On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti Could this finally be the year for Texas Democrats?
Mar 31, 2026
Alvaro Corral, a Texas political scientist focused on Latino voting, Jessica Taylor, a national race analyst at the Cook Political Report, and Joshua Blank, research director for the Texas Politics Project, dissect Texas’s shifting electorate. They explore James Talarico’s appeal, GOP intraparty clashes between Cornyn and Paxton, South Texas dynamics, immigration’s local impact, fundraising and how national trends shape statewide competitiveness.
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Cornyn Strengths Create Conservative Backlash
- John Cornyn's long leadership record creates both fundraising strength and a slice of GOP voters who actively disapprove of him.
- That intra-party dissatisfaction opened space for Ken Paxton to court the most conservative primary voters despite his scandals.
Hidalgo County's Border Strain Helped Flip It Red
- Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra described how hundreds of daily migrant crossings strained local resources during the Biden administration.
- The county flipped red in 2024 after a 43-point rightward shift, illustrating how border pressures reshaped local politics.
Immigration's Decline Shifts Voter Priorities Back To Economy
- Immigration was the top state issue for years, but its salience fell as migrant encounters dropped, removing a key Republican advantage.
- With immigration less dominant, economic performance regained primacy for Hispanic voters deciding between parties.