The race to replace Paxton: It's all about the money, and who is "voting" with the big checks (at least for now)

Original Story (recycled for weekend edition)

Dozens of Paxton donors "defect" and back challengers 

In this weekend's front-page story, the Houston Chronicle spills much ink about the declining fund-raising prowess of embattled incumbent AG Ken Paxton. No substantive discussion of what the office of AG is all about, or what proposals (if any) the two GOP challenger might have for doing the job differently, and better. 

Democratic contender for AG and long-time Paxton detractor, Joe Jaworski, has set forth concrete priorities and policy positions on his campaign websites for months now. Alas, the Chronicle didn't even find it worth mentioning his name, and fails to acknowledge that there is now a contested primary on the other side of the political devide as well, following the recent announcement of a bid to beat and succeed Paxton by Lee Merritt.   

Money over substance, mirrored in the mainstream media's coverage of the campaign. 

REFERENCES:

Dozens of Paxton donors give to challengers. Defections to Bush, Guzman point to a tight GOP race for AG and weakened incumbent. HOUSTON CHRONICLE 2021-07-24 by TAYLOR GOLDENSTEIN. 

Original version of story: Texas AG Ken Paxton's donors are defecting to his challengers and taking big money with them (houstonchronicle.com)

George P. Bush outraises Attorney General Ken Paxton in primary challenge debut, though Paxton has bigger war chest. Bush started his Paxton challenge with a fundraising lead of $2.3 million to $1.8 million, but Paxton easily maintains the most cash on hand in a primary that also includes Eva Guzman, the former state Supreme Court justice. TEXAS TRIBUNE 2021-07-16. by PATRICK SVITEK. 

Campaign Contribution Coffers and War Chests

Several news outlets report that incumbent and re-election minded Governor Abbott has a huge campaign "war chest".

Campaign finance reports for Texas officeholders are in, Gov. Greg Abbott has a huge war chest for his primary battle against former state Sen. Don Huffines and former Texas GOP party chairman Allen West. In the attorney general's race, Land Commissioner George P. Bush outraised incumbent Ken Paxton. (DMN)

Admittedly, that's long been standard lingo in campaign & election reporting, and comparative strength assessments.  But it's yet another example of the thoughtless use of the vocabulary of war in domestic politics.

The Trib. on Bush vs. Paxton Fundraising Prowess 

We should start to demilitarize the political rhetoric and choose more benign metaphors.

Constructive Dialogue vs. Battle Cries and War Talk 

Our domestic political opponents are  not our mortal enemies. At least, they shouldn't be. Words spoken in domestic discourse and democratic competition for power and the associated ability to shape public policy should not be weapons. Campaign donations neither.

Games of sports --- including team sports and horse races -- provide a more suitable analogy, especially in a two-party system and with election rules that allows only one winner.

Games do too, not to mention that not all of them are zero-sum. 

If analogies are needed at all, that is.

REFERENCES 

July Finance Reports Show First Glimpse of Statewide GOP Primary Challenges. REFORM AUSTIN by STAFF 2021-07-16 (highlighting new semi-annual campaign finance reports for first half of 2021 released this week by elected officials and candidates for statewide office. Elected officials were barred from fundraising except for the last 10 days of June.) 

George P. Bush outraises Attorney General Ken Paxton in primary challenge debut, though Paxton has bigger war chest. Bush started his Paxton challenge with a fundraising lead of $2.3 million to $1.8 million, but Paxton easily maintains the most cash on hand in a primary that also includes Eva Guzman, the former state Supreme Court justice. TEXAS TRIBUNE 2021-07-16 by PATRICK SVITEK.