“When Texas turns blue, this country’s going to turn blue and it’s going to stay blue.”
- Former Dallas Mayor and US Trade Rep Ron Kirk
There has been an ongoing trend nationally to relegate Texas to the crazy pile for years, and I understand the appeal. As a state, we certainly haven't helped our cause by continuing to send asshats like Louie Gohmert (hell, just pick a name. If they're from Texas, they're likely insane).
But the easy classification of Texas as "Austin surrounded by Red" is simply not accurate.
Here's some Wikipedia Census Data:
The 2010 US Census recorded Texas as having a population of 25.1 million—an increase of 4.3 million since the year 2000, involving an increase in population in all three subcategories of population growth: natural increase (births less deaths), net immigration, and net migration.
Second-largest U.S. state in population, after California.
Texas' population growth between 2000 and 2010 represents the highest population increase, by number of people, for any U.S. state during this time period.
As of 2004, the state has 3.5 million foreign-born residents, 15.6% of the state population, of which an estimated 1.2 million are undocumented immigrants.
U.S. Census data from 2010 indicate that 27.3% is under 18, and 10.3% is aged 65 and older. Females made up 50.4% of the population.
Racial and ancestral makeup Demographics of Texas
By race White Black AIAN* Asian NHPI*
2000 (total population) 84.54% 12.09% 1.09% 3.13% 0.16%
2000 (Hispanic only) 31.14% 0.42% 0.40% 0.13% 0.06%
2005 (total population) 84.14% 12.09% 1.10% 3.62% 0.17%
2005 (Hispanic only) 34.16% 0.52% 0.42% 0.15% 0.06%
Growth 00–05 All 9.10% 9.62% 10.56% 27.02% 21.27%
Growth 00–05 non-hisp 2.59% 8.66% 8.69% 27.07% 17.81%
Growth 00–05 Hisp 20.26% 36.40% 13.80% 25.99% 27.72%
As of the 2010 US Census, the racial distribution in Texas was as follows:
70.4% of the population of Texas was White American;
11.8%, African American
3.8%, Asian American
0.7%, American Indian
0.1%, native Hawaiian or Pacific islander only
10.5% of the population were of some other race only
2.7% were of two or more races
Hispanics (of any race) were 37.6% of the population of the state
Non-Hispanic Whites composed 45.3%
Texas has elected officials nationally as if we are still the whitest-bread conservative state ever, but if you drill down, you see that Dallas is blue. San Antonio? You may remember the Castro Brothers from the DNC. Houston? Out gay Mayor. Despite long odds and a nearly destroyed Democratic machine, Texas Dems have been pushing for years against a heavy burden of Fox-crazed zealots. We have been, at best, holding the line...and now it appears we will finally have some organization and backing.
The organization, dubbed “Battleground Texas,” plans to engage the state’s rapidly growing Latino population, as well as African-American voters and other Democratic-leaning constituencies that have been underrepresented at the ballot box in recent cycles. Two sources said the contemplated budget would run into the tens of millions of dollars over several years - a project Democrats hope has enough heft to help turn what has long been an electoral pipe dream into reality.
http://www.politico.com/...
It will be my goal as part of Centex Kossacks to find out what Mr. Bird needs to make Battleground Texas a reality, and to do my level best to supply what I can.
My ultimate goal? To someday tell people I'm from Texas and hear, "Yeah, Ann Richards and Molly Ivins. Texas makes some GREAT democrats!" rather than "Thanks for nothing, BushPerrystan."
5:04 PM PT: This is a featured story tonight on "Capital Tonight". YNN is the channel (Austin).
5:26 PM PT: Tanene Allison killed it on Capital Tonight, I thought. She made it clear that this is a long infrastructure-building project, but one that needs to begin. Talked about not taking a break between elections, how the state party woke up the day after election day and knew they had to get back to it. Then, of course, there's an obligatory second amendment question, which she handled as a public safety issue. Spoke about smart gun owners, and not having military style weapons without background checks.
Next up was a two-person stupidfest with Harold Cook and a Republican. The Republican talked about the Battleground Texas project. He said Texas will probably become purple, then spent the rest of his time concern trolling the project and talking about how he was worried for us, because every 18 months or so there's just some new interest group. It gave him a sad. Meanwhile, Harold Cook talked about Wendy Davis with no background info, then got wonky about redistricting. They moved on to cancer research funding. Way to miss the moment, Harold. Something about "Battleground Texas is a network building project, we want Democratic candidates in every district to feel there is a unified party backing them, because progressive values have always been the hallmark of our great state and we can't continue to be marginalized by the Republican machine."
Fri Jan 25, 2013 at 5:58 AM PT: More from Burnt Orange Report, including some good statistics about minority turnout and contact in Texas:
http://www.burntorangereport.com/...