Clinton Closing In On Trump In Texas As Republican Grip On State Loosens

Texas has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1980. But the state’s rapidly changing demographics, coupled with a Republican Party in flux, may be changing the Lone Star State’s political alignment.

According to the Washington Post, Republicans in Texas have won every statewide office since 1994. However, support for Republican candidates in dwindling. In 2000, Republicans in top of the ticket state races received 60 percent voter support. In 2008, it was down to 53 percent, with down-ballot Republican candidates only mustering 51 percent support.

Now, a survey published by Public Policy Polling shows that Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, leads Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by only six percentage points in Texas. Trump is mustering 44 percent voter support, with Clinton pulling 38 percent, and Gary Johnson (former Republican governor of New Mexico, now the Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee) holding six percent support.

“Republicans could have a big Texas problem in the decades ahead,” Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling, wrote in the group’s press release. “The groups Democrats are strongest with are rapidly growing in their share of the electorate, while the voters Republicans rely on the most may not be there in 20 years.”

But Debnam suggests a crisis of perception may also fall on the Republicans.

The report notes that 71 percent of Trump voters believe that if Hillary Clinton wins the election, it will “be because the election was rigged.” Furthermore, 40 percent of Trump supporters believe that ACORN, a community activism group that has not existed since 2010, and which saw President Barack Obama as a former member, will have stolen the election for Clinton.  

“Trump’s suggestions that the election will be stolen on Hillary Clinton’s behalf are getting lapped up by almost all of his supporters,” Debnam said. “It really exemplifies the cult like aspect of his support.”

Sources: Public Policy Polling, Washington Post / Photo Credit: Hillary Clinton / Instagram