It has been a long time since I’ve written here, been busy helping turn Texas Blue. Almost two years ago I wrote, “Why Beto mattered” and he has really mattered in Texas. In 2012, I wrote about the sad state of affairs for Texas Democrats. But also in 2018 I wrote about a major victory in Harris County. We didn’t know then just how important electing Judge Hidalgo was going to be. Electing Diane Trautman as County Clerk (who resigned earlier this year with health concerns) and flipping Commissioners Court was crucial for developing the infrastructure for the 2020 Election. Who knew making voting easier and accessible would encourage people to vote?
Early voting in Harris County was 1.43 million people. State wide, Texas is already set a record for highest turnout ever. Election Day is coming. Kamala Harris was in Fort Worth, McAllen, and Houston yesterday. Hidalgo County had a surge yesterday and is over its 2016 record.
We don’t know how Texas is going to turnout. I think COVID impacts in some rural counties might impact the GOP margins. The hardest hit counties, by infection percentage of the population are Republican. I’ll be watching Potter (Amarillo) and Lubbock (Lubbock) counties to see if the GOP margins are lower than 2016.
It is almost impossible to imagine, heading into Election Day, that Texas is rated a Toss-Up. Yes, Texas is a Toss-Up! I’m hoping to flip at least 5 Congressional seats. Texas has great Democrats. The nation is learning about the real Texas now. The Electorate is waking up and with it Texas is a Toss-Up. Unimaginable when I wrote about my state in 2012.
THREE more days, y’all!
ETA: State EV numbers are 9,669,246 votes. Total 2016 votes were 8,969,226.