I’ve got an old high school friend whose family migrated from Taiwan when she was a kid. She was dyed-in-the-wool “China Bad / Communism Bad” and quickly adopted the Texas brand of anti-Communist Republicanism. She got a law degree, joined the Federalist Society, started a practice in the Houston suburbs, and even made inroads within the local Republican Party as a team player.

Then she tried to run for an open judicial seat in her neighborhood, during the Republican Primary. Instantly bombarded with crazy racist attacks. Tarred as a Chinese Communist. Smeared as a Manchurian Candidate. Received a ton of hate mail. Got blasted on in the local radio. Came in a distant third place with pretty much only her local friends and neighbors supporting her, in a crazy low-turnout election.

Democrats came and courted her as a possible candidate on their side, because the Democrats in Fort Bend are far more plural with a big East Asian demographic (but just as “business-friendly” neoliberal). She outright rejected the offer and doubled down with the GOP. Now she’s hosting dinner parties with Dinesh D’Souz and Charlie Kirk to fund-raise for the same Trump candidates in her neighborhood that smeared her. She’s convinced her turn will come. People in the party keep insisting (quietly and in back rooms) that they do actually support her and a seat will open up for her eventually.

Absolutely fucking crazy. I don’t understand it at all.