I’ve lived in Texas for over forty years, but it wasn’t until I moved to Bandera a few years ago that I learned much about Texas politics. The occasion was the 2020 Presidential election, and I volunteered at the polls along with a very interesting bunch of fellow volunteers, Republicans and Democrats alike.
Now, however, I’m learning that Texas Republicans come in many different shades of red, with all but the loudest MAGA reds seeking to maintain a pretty low profile. These other shades of red don’t only include moderate Republicans, but also those who have very strong conservative credentials but simply can’t stomach the idea of Trump ending up in the White House again. They don’t dare say what they think because those MAGA folks will be all over them.
But to whom do they turn for a Republican alternative? How do they make their voices heard above the racket being made by the MAGA crowd who swoon over every inappropriate or frightening thing Trump says? The answer may lie in the unique situation of the Texas primary system.
Primaries in Texas are actually more important than the vote in November, because in state races, whoever wins wins the primary, especially among Republicans, is almost assured of winning the election itself, due to the redistricting process that both parties completed in 2021. Every 10 years, the majority party re-draws district lines to ensure that their seats are safe (one of the many flaws in our system, but one that is embraced by both parties). Congressional District 21, for example, represented by Chip Roy, was starting to get a bit too challenging until it was re-drawn to eliminate some liberal parts of Austin and San Antonio while adding some redder suburban areas. Roy is running unopposed, which guarantees his win in November.
Some other races, though perhaps a bit more competitive, will still be decided in March in favor of whoever wins the GOP primary, because generally their Democratic opponent will have a tough time against any Republican in November. That’s what makes the primaries so important: turnout is often very low, which favors the more extreme candidates whose supporters will make greater efforts to make it to the polls. But that also makes the primary the place for “we, the people,” who want to make our voices known before the MAGA juggernaut has a chance to mow down all the moderates and true conservatives on the ballot.
For instance, our Governor has vowed to destroy those Republicans who dared oppose his gift of vouchers to the billionaire christian nationalists who donate big money to his war chest ($30 million just the other day). He is supporting voucher-loving challengers against every Republican, mostly from rural areas like ours, who said “NO!” despite being threatened to force them into agreeing with him.
Well, what can we do to prevent that strong arm tactic if we don’t have billions of dollars to toss in the ring? We, meaning not only the Republicans who oppose vouchers, but Democrats and Independents as well, can vote for the incumbent in the GOP primary races.
Yes, I said Democrats and Independents can vote in the GOP primary. Texas is one of sixteen states with an open primary, meaning you do not have to be registered as a Republican to vote in the Republican primary. Of course, the GOP is now trying to change to a closed primary in the future, because they think that non-Republicans who vote in the Republican primary are just trying to do some mischief and throw a monkey wrench into the election to be disruptive.
But there is a very real reason for all of us to vote in the GOP primary on March 5: it will allow a more accurate measure of the wishes of all the voters in Texas, not just the small number of extremists on the far, far right end of the political spectrum. In our case here in Bandera, with no House representative up for re-election this year, the main opportunity for all of us will be able to express a preference about the candidacy of Donald Trump. Even if he is, as is widely assumed, the all-but-certain Republican nominee, in the primary we have a chance to say how we feel about that. We have a chance to vote for Nikki Haley. We have a chance to say, “I wish there were an alternative to Donald Trump.”
Trump may still be the nominee, but what if his margin of victory in the primary is much smaller than expected? What if the many, many Texas Republicans who are unhappy with Trump, but would never vote for Biden, got to express their unhappiness in a way that would make America, if not Trump himself, take notice? In addition, what if the much smaller group of Independents and Democrats in Texas got to show their unhappiness in a way that put a spotlight on the fact that Trump is only the Messiah to a fairly small, but highly vocal, group of people?
Burst the bubble of invincibility. Early voting started yesterday and runs through March 1. Election Day is March 5. Get off your couch, it’s important!
I can see the headlines now: “Stunning Upset in Rural Texas County as 100% of Eligible Voters Turn Out, Most Choosing Nikki Haley.” Our voices can be heard after all. It doesn’t matter if he is nominated in the end, it matters that the spell is broken. And in Texas, of all places.
Susan Hull is a retired clinical psychologist, an Independent voter, and a student of the many shades of red that exist in Bandera. Some of her best friends are Republicans.
