat says something out of touch or extreme, it just adds credence to that,” Kerr sighed, as if he’s seen this movie before and doesn’t care for the ending.Yet the Texan drama is not an isolated episode. Michigan, for instance, finds itself host to a Democratic primary described in tones ranging from ‘tense’ to ‘chaotic.’ The lineup? State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, and Rep. Haley Stevens all jostle for the nomination. Cornyn, never one to miss a chance to comment from the sidelines, labeled it a “devastating manifestation” of a party at war with itself, and threw in a dig about Chuck Schumer being caught in the undertow of the Sanders-AOC wave. It’s a familiar playbook: link mainstream Democrats to the party’s most progressive corners, and let the voters fill in the gaps.Some Democrats, though, argue there’s an upside to all this disruption. Kaivan Shroff, a political commentator, cast Crockett as “a qualified rising star”—the sort of phrase that plays equally well on cable news and campaign flyers. But even Shroff slipped in a word of caution, warning that primaries need not devolve into “vicious, divisive” affairs where every disagreement is recast as a grand betrayal by “the establishment.” Looking back, he lamented, “We saw Nancy Pelosi be a really unique expert at that... I don’t know that we have a leader in the party that’s able to show that sort of leadership at this time.” The unspoken implication: structure and control are in short supply these days.Party power appears to be decentralizing with every cycle. Liam Kerr again: “The formal party has less and less power every year that goes by.” In other words, if you’re looking for someone to wrangle candidates behind closed doors, good luck.Meanwhile, Republicans can hardly believe their luck. “Republicans have developed a very clear framework for voters to view Democrats as elite, out-of-touch, and extreme,” Kerr explained, his tone both analytical and resigned. Tim Scott doubled down, painting his opposition boldly: “Socialism is in vogue in the Democrat Party. It is a sad day around the country for those who believe that the Democrat Party was going to have a comeback. They’re not coming back.”Still, to say the downward spiral is total would be to miss the subtle countercurrents. In Kentucky, Democratic Governor Andy Beshear celebrated a resounding state Senate victory, as Gary Clemons carried his heavily blue district with room to spare. “This continues the trend of Democrats outperforming previous elections by wide margins all over the country,” Beshear broadcast to his social media followers. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, ever the voice of caution, pumped the brakes: wins like these are not the whole story. “Success in larger elections in 2026 and especially 2028 will require a more affirmative vision,” he said—a gentle nudge back toward reality.The upshot? The tectonic plates of party politics are shifting. Twitter-savvy candidates, viral moments, and a growing sense that the old guard’s grip is slipping are defining the political moment. Republicans see vulnerability; Democrats, perhaps, see an opportunity to innovate—if they can avoid torching too many bridges between their centrist and progressive wings. If recent months are any indication, the long, unpredictable skirmish for the Senate has only just started.