"Is Texas already a swing state?"
Just asking that question gives many in the Texas Republican party chills down their spine.
Democrats and Liberals have long dreamed about turning the Lone Star state blue and gaining a definite foothold in the electoral college. If Texas goes blue, it's almost impossible to imagine a scenario where we would ever see a Republican in the White House again.
Clare Foran examines this in her article for the Atlantic. Observing the latest surveys from the lone star state (which show a much closer race compared to the 2012 election) Foran speaks to several Republican and Democratic officials throughout the state to see how they feel.
Republicans still believe it is a pipe dream that Texas would ever go to the Democratic column. Mitt Romney won the lone star state by 16% in 2012 and Republicans still, have a stronghold in the legislature and statewide offices.
Foran also speaks to some Democrats who are cautiously optimistic. It's been known for a while now that the demographics in Texas are rapidly changing. The growing number of Latinos, African Americans, and Asian Americans are adding more voters to the Democratic coalition.
I think this article is worth reading if you are interested in learning about demographic trends affecting election results. This is not only a Texas phenomenon, but several other red states like Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina are showing the same trend.
Personally, I don't think Texas will go Democratic this year. I think the Republican tradition here is still strong. However, it definitely looks like the results will be much closer than it was in 2012.
