Trump pollster's campaign autopsy paints damning picture of defeat

[Lonestarblue]

24. Trump increased his support from Hispanics here in Texas.

I was surprised, but then Biden did not visit Texas, and there wasn’t much Democratic outreach to the Hispanic communities. I believe it’s dangerous to assume that Hispanics must favor immigration. Many Texas Hispanics have been here for decades, and indeed some of their families date back to the time when Texas was owned by Mexico. They became US citizens when the US purchased the state, as well as other territories, from Mexico.

Another reason could well be the asylum seekers, and some Hispanics likely favored Trump’s efforts to kick them all out. Texas gets a large number of the people wanting to seek asylum here. Before Trump started forcing them back into Mexico, thousands were in areas near the border. Those areas already are among the poorest in the state, and suddenly some local resources, such as Catholic churches and various support services for the poor, were going to the migrants who were waiting for their day in court.

If these new migrants were allowed to stay, they would also be competing with natives for jobs. And, possibly, natives believed that some of the migrants would be brining the gang violence from their home countries with them.

The Rio Grande Valley is home to many Hispanics, and Trump was able to flip one county red in 2020. It’s also home to ranchers and oil workers. The oil industry has been hurting because of low crude prices and oversupply, so Biden’s focus on alternative energy and addressing the climate crisis would have sent them to Trump. Here’s an NPR article with a bit more information. https://www.npr.org/2020/11/05/931836590/how-texas-longtime-democratic-and-heavily-latino-county-flipped-red

If Democrats ever hope to turn Texas blue, they cannot take the Hispanic communities for granted. Democratic candidates will need policies that address their needs. The pandemic has hit these communities very hard, and many people in Texas lack health insurance. That and sensible immigration policies could be winning points for Democrats.