“Border Counties Shifting Right: How Trump Made Gains Among Latino Voters”
In a recent election analysis, it has been revealed that Texas Democrats are facing a significant challenge as the Republican Party made substantial gains in peeling away Latino voters, particularly along the border. The GOP’s success in capturing a larger share of the Latino vote, with Donald Trump securing 55% compared to Vice President Kamala Harris’ 44%, marks a notable shift in the political landscape.
Trump’s performance in traditionally Democratic strongholds along the border was remarkable. He won 14 out of the 18 counties within 20 miles of the border, doubling his 2020 performance in the Latino-majority region. This included winning all four counties in the Rio Grande Valley, a region where he had previously received only 29% of the vote. Notably, Trump even secured 97% Latino Starr County for Republicans for the first time since 1896.
The Republican gains along the border were the most significant for a presidential candidate in at least 30 years, surpassing even George W. Bush’s inroads in 2004. Trump’s appeal to Latino voters was evident nationwide, as he became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Miami-Dade County in over three decades and nearly doubled his share of the Latino vote in Pennsylvania.
In addition to the presidential race, Republicans saw victories in local races along the border. U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz held onto a key GOP seat in the Rio Grande Valley, and Republicans picked up a state Senate seat and two state House districts previously held by Democrats in South Texas. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who won reelection by carrying a majority of Latino voters, described the results as “generational change.”
Despite these gains, Democrats also had some successes. State Representative Eddie Morales Jr. retained his seat in a border district, albeit by a narrow margin. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar from Laredo won by a smaller margin than expected against a GOP challenger.
The shift in Latino voter preferences towards the Republican Party has raised questions about the future political landscape in Texas. While Trump’s appeal to Latino voters was successful in this election, it remains to be seen if these gains will endure beyond his presidency. The Democratic Party will need to reassess its strategies to connect with voters in border communities and prevent further losses to the GOP.
Overall, the recent election results in Texas highlight the evolving political dynamics in the state, with Republicans making significant inroads among Latino voters along the border. The outcome underscores the need for both parties to engage with diverse communities and address the issues that matter most to voters in order to secure their support in future elections.