Why the South Texas Border Turned Red

Are voters becoming more conservative, or are Democrats not investing enough to win them over?

Election 2024 Trump

Donald Trump won almost every county along the border in South Texas. Eric Gay/AP

A complicated political story is playing out on the border in South Texas as Democrats ask whether they’re contending with more than a bad cycle.

South Texas voted Republican at historic levels. Donald Trump won almost every county along the border. But Republicans didn’t sweep. House Democrats kept their seats.

“All incumbents on the state reps, which are a majority Democrat, still won; the county judges are still Democrat,” Texas-based political consultant James Aldrete said.