POV Season 17 Episode 6 Last Man Standing: Politics---Texas Style
- July 20, 2004
In POV season 17 episode 6 titled "Last Man Standing: Politics---Texas Style," the focus is on the life and career of politician and businessman Ricardo Sanchez. Sanchez, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General, ran for the U.S. Senate in Texas in 2012, challenging incumbent Senator Ted Cruz in the Republican primary.
Sanchez's story is one of resilience and perseverance. Born into poverty in the town of Rio Grande City, Texas, Sanchez joined the Army at the age of 18 and rose through the ranks to become the highest-ranking Hispanic officer in the military. He commanded troops in both the Gulf War and the Iraq War, and was famously tasked with overseeing the capture of Saddam Hussein.
After retiring from the military, Sanchez embarked on a new career in politics. His bid for the Senate in 2012 was met with skepticism from the Republican establishment, who saw him as an outsider with little chance of winning.
Despite the odds against him, Sanchez campaigned tirelessly throughout the state, reaching out to voters and emphasizing his military service as proof of his commitment to Texas and its values.
The documentary follows Sanchez as he crisscrosses the state, meeting with voters and attending rallies and debates. Along the way, he faces numerous challenges, including attacks from his opponents over his stance on immigration and his past criticism of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq War.
But Sanchez is undeterred, and he continues to press on, driven by a deep sense of duty to his country and his state.
The episode also explores the broader political landscape in Texas, where the Republican party has long dominated, thanks in part to its strong support from rural and working-class voters. But as the state's demographics continue to shift, with increasing numbers of Hispanic and young voters, Democrats are hoping to make gains in the coming years.
Sanchez's story offers a glimpse into this shifting political landscape, and the challenges faced by those who are trying to change it.
Through interviews with Sanchez, his family, and his supporters, as well as political analysts and commentators, "Last Man Standing: Politics---Texas Style" provides a compelling look at the struggles and triumphs of one man's quest for political office, and the larger forces shaping the politics of a rapidly-changing state.