In the wake of yet another electoral loss in Texas, Democrats are facing calls for significant change in leadership and strategy. The state party, which has been led by Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa since 2012, has once again come up short in efforts to turn Texas blue.
“In 2012, when Chairman Hinojosa took over, Obama lost the state 41.38% to 57.17%. Harris just lost 42.4% to 56.3%. After twelve years, in just one night, we’re back to square one,” said one Democratic political insider, who preferred to remain anonymous. “In a year when Trump’s margin in swing states and emerging competitive states was razor thin, this is damn well unacceptable. There is no excuse, and it helps no one to pretend otherwise. The state party leadership owns party performance.”
This call for accountability goes beyond mere frustration over numbers. Democrats lost ground in South Texas, traditionally a Democratic stronghold, and failed to gain any new legislative seats. “Let’s be real. A state party chaired by a former Cameron County Judge just lost South Texas to Trump, and two Texas House seats and one Texas Senate seat along with it. While gaining zero possible pickups. At some point, accountability has to happen, which includes ownership of losses and resignations,” the insider added.
As Texas continues to grow and urbanize, many believe the fundamentals are in place for Democrats to succeed. However, critics argue that without a shift in leadership and a stronger organizational culture, there’s little chance of building the infrastructure needed for long-term competitiveness. “Texas benefits from a competent state Democratic Party. The fundamentals are there for the state to be competitive! But without a change in leadership and organizational culture, I just can’t see the cultivation of the investor confidence necessary to build the real infrastructure that’s needed to rebuild in South Texas and continue to grow in strength statewide in the suburbs.”
Looking ahead, the party must consider whether it’s equipped to tackle key economic issues, particularly those impacting Texas workers and consumers. “Is this party ready to mobilize on Trump missteps that can speak to all Texans? Is it capable of communicating how Trump tariffs will kill jobs and crank up consumer prices? Can it do that toward every audience?”
