3 Reasons Why Trump’s Opponent Jake Ellzey Defeated For Fort Worth Area Congressional Seat

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Jake Ellzey is not a runoff favorite to replace Ron Wright.

Ellzey’s opponent Susan Wright is a longtime Republican activist and widow of Ron Wright. He was endorsed by former President Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz.

So how did Ellzey win this unusual contest in which the two Republican candidates faced off?

Donald Trump’s Megaphone Is Quieter Than He Was The President

Trump’s endorsement is desired by nearly every Republican candidate. So, does the loss of Susan Wright mean the Trumps endorsement is a negative now? Not quite, according to Southern Methodist University political communications professor Stephanie Martin.

We usually think of endorsements as something that a candidate gets and gives them a news cycle, gives them a lot of media coverage in one day, Martin said. When Donald Trump became president, he was very good at getting media coverage all the time.

Now out of office, and banned from Facebook and Twitter, that’s no longer true. Martin said it’s too early to say if Trumps overall influence is aging.

Campaign Ad Controversy

Ellzey acknowledged his victory in an enthusiastic campaign modeled after another former president.

A positive outlook, a Reagan Republican vision for the future of our country, is what the people of the sixth district really want, Ellzey said in his victory speech. When I said I was a Reagan Republican … I remember he didn’t say anything bad about anyone. “

One point of contention in the career was a group of anti-Ellzey ads sponsored by a national conservative organization called The Club for Growth.

Former District 6 Representative Joe Barton said allowing the ads to run was a bad campaign decision on Susan Wright’s part.

Bill Zeeble / KERA News

Joe Barton (blue jacket) in Jake Ellzey’s win. Barton held a seat in U.S. District 6 for 34 years. He retired in 2018 after a sexting scandal.

He endorsed Ellzey, but he called Wright a friend.

Susan is a decent person. I would have shown that side to her and put her in schools and day care centers because she is a very empathetic woman, “Barton said.” Instead, they ran a very negative campaign against Jake and it backed them out.

He said that was not the way to reach voters.

You don’t come out to vote against people. You vote for the people, “Barton said.” And average voters, they chose Jake.

Possible Democratic Votes

With two Republicans challenging each other, this is not your average running. However, SMU political scientist Stephanie Martin said Democrats may have played a role in Ellzeys victory.

Any Democrats who showed up to vote, would vote for the more moderate, if there was such a thing, “Martin said.” Ellzey benefits from all the moderate votes that come. “

One bonus weapon Ellzey has in his political arsenal: money.

Martin said despite Susan Wright’s early start, Ellzey ended her run about $ 1 million early.

But Ellzey will have to do it again in a year. That’s when the regular two -year congressional campaign cycle began again.

KERA Gabrielle Jones and Miranda Suarez contributed to this story.

Is there a tip? Email reporter Bill Zeeble at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter @bzeeble.

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