The state party doesn't really have much control over who runs or not. If they can fill out the application and pay the filing fee, they are in. We had like a dozen candidates for Senate last time, which is hard because it takes time away from the real contenders. Allred ran again and I don't personally know anyone who is glad he did. But now a real candidate like Talarico will have to share time and a stage with Allred and all those funds on defeating Allred which depletes his resources for going against Paxton or whoever in the general election. DC and Shumer led Senate saddled us with Allred last time, and I suppose coerced him to try again. Point is the local party really has no control over who runs. DC always puts their thumb on our scales by sending funds into certain candidates or district races with very little input from Texas folks. However I think we are starting to see that change. Texas has always been one of the more progressive states and now with new leadership, we are seeing more representation in the DNC. Hopefully they will listen.
No offense taken, and I understand what you are feeling. I live in one of those counties too. One of my friends is a chair in a neighboring county and once people found out he was the Dem chair, they promptly dropped a load of 6 fresh killed feral hogs in the county road right of way in front of his home. His house is about 100 ft off that road. He called the county and it took 7 weeks for a crew to come out and clear it up. It's frustrating. And the other thing is, it is expensive to run for these races. My congressional district is mainly lower middle class rural folks who don't have the money to donate much. The district is nearly 5 hours from corner to corner. If DC and others Dem PACs don't feel the race is winnable, then they won't give any funds. So these candidates are faced with 1) not really having any experience in running, 2) constant funding problems, 3) large distances to cover and meager turnout when they get there, and 4) counties who have only one Dem on the ballot, while every county seat from Judge to dogcather is a Republican. People will vote during the primaries for their friends and family, and that rolls over to the general.
What we need to do is start with foiks running for the non partisan races like school boards, MUDs, city offices, etc. Then once they get established as decent capable leaders, let them run for the higher offices as Dems. That's how we build benches best.