I can go back to 2008 when Democrats and various media figures/pundits confidently predicted that Texas would flip blue sooner rather than later, perhaps as early as 2012 or 2016.
This (wishful) thinking was due to a a few things: Barack Obama was doing significantly better in Texas in 2008 than John Kerry in 2004 and Al Gore in 2000, an ever-increasing Hispanic population, “progressive” transplants moving to the Lone Star State, and the fact that In 2008, some red states, including North Carolina, went blue.
“Blue Texas” (“Blexas”) didn’t happen in 2012 or 2016. But perhaps inspired by Beto O’Rourke’s failed “But.” Close campaign against Senator Ted Cruz in 2018, the Democrats tried again in Texas in 2020, expenditure seven figures to slam Joe Biden and double the nationwide voter registration effort, only to fail again.
SEE ALSO: The flop sweat is increasing as Democrats realize Latinos can think for themselves
In addition to the Democratic Party getting a lot of lend a hand from billionaire George Soros to turn around Texas in 2024, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris even made a substantial visit to the state near the end of her campaign to prevent that from happening presented Beyonce, only to disappear there on a very bad night for her in the entire country.
If we compare Harris’ numbers in Texas in 2024 with those of Joe Biden in 2020, we can clearly see how spectacularly the “Blexas” movement has failed:
That’s crazy.
Kamala Harris won 423,876 fewer votes than Joe Biden in Texas.
Blexas is DEAD. pic.twitter.com/Hfv3gEM7lT
— Christian Heiens 🏛 (@ChristianHeiens) November 29, 2024
REST IN PEACE pic.twitter.com/2Dli8OvJWv
— Patrick Ruffini (@PatrickRuffini) November 17, 2024
One substantial advantage that former President Donald Trump had in Texas heading into Election Day was the steady inroads he made in the Hispanic community starting in 2016, which clearly paid off in 2024, as my colleague Streiff documented:
One observation is that the Democrats’ electoral options have been exhausted and are facing cancellation. Starr CountyTexas, is named the “most Hispanic” county in the United States by the U.S. Census Bureau, with nearly 98% of residents identifying themselves as Hispanic. In 2016, Starr County led Hillary Clinton by 60 points. Joe Biden won by 5 points. Last night it was almost 16 points for Trump.
The election not only moved Texas further to the right, but the majority of Latinos in the state voted Republican for the first time – a major blow to Democrats’ hopes of one day turning the state blue https://t.co/Jex6oFg8cg
— Alfred Joyner (@alfredjoyner) November 13, 2024
Why has Texas gotten redder? RedState’s Brandon Morse, a Texas native, shared his thoughts earlier this month:
Texas remains a Republican stronghold thanks to converts and interstate migration from terribly run places to greener pastures. It seems counterintuitive at first, but conservative policies, lower taxes and affordability actually shock people and cause them to change their minds. I honestly believe that many people born and raised in these blue states don’t understand the difference until they experience it firsthand and then refuse to ever go back.
However, it is especially vital for Republicans in these traditionally red states to continue to push and fight to expand their influence by fielding quality candidates at all levels and passing sensible conservative legislation at the state level.
You should never become complacent (which Senator Ted Cruz has warned against), because overconfidence and taking your foot off the gas are the very things that can make the unthinkable happen, especially considering that Democrats will have to know they won’t let up a bit.
Staying one (or more) steps ahead of the Democrats’ war machine (which includes their media allies) at all times will, in most cases, lead to success at the ballot box, as Glenn Youngkin demonstrated in 2021 and Trump in 2024.
Further!
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