Essay Sample on Texas: Red State in US Elections Since '76

Introduction

Texas is a major state in the United States, which can determine the overall political dominance between the democrats and the republicans. Texas has always been a red state for supporting the Republican Party, which has been instrumental in the party dominance in all the elections in the state since 1994 (Serwer, 2018). Besides, the republican party has always been able to garner the presidential election in the state since 1976 which shows Texas' has always been a red state mainly due to conservative ideals that are deep-rooted in the state since the 1970s when the Republican was able to change the blue state into a red state (Serwer, 2018). Since 2003 the Republican Party has dominated Texas legislature which means that the control of the state by the republicans did not end at the ballot but continued to the back rooms where the state decisions are made. The Republican legislature has been able to hold onto power and make Texas an exclusive red state through laws that make it difficult for democratic parties to vote (Huerta & Cuartas, 2018). This essay will assess the factors that are causing a shift from a red state to a blue state with the 2020 elections in the United States being predicted to be the most competitive election in Texas after decades of Republican control.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Texas Republicans and Population are Moderate on Immigration

One of the key factors that are making Texas a blue state from a red state is the moderate views of the majority of Texans on immigration with a population of Latinos in the state being 40% of the population but makes only 21% of the electorate (Serwer, 2018). The moderate immigration approach by Texans significantly collides with the republican extreme approach to immigration with the majority of those being deported due to their undocumented status coming from the Latino population. As such, continued implementation of extreme anti-immigration policies can push the red state that Republicans have controlled for decades into a blue state. Democrats have a moderate view and stand on immigration, and this aligns with the Texan's view on immigration. At one point, the last United States president from Texas had proposed to grant the undocumented immigrants legal status through legislation with George W. Bush being quoted making remarks that criticize California of its hostile immigration rules (Serwer, 2018). As such, continued hostile anti-immigration approach by Trump's Republican Party can significantly be used by the Democrats to turn the tables and regain control of Texas by encouraging Latinos to vote and participate in the state political process.

Changing Demographics in Texas

In Texas, since 2018, there has been a wave of growing Democratic Party influence due to the changing demographics as the minority population grows where the Democrats performed very well (Huerta & Cuartas, 2018). As such, this means that the growing minority population is in favor of the democrats, which can be explained by Beto O'Rourke's close to winning results during the 2018 elections. Beto came close to unseating the Republican senator Ted Cruz, but despite the loss, this has significantly led to a change in the overall republican dominance in the state of Texas (Huerta & Cuartas, 2018). During the elections for the first time in more than a decade, the Democrats were able to garner 12 seats in the State legislature and was close to gaining a statewide win. The diversity of the electorate and the majority of the young people in Texas are causing a shift in the Republican control of the state of Texas with the minorities supporting the Democratic candidate compared to those that supported the Republican. However, the number of whites supporting democrat candidates in the state is still very low, which shows a racially divided state. Population statistics show significant growth in the minority population from 47% in 2000 to 58% in 2017 (Huerta & Cuartas, 2018). The state legislature has passed laws which restrict the people of color from participating in the election process which means that despite the growing sentiments in support of democrats and the growth of the minority population in the state their ability to vote for Democrats is still limited by the Republican-controlled state legislature.

Implications at the State and National Level

The growing population of minorities especially the Hispanics who are leaning towards democratic ideals will significantly change Texas state political orientation and can significantly influence a shift in the state on supporting the republican representatives and will reduce the total nationwide support for the ruling party in support for the opposition democratic party (Huerta & Cuartas, 2018). The change in the population and growing negative sentiments in the state towards hostile undocumented immigration policy will draw reservations towards the Republican Party, and this will affect the state's voting orientation. In the future, the Republican Party in Texas will face significant opposition in both the public sphere as well as face a decline in the state ability to continue supporting hostile immigration policies in the state (Huerta & Cuartas, 2018). This means that the young people in the future, especially from the minorities, will continue to negatively affect the Republican Party dominance and give the Democratic Party greater representation and the ability to compete with the Republican Party at both state and national level.

Conclusion

It is a fact that the Republican Party is losing support in the state of Texas due to the growth of minority populations in the state which has been in support of the Democratic Party. The minority and the general public in Texas are in conflict with Trump administration on the hostile approach in dealing with illegal immigrants which have led to their waver on supporting the Republican Party and the growth of the Democratic Party influence.

References

Huerta, C, & Cuartas, B. (2018). Is Texas finally turning blue? We looked at the electorate to find out. The Washington Post. December 18, 2018. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/12/18/are-texass-demographics-finally-turning-the-state-blue-we-looked-at-the-electorate-to-find-out/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.6d22ec0ba4b8

Serwer, A. (2018). Something's Happening in Texas. The Atlantic. Nov 5, 2018. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/11/somethings-happening-in-texas/574873/