Texas border counties vote overwhelmingly for Democrats after supporting Trump in 2024

Who's involved

• James TalaricoState Rep., Democratic candidate at top of ticket
• Jeronimo CortinaPolitical scientist, University of Houston
• Beto O'RourkeDemocratic candidate, 2018 election
• Donald TrumpPresident, 2024

The facts

• Border counties from El Paso to Cameron saw 8% voter turnout increase compared to 2022.^{1 2 3} Stated by 3 sources
• Talarico won nine of the counties Trump won along the border in 2024.^{1 2 3} Stated by 3 sources
• Talarico's margin in Texas' 16 border counties was about 4 points better than O'Rourke's 2018 margin.^{1 2 3} Stated by 3 sources
• Talarico won by nearly 45 points in border counties; O'Rourke led by about 40 points in 2018.^{1 2 3} Stated by 3 sources
• Zapata County swung more than 15 points toward Democrats from O'Rourke's 26-point 2018 margin.^{1 2 3} Stated by 3 sources
• Republicans lost Congressional Districts 15 and 23, which they had targeted for pickup.^{1 2 3} Stated by 3 sources

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

• Jeronimo Cortina, political scientist at University of Houston Democrats lost the region to Trump because the party did not invest significantly in border communities.^{1 2 3}
• Jeronimo Cortina, political scientist at University of Houston The shift could be attributed to Trump's failure to deliver on economic promises about gas and grocery prices.^{1 2 3}