Bulwark Takes: Rep. Lizzie Fletcher – Texas May Finally Be in Play

Host: Sarah Longwell (The Bulwark)
Guest: Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX)
Date: March 22, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Bulwark publisher Sarah Longwell sits down with Texas Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher for a deep dive into the transformation of Texas politics. They explore the ongoing redistricting wars, the prospects for Democrats in a historically red state, infighting and coalition-building among Democrats, and the failure of Congress to effectively govern amid MAGA dominance. The conversation is candid, energetic, and surprisingly optimistic about Democratic chances in 2026.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Texas Redistricting & Gerrymandering: The “War” That Backfired

[03:11–07:54]

• The Redistricting Timeline:
  Rep. Fletcher outlines three phases:

  1. Legislative Push (2025): Gov. Abbott, at former President Trump's request, asked the state legislature to redraw congressional maps to create five more GOP seats—not because Texas was slipping, but as a buffer for potential GOP losses elsewhere.
     • “President Trump said, I want five more Republican seats from Texas... and thought they could just redraw the map. And they thought the Democrats would just kind of take it. And that is not what has happened.” (Fletcher, [04:08])
  2. Litigation: Lawsuits challenged the maps as racially discriminatory, with a Trump-appointed judge initially siding with plaintiffs before the Supreme Court stayed the decision. The legal battle isn’t done.
     • “The judge who wrote the opinion was appointed by President Trump who said, this map discriminates against Texans. And so they won. And then the Supreme Court stayed that. But that case is not over.” (Fletcher, [05:11])
  3. Electoral Response: With the new map in place for this cycle, Democrats are fighting at the ballot box.
     • “...Our job is to make sure they pick up as few as possible, hopefully pick up zero, maybe even lose one.” (Fletcher, [08:11])

• Democratic Fightback as a Model:
  Texas Democrats surprised Republicans with strategic pushback, from breaking quorum in the legislature to uniting behind legal challenges and grassroots organization. - “Democrats, I think, surprised them by fighting back. But let me assure you, that was a strategy. And I’m really grateful. Like, Leader Jeffries has been there saying, like, we’re not giving an inch.” (Fletcher, [06:53])

2. Texas in Play? Demographic Shifts, Candidates, and Hope

[07:54–15:17]

• The GOP Strategy Is Failing:
  Fletcher is adamant that Republicans overreached and will not gain as planned:

  • “No, they're not. They're not going to be able to pick up five seats. And you can mark my words now.” (Fletcher, [08:08])

• Key Races and Candidates:

  • Incumbents like Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez expected to hold on.
  • Bobby Polito in TX-15 has run a “genius” campaign (“the quinceanera thing, like, genius, genius.” [08:41]).
  • “We want to do it by winning and we want to do it by turning out. And look, that can have some other benefits, like electing a Democratic senator from Texas.” (Fletcher, [09:51])

• Enthusiasm and Turnout:
  Democratic turnout is up—highest primary turnout since 2008—and recent special elections indicate voters are open to non-GOP candidates, even in deeply red districts.

  • “Highest Democratic primary turnout since 2008. So lots of enthusiasm... for the first time in years in a Trump +32 district, a Democratic senator was elected in this special election.” (Fletcher, [15:07])

• Shifts in Texas Republican Identity:
  Texas GOP, once seen as champions of local control and small government, have subsumed themselves to Trump’s GOP, ceding authority and alienating traditional Texans.

  • “They are 100% subservient to Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans and Washington Republicans telling them what to do. And they put Donald Trump ahead of Texans. And Texans know it.” (Fletcher, [14:03])
  • “There are votes up for grabs in Texas... Republicans have helped us by showing that they're not prioritizing Texans, they're prioritizing Trump.” (Fletcher, [16:41])

3. Democratic Unity & Coalition-Building after a Rough Primary

[17:17–19:42]

• Bloody Primaries:
  Sarah notes the “bloody” primary between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico, pushing for visible unity going forward.

  • “My hope is that Jasmine Crockett will start to campaign for James Tao Rico with tremendous energy.” (Longwell, [18:03])

• Fletcher’s Take:
  Yes, party unity is possible and necessary—citing her own experience with unity events after a tough primary.

  • “One of the best things that happened was that every single person in that race got together... and, you know, really just talked about how important it was to beat John Culberson in 2018 and to take back the House. And Democrats know it.” (Fletcher, [18:38])

• Democratic Coalitions Matter More Than Reaching Across the Aisle:

  • “I want you guys to reach across to each other and like show people what a community looks like together as Democrats.” (Longwell, [18:25])

4. Senate Races: The MAGA Factor, Paxton/Cornyn, And Fallout

[10:14–11:40], [20:01–21:27]

• Ken Paxton vs John Cornyn:
  Paxton is likely to win unless Trump throws support behind Cornyn, reflecting the deep MAGA shift in the Texas GOP and the consequences for incumbents.

  • “If I had to pick right now, my money’s on Paxton. I think he will win. I'm not saying I'm voting for him... those are all protest votes. Right. Those are the people who don't want to vote for Cornyn.” (Fletcher, [20:24])

• Voter Backlash Against MAGA Allegiance:
  Even some who once supported Cornyn won’t vote for him now due to his perceived capitulation to Trump.

  • “He sold out to Trump. Right. And it goes back to the same idea... now he's just showing that he's serving Trump. It's the same thing Governor Abbott's doing. It's the same thing our legislature's done. They're all serving Trump. And Texans aren't going to take it anymore.” (Fletcher, [20:37])

5. Congress in Dysfunction: The Do-Nothing (or Harm-Doing) Branch

[21:27–25:13]

• Congressional Paralysis:
  Fletcher issues an unsparing diagnosis: Congress is not just stymied—it’s actively undermining constitutional checks and balances under Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership.

  • “I think we voted seven times on the capacity of your showerheads... they are pretending like they’re governing and legislating when they have ceded all of their authority to the White House and to Donald Trump.” (Fletcher, [22:23])
  • “This Congress is doing harm, right? And that's the problem. They're doing harm to the constitutional system, to the sense of checks and balances, and to these institutions that are going to need a massive amount of repair.” (Fletcher, [24:40])

• Checks and Balances Abandoned:

  • “Congress is the Article 1 branch of government... And as I said, Congress—thank you—Congress is the Article 1 branch of government.” (Fletcher, [22:46])

• The Hope:
  Change in leadership is possible; it’s up to the voters.

  • “The system... can be fixed because all it takes is sending different people to Washington and putting different people in charge. We need Speaker Hakeem Jeffries and not Speaker Mike Johnson. And that is within all of our power... in Texas, we're going to do it.” (Fletcher, [25:02])

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the Redistricting War:
  “If you’re gonna dish it, you gotta take it. Right. And this was their idea. And we need to make sure that they see what a bad idea it was.” (Fletcher, [06:53])

• On Texas Being in Play:
  “No, they're not. They're not going to be able to pick up five seats. And you can mark my words now.” (Fletcher, [08:08])

• On Democrats Surprising with Fight:
  “Democrats, I think, surprised them by fighting back. But let me assure you, that was a strategy. And I'm really grateful.” (Fletcher, [06:53])

• On Texas Republicans and Trump:
  “They are 100% subservient to Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans and Washington Republicans telling them what to do. And they put Donald Trump ahead of Texans. And Texans know it.” (Fletcher, [14:03])

• On Congressional Dysfunction:
  “I think we voted seven times on the capacity of your showerheads... In Congress, things are bad. Things are bad in Congress. And I try to tell my constituents every week kind of why I'm voting against everything. Partially it's because they're not bringing the right things to the floor. And partially it said it's a farce.” (Fletcher, [22:23])

• On the Need for Unity:
  “I want you guys to reach across to each other and like show people what a community looks like together as Democrats.” (Longwell, [18:25])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Main Conversation Starts: [01:00]
• Redistricting/Gerrymandering in Texas: [03:11–07:54]
• Democrats’ Election Prospects, Strategy, Key Races: [07:54–15:17]
• Democratic Primary Unity & Coalition Politics: [17:17–19:42]
• Ken Paxton vs Cornyn, Texas GOP’s MAGA Problem: [20:01–21:27]
• Congressional Dysfunction and Hope for Reform: [21:27–25:13]

Tone and Takeaways

The conversation is candid, humorous, and sometimes sharp, but threaded with hope and resolve. Fletcher mixes expertise with relatable anecdotes, painting a picture of both Texas’s volatility and national implications.

• Hope is not lost for Texas Democrats—Republicans’ overreach has created opportunity.
• Democrats are fighting on multiple fronts—from legal battles to unified campaigns.
• Coalition-building is essential—Democrats must model unity not just for themselves, but for a fractured nation.
• Congress is broken but repairable—if voters send new leaders to Washington.

“We know how to do it... there’s a way that you do it, and it’s by talking to everybody, going to everybody for their vote, and being true to Texas and what our real values are as Texans.” — Rep. Lizzie Fletcher ([16:41])

For listeners seeking context on the state of Texas politics in 2026 and the national significance of redistricting, this episode offers substance, strategy, and a rare dose of optimism.