DALLAS _ It's a red wall versus a blue wave.
Democrats and Republicans on Tuesday picked their party's nominees for the November general election with different goals in mind.
Republicans enjoy a structural advantage in statewide elections, and midterm contests are usually opportunities to boost their majorities and extend clout. Democrats are rebuilding and trying to be competitive.
But this year, based on the enthusiasm among the high number of primary voters, Democrats have the rare opportunity to make gains in Texas.
While U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke is running a strong campaign for Senate against incumbent Republican Ted Cruz, the long suffering party isn't expected to move the needle in contest for governor or other statewide offices. The contenders for governor in the May 22 runoff, former Dallas County sheriff Lupe Valdez and Houston investor Andrew White, have yet to prove they can match incumbent Greg Abbott and his resources.
So most of the Democratic party's achievable goals involve winning seats in Congress and the Texas House, with the primary action being in North Texas.
But is this so-called blue wave real?
"The enthusiasm is off the chain," said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, who was unopposed in his primary race for re-election. "We've never seen this midterm excitement."
More voters participated in the 2018 Democratic primaries than in 2014, early voting totals show. But Republicans point out that many of those voters were not new to the process, and factors other than loathing President Donald Trump could have caused them to cross over. In many urban areas, for instance, Democrats had more contested races that drew more voter attention.
Democrats theorize that much of the increased participation in their primaries involves voters trying to send a message to Trump. Many were stunned by his victory over Clinton, and vowed to resist his policies and fight for the progressive cause.
Republicans, however, say they more unified, and Democrats can't go far on Trump-related anger.
They also point out that the surge in Democratic Party primary voters aren't necessarily new voters, but voters new to their process.
"I personally think it's a blue haze, not a blue wave," said Dallas County Republican Party Chairwoman Missy Shorey.
The challenge for Democrats is to carry momentum into November.
"Historically there is no correlation between the turnout in primary elections and what happens in the general election," said Bryan Eppstein, a longtime Republican consultant based in Fort Worth.
Eppstein conceded that Democrats have the chance to flood the polls in urban districts where Republicans hold marginal advantages in legislative districts.
"The thinly drawn statehouse districts are going to be highly competitive," he said. "Where Hillary Clinton won against Donald Trump, you need to be focused on not taking your re-election for granted."
The districts where Clinton beat Trump are a treasure map to potential Democratic Party gains, analysts say.
Three Texas congressional districts held by Republicans have been targeted by Democrats for takeover. The Republicans at risk are Pete Sessions of Dallas, Will Hurd of San Antonio and John Culberson of Houston.
On Tuesday the Democratic contest for those races were headed to a runoff. In northeastern Dallas County's Congressional District 32, Dallas lawyer and former NFL player Colin Allred was headed for a runoff with either former television reporter Brett Shipp or former Department of Agriculture deputy undersecretary Lillian Salerno.
Both candidates have said they would try to expand the Democratic base, but also convince Republicans upset with President Donald Trump to abandon Sessions.
Some Democrats have hoped to add up to 20,000 votes over how the party performed in 2014. That would almost certainly mean victories in Congress and elsewhere.
"If the election were held today Pete Sessions would be history," said state District Judge Ken Molberg, who is also one of eight Democrats vying for posts on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. "Democrats would pick up seats in the House, the Senate and take over the court of appeals."
Sessions didn't appear worried about his Democratic rivals Tuesday after cruising to victory in his primary.
"This election is about deciding between a Nancy Pelosi liberal Democrat _ trillion-dollar spending increases, higher taxes, single payer health care system, and "free" college for all _ or the values that are embodied by North Texans _ more freedom, more choices, and more opportunity," he said in a statement.
House Democrats have targeted 10 seats held by Republicans for takeover, including seven in North Texas.
Among the Republicans being targeted are Rodney Anderson of Grand Prairie, Matt Rinaldi of Irving and Linda Koop of Dallas. Democrats also want the seat being vacated by Sunnyvale Republican Cindy Burkett, who was locked in a tough challenge against incumbent Sen. Bob Hall of Edgewood.
Democrats Tuesday also settled on nominees to challenge Republican senators Don Huffines and Dallas and Konni Burton of Colleyville.
"We definitely have an opportunity to do well this cycle," said Rep. Cesar Blanco of El Paso and chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Committee. "Dallas is ground zero for us."
Shorey, the Dallas County party leader, said Republicans would not only protect their turf, but mount a challenge to incumbent Democrat Victoria Neave in North Dallas' House District 107.
And Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, said there aren't enough new voters in the process to change the political dynamic, particularly in statewide races.
"We're going to have to protect some of our incumbents," Krause said. "Greg Abbott and his $43 million campaign fund is a great seawall for any blue wave."
Jenkins, the Dallas County judge, said Abbott couldn't protect Republicans from drowning in places like North Texas.
"This year we've got momentum going our way, but it's a long time before the general election," he said, adding that a strong turnout in Dallas County would offset average Republicans numbers in Ellis, Hunt and Rockwall counties. That would help local and regional Democratic candidates.
"In midterms we've always had to fight against a headwind," Jenkins said. "Not this year."
