Texas GOP bets on hard right turn amid changing demographics
3 years, 4 months ago

Texas GOP bets on hard right turn amid changing demographics

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Republicans in America’s largest conservative state for years racked up victories under the slogan “Keep Texas Red,” a pledge to quash a coming blue wave that Democrats argued was inevitable given shifting demographics. Yet a more apt state GOP rallying cry for today might be “Make Texas Even Redder.” Faced with increasingly dire demographic threats to their party’s dominance, Texas Republicans have championed a bevy of boundary-pushing conservative policymaking that dramatically expands gun rights, curbs abortions and tightens election laws — steering a state that was already far to the right even more so. “If anyone expected that, their head is way too far up their, uh, philosophy,” Corbin Casteel, the Trump campaign’s Texas director in 2016, joked about any notion that census figures might make the state’s Republicans move to the center. No major Democrat has yet announced a candidacy against Abbott, though former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke — who came within 3 percentage points of upsetting Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018 — still might.

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History of this topic

Republican victories show Texas is still far from turning blue
2 years, 2 months ago

Republican victories show Texas is still far from turning blue

Raw Story  

Texas Republicans maintained their nearly three-decade grip on state government on Tuesday, comfortably fending off a vigorous run to unseat Gov. They just didn’t vote, period.” But the South Texas results robbed Republicans of the hoped-for narrative that Hispanic voters were abandoning Democrats in droves. Even if Republicans aren’t seeing their map expanding into new territory like South Texas, they …

Texas results hint GOP Hispanic gains may endure post-Trump
2 years, 9 months ago

Texas results hint GOP Hispanic gains may endure post-Trump

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Just 46 residents of Starr County, Texas, cast ballots in the state’s Republican primary two years ago. By contrast, she said, Trump has helped Republicans win over Hispanics on issues including job creation, education and traditional religious beliefs: “We connected with them intellectually, economically and spiritually.” Abel Prado, executive director of the Democratic advocacy group Cambio Texas in …

Texas results hint GOP Hispanic gains may endure post-Trump
2 years, 9 months ago

Texas results hint GOP Hispanic gains may endure post-Trump

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. By contrast, she said, Trump has helped Republicans win over Hispanics on issues including …

‘Race blind’: New Texas districts appear to favour white voters
3 years, 2 months ago

‘Race blind’: New Texas districts appear to favour white voters

Al Jazeera  

New boundaries decided by Republican-led legislature seem to disadvantage the growing Hispanic population in favour of whites. Two lawsuits allege that political redistricting maps adopted in Texas fail to acknowledge a new demographic reality where white people no longer claim the largest population bloc. “Looking at where growth has happened, which communities are responsible for the growth then making sure …

Texas governor approves state voting maps redrawn by GOP
3 years, 2 months ago

Texas governor approves state voting maps redrawn by GOP

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Republican Texas Gov. The new maps end a highly charged year over voting rights in Texas, where Democrats this summer left the state to begin a 38-day holdout in protest of a sweeping elections overhaul. “The only time that communities of color can get justice is going to the courthouse,” Democratic state Rep. Rafael Anchia said before …

Texas lawmakers pass new congressional maps bolstering GOP
3 years, 2 months ago

Texas lawmakers pass new congressional maps bolstering GOP

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Republicans approved redrawn U.S. House maps that favor incumbents and decrease political representation for growing minority communities, even as Latinos drive much of the growth in the nation’s largest red state. They also denounced the reduction of minority opportunity districts -- Texas will now have seven House districts where Latino residents hold a majority, down from …

Texas lawmakers pass new congressional maps bolstering GOP
3 years, 2 months ago

Texas lawmakers pass new congressional maps bolstering GOP

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Republicans approved on Monday redrawn U.S. House maps that favor incumbents and decrease political representation for growing minority communities, even as Latinos drive much of the growth in the nation’s largest red state. They also denounced the reduction of minority opportunity districts -- Texas will now have seven House districts where Latino residents hold a majority, …

Texas GOP advances new maps that would tighten slipping grip
3 years, 2 months ago

Texas GOP advances new maps that would tighten slipping grip

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Republicans on Saturday night closed in on redrawn U.S. House maps that would shore up their eroding dominance as voters peel away from the GOP in the state’s booming suburbs. The redrawn congressional districts would make make it easier for many incumbents to hold their seats, but critics say they also threaten Black and Hispanic communities’ …

As Texas draws its maps, Latinos push for political power
3 years, 3 months ago

As Texas draws its maps, Latinos push for political power

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — As a Dallas County commissioner, Elba Garcia represents some 670,000 people — nearly the population of a congressional district. “They dilute the Latino vote.” Texas this week will begin redrawing those congressional lines, and Latino advocates and officeholders say it’s time to correct past wrongs. Although the battle is expected to be sharpest in Texas, Latino advocacy …

Texas GOP bets on hard right turn amid changing demographics
3 years, 4 months ago

Texas GOP bets on hard right turn amid changing demographics

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Republicans in America’s largest conservative state for years racked up victories under the slogan “Keep Texas Red,” a pledge to quash a coming blue wave that Democrats argued was inevitable given shifting demographics. Yet a more apt state GOP rallying cry for today might be “Make Texas Even Redder.” Faced with increasingly dire demographic threats to their …

This is how you mess with Texas (opinion)
3 years, 4 months ago

This is how you mess with Texas (opinion)

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Ayelet Haimson Lushkov is an associate professor of classics at the University of Texas at Austin. CNN — After the Supreme Court failed to stop Texas’s new SB 8 bill last week, my social media feeds lit up with righteous indignation. And my deep concern is all the greater because these actions come amid other outrages in my …

After A Standoff With Democrats, Texas Republicans Pass New Voting Restrictions
3 years, 4 months ago

After A Standoff With Democrats, Texas Republicans Pass New Voting Restrictions

NPR  

After A Standoff With Democrats, Texas Republicans Pass New Voting Restrictions Enlarge this image toggle caption Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images Texas Republicans on Tuesday passed a series of new restrictions on the state's voting process, concluding a months-long legislative effort by sending the measure to Republican Gov. Sponsor Message National Texas Republicans Pass New Voting Restrictions Texas Republicans …

AP: GOP Used Census Data To Gerrymander Districts For Greater Political Advantage
3 years, 4 months ago

AP: GOP Used Census Data To Gerrymander Districts For Greater Political Advantage

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Fresh off sweeping electoral victories a decade ago, Republican politicians used census data to draw voting districts that gave them a greater political advantage in more states than either party had in the past 50 years, according to a new Associated Press analysis. In an era of increased political polarization among voters, the past decade showed that …

GOP eyes Latinos in South Texas in effort to regain Congress
3 years, 5 months ago

GOP eyes Latinos in South Texas in effort to regain Congress

Associated Press  

McALLEN, Texas — In Republicans’ bid to retake control of Congress, this traditionally Democratic stretch of South Texas has quietly become a top battleground. “I don’t think there’s any question that we need to be concerned about it and we need to put more resources into it,” said Gilberto Hinojosa, the chair of the Texas Democratic Party. He described last …

EXPLAINER: How Texas Republicans aim to make voting harder
3 years, 7 months ago

EXPLAINER: How Texas Republicans aim to make voting harder

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas took a major step Sunday toward becoming the nation’s largest state where the GOP is making voting harder following the 2020 elections, with the Senate approving a bill that would empower poll watchers, create criminal penalties and add new restrictions on where, when and how to vote. Here are some details: WHAT THE LEGISLATION MEANS FOR …

Texas GOP puts final touches on sweeping voting restrictions
3 years, 7 months ago

Texas GOP puts final touches on sweeping voting restrictions

LA Times  

Opponents of the Texas bill restricting voting demonstrate outside the House chamber at the state Capitol in Austin on May 6. Texas Republicans dug in Saturday for a final weekend vote on some of the most restrictive new voting laws in the U.S., putting the last touches on a sweeping bill that would eliminate drive-through voting, empower partisan poll watchers …

Texas gains 4M residents, 2 congressional seats in Census
3 years, 8 months ago

Texas gains 4M residents, 2 congressional seats in Census

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas’ torrid growth over the past decade is paying off with a major boost in political clout — two additional congressional seats and electoral votes deepening its already massive influence in the nation’s politics. “From the state Legislature, that is going to be drawing our congressional and state legislative maps, to our local city council and county …

More Texans could vote Democratic this election. Why is the mood shifting in this traditionally Republican state?
4 years, 2 months ago

More Texans could vote Democratic this election. Why is the mood shifting in this traditionally Republican state?

ABC  

Texas sits deep within our imaginations as the very definition of the Wild West. But despite the state's growing diversity, support for Mr Trump among white men and rural conservatives — two traditionally reliable voting blocs — remains strong. "He disgusts me, his views disgust me, everything he stands for is appalling to me," says Monica Rey Haft said of …

Texas Democrats plot path to flipping state in 2020
5 years, 3 months ago

Texas Democrats plot path to flipping state in 2020

Salon  

The Texas Democratic Party is pulling back the curtain on its 2020 strategy ahead of the Houston presidential debate, releasing a plan to flip the state that targets 2.6 million potential Democratic voters who are not registered yet and commits to deploying over 1,000 organizers by the end of the election cycle. "At the Texas Democratic Party, we know that …

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