Posted on 02/07/2014 2:12:11 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Texas might be going purple, but probably not as quickly as people think.
That's the takeaway from some interesting new findings from Gallup.
For a while now, smart political observers have talked about the prospect of the Lone Star State becoming competitive (or even blue) at the presidential level, giving Democrats a potentially game-changing 38 electoral votes that would make it very difficult for Republicans to win elections for the foreseeable future. Some have even suggested Texas could be in play in 2016 or 2020.
One of the problems with the whole Texas-turning-purple/blue idea, though, is that there isn't a whole lot of great data to back it up. In large part, it's a theoretical idea based on the fact that the state's population is growing and changing fast -- i.e. becoming much more Hispanic. (While non-Hispanic whites were 52.4 percent of the population in 2000, they were just 45.3 percent in 2010.)
But the new Gallup findings should give us all pause when it comes to predicting just how quickly we'll see a Purple Texas. For a few reasons:
1) Texas Latinos ≠ Latinos elsewhere
The Fix will often point out that Cuban-American voters in Florida, for example, are much more Republican than Latinos out west.
Latinos in Texas, it turns out, are also more Republican than elsewhere. While Latinos in all other states favor Democrats 51-21, in Texas it's a significantly closer split: 46-27....
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Is Hispanic-White a Race?
Even Republicans know Texas will be blue soon. And as soon as Boehner’s law is passed, it will be blue beyond competition immediately. It won’t be purple.
Don't hold your breath.
/johnny
The economy is in pretty poor shape nationally, but TX is in pretty good shape and it’s pro-business. This may attract a lot of productive whites from around the nation, maybe enough to tilt the scales.
I think the people of Texas are taking note of Illinois, California, and New York and know what will happen to them if Democrats get a foothold in their state.
I tell people here that there are jobs in Texas and home & rent prices are reasonable ... much lower than the Northeast or California, for instance.
Me and three other conservatives moved here from Mississippi (aka, my wife and two of my kids). We’re doing our part to keep Texas pro-American.
Give it a few years. The millions of anchor babies will be old enough to vote soon.
((( HOLDING BREATH )))
It’s not going to go purple at all, Republicans are going to keep enacting conservative legislation that works, and keep reaching minority voters that lean conservative.
So the Demos can stick their arses back up their..
I don’t think Texans are stupid enough to turn their wonderful state into a liberal, economic craphole like California, Illinois, or New York.
The problem as I see it is that those moving to Texas and other Southern state come to escape the high taxes and regulations, but bring with them that liberal attitude. They move in and start voting for the Commurats. Look no further than Florida. Even in my home state of Tennessee there is a shift left.
That the Great Republic of Texas is even hinted at turning “purple” is a scary thought. I’ve always viewed Texas as America’s last great hope...
Yup. Michigan is turning red because liberals are leaving and they’re going somewhere.
Embrace the Suck, RATS, and choke on your “Optics” and “Narrative.” You will be disappointed come election time, compliments of the Lone Star State.
My wife and I are considering a retirement move to Texas, Idaho or Virginia. Politically I had hoped that TX would be safe; Idaho seems so but Virginia seems lost.
It’s just the Democrats dreaming. Look at how their candidate for governor is imploding before our eyes.
It was hard to be polite with a California transplant in the Scout troop recently. She said she loved the cheaper housing because they got a bigger place for what they sold the CA house for, no income tax, her husband finding a job here - oh, but not enough school services.
You can have the services in California or the lifestyle you like here, but not both.
Well I don’t see that as a “significantly” close split though it’s closer.
I agree that a Purple TX isn’t imminent. But it may only be 10 years or so away with the Demographic shifts that are underway.
Some of us transplant Texans are conservative and want to keep the state the same. The WenDem election in Nov will be a good barometer of where we stand with current voters both fools and wise.
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