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RussBLib

(9,805 posts)
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 01:44 PM Feb 2024

Voting snapshot in South Texas

After the first full week of Early Voting (before the Texas primary on March 4) the 2 largest counties in South Texas reported voting numbers:

Hidalgo County (most populous)
15,093 voted Dem
4,468 voted GOP

Cameron County (mine)
4,773 voted.Dem
2,962 voted GOP

Just a snapshot, but a good one.

29 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Voting snapshot in South Texas (Original Post) RussBLib Feb 2024 OP
Well, that's nice. Liberal In Texas Feb 2024 #1
Interesting, these counties are both on the Mexican border. patphil Feb 2024 #2
For generations, I read. Deuxcents Feb 2024 #4
A tremendous amount of cross-border trade RussBLib Feb 2024 #5
That doesn't sound right. Mr.Bill Feb 2024 #15
The Border Patrol is a federal agency RussBLib Feb 2024 #17
THAT definitely made me smile! Nictuku Feb 2024 #3
Biden really got dinged in the border counties in 2020. All Mixed Up Feb 2024 #6
The GOP aired a TON of Spanish language ads RussBLib Feb 2024 #19
Bexar County is the opposite LeftInTX Feb 2024 #7
My daughter lives in that county Tree Lady Feb 2024 #8
Yeah..I don't know what the deal is. LeftInTX Feb 2024 #10
Who do you think she will vote for in the general? Sugarcoated Feb 2024 #24
Joe or Haley Tree Lady Feb 2024 #25
This surprises me. ananda Feb 2024 #9
In the general, it will likely be. However, Dems here don't focus enough on down ballot. Biden will win the primary LeftInTX Feb 2024 #11
Bexar voted for Biden 58.2% dalton99a Feb 2024 #12
Thank You DET Feb 2024 #16
Yes, but those blue counties add up to a population of 14 million people lees1975 Feb 2024 #18
Indeed. Turnout is key RussBLib Feb 2024 #20
Interesting DET Feb 2024 #21
Indeed, you really would think. ananda Feb 2024 #23
Good stuff. TakeItEasy Feb 2024 #13
I still remember the eight pesos per dollar stickers on all the store windows... pecosbob Feb 2024 #14
I live down here Rstrstx Feb 2024 #22
Didnt a red state just outlaw early voting and was then DEFENDED by some here? Eliot Rosewater Feb 2024 #26
Maybe they will vote out Ted OOze after all, but not holding my breath. flying_wahini Feb 2024 #27
Ted OOze. I like that! calimary Feb 2024 #28
Living in or adjacent to one of the blue regions in TX is a trip. Torchlight Feb 2024 #29

Liberal In Texas

(14,894 posts)
1. Well, that's nice.
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 01:51 PM
Feb 2024

In my patch:
Dallas County
Democrat Votes: 27,438 (60.37%)
Republican Votes: 18,011 (39.63%)

But when you look at the whole state with all the rural magas:

Democrat
Feb 25: 257,197
Republican
Feb 25: 523,038

I'm voting tomorrow.

patphil

(7,401 posts)
2. Interesting, these counties are both on the Mexican border.
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 01:51 PM
Feb 2024

I bet there's a lot of cross-border commerce there. Family names are on each side of the river.

Deuxcents

(20,930 posts)
4. For generations, I read.
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 02:04 PM
Feb 2024

Same in Arizona, New Mexico and California. Probably all over the west as generations lived there same as our Native Americans. They can try as the will..they will never erase the many heritages in this country long before the Europeans decided it was theirs for the taking.

RussBLib

(9,805 posts)
5. A tremendous amount of cross-border trade
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 02:08 PM
Feb 2024

If anyone ever totally "shut down the border" there would be real economic disruption and chaos. We employ huge numbers of Mexican Nationals here in the US, especially along the border. They often cross each day to work in the US as housekeepers, yard workers, construction, agriculture. You just cannot find enough Anglos to do all the jobs that need filling.

Here's an absurd case. Tino, a Mexican with a work permit (not an illegal), is a really superior tile man (tiles in showers, floors etc). He was pulled over for speeding recently by the police, the Border Patrol was notified and he was DEPORTED!! Now he cannot get back. (Gov. Abbott has given the Border Patrol authority to deport for practically any reason.) My contractor is powerless to get him back and is scrambling to find another tile guy to replace him.

Now the Border Patrol can deport any Mexican National for the slightest offense. This is total bullshit and a lot of American employers are up in arms about it. So the job we hired them for is suffering.

Mr.Bill

(24,906 posts)
15. That doesn't sound right.
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 04:40 PM
Feb 2024

Only the Federal government has the authority to deport anyone, and the governor does not command the Border Patrol. They are a federal agency.

RussBLib

(9,805 posts)
17. The Border Patrol is a federal agency
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 05:23 PM
Feb 2024

The United States Border Patrol (USBP) is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and is responsible for securing the borders of the United States.

Wikipedia

 

All Mixed Up

(597 posts)
6. Biden really got dinged in the border counties in 2020.
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 02:17 PM
Feb 2024

Had he won at the clip Hillary did in 2016, he would have won Texas. But he did 10-20 points worse in a lot of these counties than she did.

Take Hidalgo. Biden won it 58-41 over Trump in 2020. In 2016, Hillary won it 68-28.

It went from +40 to +17. That's a massive difference.

The breakdown in party based on these numbers is way closer to Hillary's totals in 2016 than Biden's four years ago.

Of course, it's only a fraction of who voted in the general.

RussBLib

(9,805 posts)
19. The GOP aired a TON of Spanish language ads
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 05:26 PM
Feb 2024

...last election cycle. Propaganda, for sure, but a lot of Hispanics fell for it. The Dems are finally getting around to putting out their own Spanish ads.

LeftInTX

(32,284 posts)
7. Bexar County is the opposite
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 02:42 PM
Feb 2024

Democrats: 16026
Republicans: 20897

I guess it's what they perceive to be competitive races.
Democrats usually have higher

Abbott has got his tentacles in a local R House race.

We have some competitive Democratic races, but they aren't well publicized.

The last time Bexar County had higher R primary turnout was 2016.

Tree Lady

(12,222 posts)
8. My daughter lives in that county
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 02:50 PM
Feb 2024

she is independent, went for Joe last time Haley this time. Was told at family video chat meeting last night when I tried to mention the ectopic pregnancy turned away in Texas, mom you only want to talk about negative things, say something positive.

My family only wants to talk fluff now.

LeftInTX

(32,284 posts)
10. Yeah..I don't know what the deal is.
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 02:59 PM
Feb 2024

We don't have many competitive races on the Dem ballot.
Abbott is pushing Allison vs LaHood.

We have a few competitive Dem slots, but their races aren't well publicized.

The R Presidential is probably attracting them.
Let's face it, the Dems know that Biden is gonna win the primary.
Dems tend not to focus on down ballot races.

LeftInTX

(32,284 posts)
11. In the general, it will likely be. However, Dems here don't focus enough on down ballot. Biden will win the primary
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 03:00 PM
Feb 2024

So why bother?

DET

(1,839 posts)
16. Thank You
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 05:00 PM
Feb 2024

I was wondering what the political breakdown of Texas looked like. Not surprisingly, it appears that most of the big cities and the border are blue, and the rest of the state is 🩸 blood red.

lees1975

(6,238 posts)
18. Yes, but those blue counties add up to a population of 14 million people
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 05:26 PM
Feb 2024

and eight of the ten most populous counties in the state, and 15 of the 20 most populous counties in the state are some shade of blue.

Democratic party turnout is the real issue in Texas. There are enough Democratic votes now to break even. It needs a combination of races in a presidential election year to get the vote out. And the fact of the matter is that there is a lot of suppression of minority votes in Texas, especially in those Rio Grande Valley counties and in West Texas, where hispanic voters are better than 60% democratic, and in some counties, Uvalde for example, are 70% of the population but only 35% of the registered voters. Beto O'Rourke made some inroads into those groups but I think there's enough minority voters there now for Democrats to make an effort, spend some money and flip the state, including grabbing off Cruz's senate seat.



DET

(1,839 posts)
21. Interesting
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 06:07 PM
Feb 2024

I would have thought that living in a fascist state represented by Ted Cruz would be enough to turn out Democratic voters in droves, but I guess not. It would be a national service to flip Texas blue. I honestly don’t know how any sane person can live there.

pecosbob

(7,904 posts)
14. I still remember the eight pesos per dollar stickers on all the store windows...
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 04:20 PM
Feb 2024

back in the day.

Rstrstx

(1,580 posts)
22. I live down here
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 06:38 PM
Feb 2024

Usually the early vote breaks 2 or 3 to 1 for Dems in the primaries, Hidalgo looks particularly good that’s a good sign. But you gotta realize most of these early voters are for local races, the Dems control the local machinery down here so it’s the de facto election for many of those offices. Still, it’s encouraging to see that there does not seem to be some sort of seismic party realignment going on, it looks like business as normal. The money Republicans have been dumping into the area doesn’t seem to be changing a lot of minds but it does buy a lot of Myra Flores yard signs, we’ll see in November.

Don’t know what’s up Bexar County, there could be a local race that is driving up Republican turnout.

Eliot Rosewater

(32,604 posts)
26. Didnt a red state just outlaw early voting and was then DEFENDED by some here?
Tue Feb 27, 2024, 01:48 PM
Feb 2024

Call me old fashioned but I dont see how that could happen and be acceptable under the US Constitution.

flying_wahini

(8,047 posts)
27. Maybe they will vote out Ted OOze after all, but not holding my breath.
Tue Feb 27, 2024, 01:50 PM
Feb 2024

This general area could change Texas if they would just get on board with us and stay there.
I was sick when Beto lost in this area so badly.

calimary

(85,175 posts)
28. Ted OOze. I like that!
Tue Feb 27, 2024, 02:07 PM
Feb 2024

He’s certainly slimy enough to earn that nickname! Did you come up with that, flying_wahini?

Torchlight

(4,255 posts)
29. Living in or adjacent to one of the blue regions in TX is a trip.
Tue Feb 27, 2024, 02:20 PM
Feb 2024

Just enough of each in these regions to establish a sort of informal parity between the two parties, which also keeps a lid on the nastier outbursts and absurdist policies that tend to begin erupting when conservatives get absolute control of local and community boards. Every now and then (though not too often, mind you), I'm given the opportunity by neighbors or coworkers to put a human face on conservatives.

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