I think some of you might be a bit too Texas-focused in your views. I guarantee you that most outside Texas have no idea about the particulars of the mayoral race being non-partisan or what actual power the mayor has. It does, however, play well into amplifying the national rhetoric on Democrats and crime; both of the local variety and immigration. A Black mayor doing this is an added bonus, when mixed with the criticisms leveled at the White House from other Black mayors of the same political party, from similar cities. If there is one thing you can learn from Republicans; they know how to play the long game. Witness Roe v. Wade, and Affirmative Action. I'm not talking about the MAGA wing of the party, but the people who put time and effort into making groups like the Federalist effective machines. People thought busing migrants to Democratic cities was a stunt, and now that stunt is turning into a quagmire that Democrats don't seem to have an answer for, and will only get more intense just in time for elections.