Really American
·
Follow
22 hours ago
·
AMAZING: Republican Sen. John Cornyn welcomes Democrat Sen.-Elect James Talarico to the Senate with advice, help with his transition and a Sam Houston portrait, the kind of politics we haven't seen in years
A Republican senator just showed a Democrat how to lose with class and hand off a seat with grace.
On Monday, John Cornyn met with Senator-elect James Talarico in his office, smiled for the cameras and shook his hand. Cornyn said he wants to help Talarico "in his transition as the next Senator from Texas, because I've had the honor of representing 32 million Texans for a long time, and that's where my allegiance lies."
Cornyn also said, "obviously his politics are different from mine," but "I wish him well."
Talarico answered in kind. "He has served our state honorably, and I'm grateful for his advice and guidance," he wrote. "Now is the time for us to come together, Democrats and Republicans, to deliver for Texas."
Then Cornyn added a gift. Asked by Mediaite whether Talarico is worthy of Sam Houston's Senate seat, he said, "I am bequeathing him the Sam Houston portrait over my desk."
Cornyn has been saying for months that he wouldn't turn over Sam Houston's seat to Ken Paxton. He kept his word. Talarico beat Paxton by just over 12 points, in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat statewide since the late 1990s.
It's not just the two senators. A longtime Texas Republican consultant said Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa is appointing Republicans to her transition team, and other Democrats are bringing in Republicans who were primaried out of their seats. "It's gorgeous, these people are adulting," the consultant said.
Texans voted for a change, and they're getting a handoff that looks like one. A Republican and a Democrat sat down, shook hands and said the job comes first.
