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The U.S. House of Representatives race for TX-23 between Republican nominee, businessman, and 2A advocate Brandon Herrera and Democrat educator Katy Padilla Stout is another national contest exhibiting great interest and debate; despite the fact that the Texas U.S. Senate race is sucking up much of the oxygen — and the money. On Tuesday, the TX-23 candidates squared off with each other in their first debate. Suffice to say, Herrera was locked, loaded, and accurately hit his targets. Padilla Stout, on the other hand, decided to bring tacos to what should have been a gunfight. The Democrat ended up stuffed, in more ways than one.
Herrera's opening statement was strong. As a fifth-generation Texan, he expressed his love for the state. "I love it to death, and I want to see it defended, including its values," he said. Herrera went on to clearly delineate his policy and viewpoints and how they were at odds with Padilla Stout's.
Padilla Stout opened with her left-wing talking points, but when confronted by Herrera, they fell apart like a vegetarian burrito. Whoever on her staff thought it would be a good idea to challenge a 2A advocate and gun aficionado on school shootings should be fired, but challenge is exactly what Padilla Stout did. Padilla Stout made the spurious claim that Herrera "didn't do his research," and accused him of mocking the victims of the Uvalde shooting. Herrera countered her with stone-cold facts on how good guys with guns saved lives. Herrera then called out Padilla Stout on her outright aspersions of his character.
Another huge misstep: When your opponent can put up a video in under three minutes, don't throw in his face that he can't name the data center developers who are funding your campaign. Herrera dropped this clip after the debate, further outing Padilla Stout as lacking in intellectual heft.
Padilla Stout also spent her time wagging her finger at Herrera over his YouTube mockery, but only managed to bumble into making herself look foolish — not that this was hard to do.
But here is Padilla Stout's most embarrassing self-own of the night. In the discussion on rural healthcare, Herrera delivered cogent reasons why this is important for the region, what he could do as a Congressman, and how, as a Republican, he could maintain the important spot on the appropriations committee which funds rural healthcare. What did Padilla Stout talk about? Her father and uncle who were battling chronic disease and cancer. If the focus is supposed to be on what you can do for the people of Texas, making it all about you is not a good look.
In August, my RedState colleague Kyle Becker reported on Padilla Stout's FEC records. They showed that over the first quarter of her campaign, she spent about $4,300 on tacos, cookies, and liquor.
So, because Padilla Stout is lacking in either substantive policies or a solid platform, it makes her own substantive physical presence an easy target. To Herrera's credit, he never went there. But others? Well, the Han Solo and Fat Bastard memes create themselves.
On the issue of border security and whether a border wall should be built in the Big Bend region, Herrera brought obvious experience and showed his ability to find solutions and build relationships in order to move policy forward. Padilla Stout, on the other hand, perpetually pointed out what a terrible person Herrera is because he said mean things and made sarcastic YouTube videos.
This longer video (9 minutes) contrasts the difference between the two candidates' knowledge and approach. In this debate, Herrera was the clear winner. Padilla Stout did herself no favors when she assumed that talking points, finger-pointing, and vibes would get her through a debate, let alone a national campaign. Unlike the Texas U.S. Senate race, the TX-23 House seat may be a walk for the Republicans. The only thing Katy Padilla Stout may be flipping is burgers. Ensuring that happens is all the more reason to get out and vote. Texas early voting starts on October 19. Credit: redstate.com |
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