Politics · United States · 1 hr ago
Latino voters could boost Democrats in Texas midterms
Latino voters in Texas’s Rio Grande Valley could help Democrats win key races in the November 3 midterm elections.
The region backed Donald Trump in 2024, when he won all four of its counties, but polls now indicate growing dissatisfaction with his economic and immigration policies.
Gina Hinojosa is running for governor, while Democrat James Talarico is in a close race against Republican Ken Paxton for a US Senate seat.
Democrats have not won a statewide Texas race in more than 30 years, and they need to flip four Senate seats nationally to take control of the chamber.
More than 5.1 million Texans had voted early by October 27, including a rise in Latino turnout that has encouraged Democrats.
The election results will show whether that turnout can change Texas’s political balance and help Democrats win control of the Senate.
Latino voters in Texas’s Rio Grande Valley may help Democrats win statewide and congressional races in the midterms.
Polls indicate growing discontent with President Donald Trump’s economic management and immigration policies among voters who supported him in 2024.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa held a rally in Weslaco on Oct 25, drawing a crowd of 8,000.
More than 5.1 million Texans had voted early by Oct 27, equal to 26.8% of registered voters, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s office.
The midterm elections are scheduled for Nov 3.
- Who
- Latino voters in Texas, including voters in the Rio Grande Valley, could boost Democratic candidates.
- What
- Democrats are hoping to win statewide races and flip four Senate seats nationally to gain control of the chamber.
- When
- The midterms are scheduled for Nov 3, 2026; early voting figures cited were current as of Oct 27.
- Where
- Texas, especially the Rio Grande Valley in the southern part of the state.
- Why
- Polls indicate discontent with Trump’s economic management and immigration policies, including inflation and migrant raids.
Democrats
Republicans
Midterm prospects
Democrats
Democrats hope Latino voters will help them win statewide races and flip four Senate seats nationally.
Republicans
Republicans fear a Democratic “blue wave” and Trump has urged his supporters to turn out.
Economic and immigration policies
Democrats
Voters cited in the article express dissatisfaction with the economy and immigration enforcement.
Republicans
Trump has campaigned on the claim that he is the only one who can stave off defeat.
Trump won all four counties in the Rio Grande Valley, receiving as much as 56% of the vote.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa held a rally in Weslaco attended by 8,000 people.
More than 5.1 million people had cast ballots in Texas early voting, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s office.
Texas voters are due to take part in the midterm elections.
- Early voting
- More than 5.1 million ballots cast by Oct 27
- Share of registered voters
- 26.8% had voted by Oct 27
- Weslaco rally
- 8,000 attendees on Oct 25
- Rio Grande Valley vote in 2024
- Trump won all four counties, with as much as 56% of the vote
- Democratic Senate strategy
- Flip four seats nationally to secure control of the chamber
3 sources
What people are saying
I think what happened in the past is that Donald Trump came in and he said things were going to be different, and that we were going to see a lot of prosperity. That hasn’t happened.
The vote that you’re seeing right now, this is the very first time in 10 years where Latinos are surging at the polls here in Texas.
Then these people get into office and then the situations don’t change, don’t get better. The economy’s down, ICE, all that. People are still struggling to afford health care, gas, groceries.
he is the only one who can stave off defeat