Texas Election 2022: Why the Rio Grande Valley is important

DALLAS — They are formed like three items of bacon. And considered one of the nation’s most wanted political consultants who’s labored in Texas politics for greater than 30 years says the leads to these South Texas congressional districts may alter the nationwide political panorama.

While Chuck Rocha says the shift from blue to pink in the Rio Grande Valley isn’t imminent, it’s laborious to overlook even refined actions.

“I think that it’s in jeopardy of moving. There’s not a wave going on in South Texas. But there is a gradual movement of voters. You can’t argue that fact,” Rocha mentioned on Y’all-itics.

Rocha, who additionally ran Sen. Bernie Sanders’ two presidential campaigns, is notably keen on CD 28, CD 15, and CD 34. And their bacon form runs north and south.

One bellwether race that would have lasting impacts, he says, is the race between Republican Congresswoman Mayra Flores, who not too long ago gained a particular election, and one other incumbent, Democratic Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, who is working in a unique district after redistricting.

Gonzalez is favored to win by double digits as a result of this district, CD 34, is thought-about protected for Democrats.

But Rocha worries the race might be a lot nearer than that. And he says Flores doesn’t even need to win for it to be thought-about successful for the GOP.

“She just has to get close, or lose by three or four, and I’m going to lose my mind. Because that means, for all of you at home, things shifted ten points,” Rocha advised us. “What people don’t realize in the valley and with these voters in the Valley, I’ve got my air quotes on, is they’re all registered Democrats. These folks down there ain’t re-registering as Republicans. They’re Democrats walking in and voting for Republicans.”

And Rocha says if that development continues, Democrats won’t solely have a tough time profitable in south Texas, they’ll even have hassle profitable nationally as properly.

More importantly, Rocha says any Democratic post-mortem carried out post-election that appears at how the Latino vote impacted the occasion will give attention to south Texas.

When he examines statewide races, Rocha does suppose Democrats have a shot to flip a statewide seat for the first time in many years. They aren’t enormous odds. But he is saying there’s an opportunity.

“So, when you get somebody like Beto infusing money into county parties for them to knock on doors, then anything could happen, somebody could catch fire,” mentioned Rocha. “And if you said today, Chuck, who has the best chances, of course it’s Beto because he’s raised the money, but also Garza running for Attorney General. Having a Latina surname on the ballot means a lot.”

Chuck Rocha explains, at size, why these three Congressional Districts are altering, why their bacon form is important and why nationwide Democrats appear to be strolling away from the Rio Grande Valley. 

Be positive to hearken to this episode of Y’all-itics to be taught extra. Cheers!