#cd-23

Bill Clinton fired up about 2,000 Texans on Thursday in support of Pete Gallego. At San Antonio South High School, Clinton broke the state of affairs down DNC-style, and explained what's happening in Gallego's race against Rep. Quico Canseco.

Quico Canseco is very afraid. He's on the ropes in his Congressional contest against Pete Gallego and details of his controversial car accident are emerging. In response to all this, Canseco has decided it's time to scrape the bottom of the barrel.

Thursday, the Pete Gallego campaign released footage of Republican Rep. Quico Canseco's comment at an event earlier this year.

What was that comment? In response to a question about Social Security at a town hall, Canseco said, "I don't believe in retirement."

Watch for yourself.

Quico Canseco's lame, transparent speech at the RNC certainly informed national Republicans that he exists...and is in serious danger of losing his seat. A Republican Super PAC called Congressional Leadership Fund and its affiliated "nonprofit" group American Action Network are jumping into try and save Canseco's spiraling campaign. 

his cycle, Texas Democrats face a number of crucial races that we consider must-win for the future of our state. To help these great candidates raise the funds they need to compete and win, Burnt Orange Report is launching our "Burnt Orange to Blue" fundraising page on ActBlue.

Pete Gallego has a prime opportunity to pick up a Democratic seat and oust a truly odious Republican in the process. Freshman Republican incumbent Quico Canseco has made a habit of voting against first responders and hobnobbing with lobbyists rather than serve the people of his district. Gallego, meanwhile, has a career in public service spanning many decades. His close ties to the people of this sprawling West Texas district give him a leg up in November.

Gallego has a strong track record of fighting for education, public schools, veterans, and disabled children. He will be a vast improvement over Canseco, and Gallego will also be well-positioned to defend the seat in 2014 and beyond. He's already receiving ample support from environmental and labor organizations, and we feel strongly that this is a must-win race in Texas, and that our readers should contribute to Gallego as well.

The district is on the DCCC's Red to Blue Emerging Races Districts list, and Gallego deserves your financial support. We've been staunch advocates of this exemplary public servant throughout the primary season, and we're thrilled to support him as he heads towards November.

All money donated through ActBlue flows directly to the candidates. Donate securely online. Can't give a lot? Then make it a recurring donation, so our Democratic candidates have the funds they need to make it through to November. Now that the primaries are behind us, it's time to get down to business of winning these crucial races.

Pete Gallego is the strongest candidate in CD-23 to win the seat back from the Republicans this November, and hold it in 2014. We unanimously and enthusiastically endorse him in the primary run-off.

Burnt Orange Report endorsed Gallego in the first round, owing to his tremendous work in the Legislature and distinguished career as a public servant. He is solid on education, the environment, labor issues, and has done great work for veterans in his district. He is an exemplary public servant and will be a credible advocate for all Texans in Washington, D.C.

Our endorsement is based on both electoral and governing concerns. Gallego is the stronger candidate in this crucial pick-up opportunity for Democrats. He is a more formidable fundraiser. His ties to the far-flung parts of the district make him more capable of bringing on board "swing" voters who have cast ballots for Gallego for eons. Though Rodriguez enjoys strong support in south Bexar County, those reliable Democratic voters will be there for Gallego as well come November. Gallego's ability to win votes from swing voters will help him win this November, and in November 2014.

Furthermore, Ciro Rodriguez's history of repeatedly losing -- twice in this district alone -- gives us significant pause. It's not enough to pick up a seat in a Presidential cycle, only to give it back two years later. We need to win and hold seats in order to reclaim and keep a Democratic Congressional majority. Rodriguez's electoral shortcomings are another reason why it is expected that major institutional organizations will not provide a heavy lift for the former Congressman this fall.

Gallego is the best on the merits, and the best bet to pick up this seat come November, and keep it blue. We unanimously and enthusiastically endorse him in the runoff for CD-23.