From the article:
The bill’s sweeping, alleged purpose is stated in its opening sections: “returning sovereign regulatory powers to the state where those powers belong.” However, closer examination suggests that the legislation’s real intent is both narrower and potentially more profound than just upending city ordinance-making powers.
In the case of Beto in 2022, I think you’re right that the party wasn’t doing anything to compete in the state. But I think Beto only ran because the DNC wasn’t putting up anyone. The primary was 5 or 6 no-name folks with zero experience. One didn’t even have a web site. So Beto won the primary with over 90% of the vote. He didn’t really look like he wanted it at all, because clearly his comments on gun control during his presidential run tanked any future state campaigns.
We need someone like Howard Dean back in charge, with the fifty state strategy that paid off in 2008 and 2012. I think Beto can do that for the party within the state, if other candidates will step up. Seems like we have decent options to take on Cruz in 2024.