Three Democrats aim to take on Crenshaw
Near the end of a recent forum for the three Democrats looking to unseat U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a seemingly innocuous moment hinted at some friction between candidates Elisa Cardnell and Sima Ladjevardian.
“At the end of the day, you’ve seen that all three of us are united here behind one goal: defeating Dan Crenshaw in November,” Cardnell said in her closing remarks. “And no matter who the nominee is, we have DCCC backing . ... Whoever wins this primary will have the resources and the support to take on Dan Crenshaw.”
Cardnell’s reference to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee — House Democrats’ campaign arm, which added the district to its battlefield map in January — drew a smirk and head shake from Ladjevardian. The reaction suggested that Ladjevardian, who declined comment on the matter, may be skeptical that the DCCC would deploy resources to Texas’ 2nd Congressional District if Cardnell wins the nomination.
The DCCC has not indicated that its involvement is tied to a particular candidate, though the group announced that it was targeting Crenshaw and several other Republicans a day after Ladjevardian said she had raised more than $400,000 in the first three weeks of her campaign.
Democrats will need all the help they can get in this Houstonarea district, where Crenshaw won by more than 7 percentage points in 2018 but Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz beat Democrat Beto O’Rourke by just one point. The three candidates — Cardnell, Ladjevardian and former Department of Homeland Security employee Travis Olsen — align ideologically, rejecting policies such as “Medicare for All” while preaching the importance of winning moderate voters.
Where they differ is on style and their distinct backgrounds, which they are using to fashion their electability arguments.
“It’s going to take a veteran who can reach across the aisle and bring back independent voters,” Cardnell, a Navy veteran, said at the forum. “This district, Beto lost by 3,000 votes. But (Republican Gov. Greg) Abbott won by 13 percent. That means we have swing voters in this district and we have to be able to talk to them.”
Ladjevardian’s supporters say her fundraising ability, ties to O’Rourke as his former campaign adviser, and background as an Iranian immigrant and cancer survivor make her the most formidable threat to Crenshaw. She also has garnered the most support from local elected officials, including U.S. Reps. Sylvia Garcia and Sheila Jackson Lee, Mayor Sylvester Turner, eight members of the Legislature and the district’s 2018 Democratic nominee, Todd Litton.
O’Rourke endorsed Ladjevardian hours after she entered the race on the Dec. 9 filing deadline, instantly changing the dynamic of what had been a sleepy contest between Cardnell and Olsen. She raised $200,000 in 48 hours after filing and now has hauled in more than $700,000. Cardnell has raised more than $350,000 since launching her campaign last February, while Olsen has taken in about $36,000.
‘Everyday Americans’
To Cardnell and Olsen, Ladjevardian’s financial edge is far from insurmountable.
Olsen, a native of the district and a Spring Branch ISD alumnus, is running on his experience as an immigration lawyer, diplomat and
DHS officer. He quit his role as a front-line civilian for the agency over the Trump administration’s practice of separating migrant families at the border, then began his campaign in November.
Olsen called President Donald Trump’s immigration policies “wrong” and “appalling” and said his variety of roles at the agency have prepared him to serve in Congress.
“For years, I’ve worked alongside members of Congress, ambassadors, department agency heads,” Olsen said. “I’m uniquely positioned to step in and do the work of Congress, and to contribute to the issues that we are facing.”
Cardnell served five years of active duty in the Navy, including a deployment to the Persian Gulf, and six years in the reserves. She said her experience would counter the appeal of Crenshaw’s own military background as a Navy
SEAL.
Noting that her opponents are both lawyers, Cardnell also argued that her post-Navy career as a physics and math teacher would help her connect with voters.
“We need an influx of everyday Americans into politics, because otherwise we have the same corporate donors, the same big money people that are already making policy,” Cardnell said.
Ladjevardian’s supporters say her story of surviving breast cancer and her background in political activism will help her assemble the support needed to beat Crenshaw.
“As a breast cancer survivor, attorney and mother, Sima has the real-life experiences to bring the people of Houston real leadership in Congress,” said Haley Hager, Ladjevardian’s campaign manager. “She’s the one that is going to be building the coalitions needed to bring folks together after these divisive years of Trump.”
Transparency
The DCCC issue is not the only point of contention to arise between Cardnell and Ladjevardian. Earlier this week, Cardnell released a statement drawing attention to Ladjevardian’s failure to submit her personal financial disclosure form. A Cardnell spokesperson, citing a Feb. 2 deadline, said the issue “highlights her disregard for transparent and open government.”
Hager defended Ladjevardian’s late disclosure.
“Sima isn’t taking any corporate PAC money and is the only candidate in this race endorsed by ‘End Citizens United,’ a champion for getting big money out of politics and restoring our democracy,” Hager said in a statement. “The campaign is inside the 30-day grace period, and it will be released shortly.”
Some Cardnell supporters also have criticized Ladjevardian for referring to herself as “the Democrat” running against Crenshaw in social media posts, including a tweet that was circulated nearly 15,000 times.
Daunting opponent
The district covers parts of north and east Harris County, taking in Spring, Klein, Humble and Atascocita, along with Montrose, Rice University and other liberal Houston neighborhoods. It has seen growing numbers of diverse and college-educated voters, a trend that Democrats say puts the seat in play this year.
They face a daunting opponent in Crenshaw, who is sitting on a $2.65 million war chest and does not face a primary challenger. He quickly rose to political prominence after Pete Davidson of “Saturday Night Live” mocked his eyepatch, which he wears over the right eye he lost from the blast of an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.
Democrats say Crenshaw’s unique brand, built on his willingness to break with Trump on certain tweets and topics, belies the hard-right stances they say he has adopted in Congress.
In a statement, DCCC spokesman Avery Jaffe suggested that Crenshaw is vulnerable because he is “caving to big pharma lobbyists and flat-out breaking his promise to lower prescription drug costs.”
The comment referred to Crenshaw’s vote against a House bill last year authorizing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Crenshaw said the legislation would have stifled innovation by effectively imposing price controls — which conservatives oppose — through harsh penalties on companies that do not negotiate.