Adrian OceguedaVerified account

On our side this is usually meant to both energize our get-out-the-vote efforts and rally small dollar donations by our party’s faithful. But we now have evidence on how this fundraise-to-polarize and polarize-to-fundraise strategy plays out here in Texas.

Even with the most charismatic candidate (Beto) we spend millions of dollars, have great mobilization and still fall short. In HD 28 we mobilized money, presidential candidates, and the support of that same charismatic candidate;

and, our polarizing efforts worked to mobilize their polarizing efforts, so we saw a retreat of our electoral margins. Because of all of this, I truly believe that any of the “lead" candidates on the Democratic side of this race will lose in the general election,

regardless of who it is and the money they have. The reason being is that these candidates are running politics by the same playbook that has failed in our state over several election cycles.

And it has nothing to do with their demographic profile, their character, or their commitment to improving our nation. They are simply acting as rational political characters in this increasingly polarized and broken political system.

Appearing at forums most of them play to shallow polarizing progressive tag lines, not because they are stupid but because they want to win and they need to appeal to those parts of our base that are motivated enough to come to a political event.

One of my opponents aptly pointed out to me on the side of one of these events, “we are just here to provide the entertainment.” Unless we start to challenge political norms and shift our communication in a way that breaks from the partisan stalemate,

our party and the country will continue to lose (regardless of affiliation). The more we reinforce the divide in our primary process; the more non-thinking intuitive fear messaging will have an influence on elections.

Over the remaining weeks until the primary, I will share with voters how I believe my approach is different and gives the country the best chance of winning in the fall. But for now, I ask that we reflect on how we contribute to this system.

And today, of all days is the best day to start. Happy Super Bowl Sunday! Today most of us Americans will embrace our identities as commercial loving, junk food eating, halftime show watching, football enthusiasts, who lean-Niners or lean-Chiefs.

Thankfully, gone from our minds will be our left or right identities. What I ask is that you keep your identity today into this election cycle.

When you hear Demi Lovato singing our national anthem today, think of the arch of history that brought us from Lexington and Concord to Chiefs vs Niners on this Sunday afternoon. That path is impressive and the identity that brought us here is clear, American.