Could Texas Turn Blue? The GOP Faces a New Test

On this week’s Party Politics, co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina examine whether Texas could be moving toward a political shift—and what it could mean for Republicans heading into the midterms.

The hosts discuss Sen. Ted Cruz’s concerns that Republicans could lose ground in Texas, the growing affordability issue and the impact of President Donald Trump on the state’s political landscape. They also examine whether Republican border policies have been successful and whether the GOP can maintain its support among Latino voters.

On the Democratic side, Rottinghaus and Cortina consider whether Democrats have enough time to build momentum, including efforts to reach voters in rural communities. They also assess what recent races and changing voter demographics could signal about the future of Texas politics—and whether the state could eventually turn blue.

TOPICS:

Senator Ted Cruz shares concerns that republicans could lose Texas.The current issue of affordability for voters.The Trump factor.Was the border issue successful?Importance of republicans keeping the Latino vote.Do democrats have enough time to flip the state.Rural area voters and their impact on republican wins.Will Texas turn blue?In addition to the YouTube version, you can also enjoy Party Politics on television every Friday night at 8:00pm on Houston Public Media TV-8 (PBS), or listen to the radio broadcast every Friday at 7:30pm on News 88.7. As always, you can subscribe to the audio podcast on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts). Join the conversation: Tweet us using #PartyPoliticsPod or email partypoliticspod@houstonpublicmedia.org.