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In It to Win It

(9,935 posts)
Mon Nov 18, 2024, 04:15 PM Nov 18

Texas Democrats at a crossroads after devastating election

https://www.yahoo.com/news/texas-democrats-crossroads-devastating-election-180040443.html


Texas Democrats are sorting through what went wrong after their shining hopes turned to ash in November — and what it means for their long-term plans to take power.

The party was optimistic it could make pivotal gains across the state, especially in the hard-fought race between Sen. Ted Cruz (R) and Democratic Rep. Colin Allred.

But in the end, the party “woefully underperformed,” according to state Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D), the latest gut punch for Democrats in a state they’ve desperately tried to turn blue.

“It’s sort of a Lucy-and-the-football story,” Southern Methodist University historian Cal Jillson told The Hill.

“Every election cycle, they feel as if they are on the verge, and if they just had some natural money to put into the race, they could close it out.”

But many Democrats agreed that the wrong message, wedded to a too-thin electoral strategy and handled by a part-time staff with little connections to local Democratic machines, ultimately cost the party potential wins in the Lone Star State.
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msongs

(70,467 posts)
1. so they all claim to know why they lost so why did they do all the wrong things in the first place weird nt
Mon Nov 18, 2024, 04:29 PM
Nov 18

walkingman

(8,749 posts)
3. I'm not a native Texan but I have lived here 50 years - the last 36 in the Texas Hill Country.
Mon Nov 18, 2024, 05:28 PM
Nov 18

If you live in any major city in Texas you are more than likely to have majority Democratic Party support (like everywhere else in the US). We are a low voter turnout state (30M pop,18M registered, 11M voted) and a one-party state, with the GOP controlling State politics for 30 years. This total control by the GOP has resulted in such intense gerrymandering that most people realize that their vote "really doesn't count" in their district, and that attitude carry's over to statewide and national elections.

The demographics say that we should be a purple state -
White 39%
Hispanic 39%
Black 12%
Asian 5%
Mixed race 3%

Texas has one of the youngest populations in the country, with a median age of 35 and you would think that would mean more Democratic voters, but most do not vote? Voter laws in Texas are among the most restrictive in the country.

I personally think there is a lot of "herd mentality" involved - lack of civics education in public schools and generational influence.

"Texas occupies a separate place in the American psyche, having once been an independent nation that defeated a foreign power in a war. To this day, Texas is a nation unto itself and the most “independent-minded” of all the states."

Add to that, East Texas, might as well be part of the Deep South in terms of attitudes.

It's strange for someone not born here, but it is real, and it is obvious even in our State Government decisions.

The summers are brutal, the politics are repulsive, but lots of jobs and very business friendly.


Liberal In Texas

(14,795 posts)
5. That about sums it up.
Mon Nov 18, 2024, 06:10 PM
Nov 18

I do think the extreme gerrymandering and the money infused into repub candidates races have left a lot of people figuring what's the difference if they vote or not. It's a hard thing to overcome after decades of this.

SickOfTheOnePct

(7,591 posts)
6. I'd like to hear from LetMyPeopleVote
Mon Nov 18, 2024, 06:13 PM
Nov 18

He's very plugged into Texas Democratic politics, and always has valuable insights.

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