Republican strategist and former Rep. Allen West (Fla.) says that the influx of large companies to Texas are boosting the state’s economic growth but could also swing it politically to the left.
West, a director at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, praised former Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas) for bringing major companies to the state, but said that could have some unintended consequences.
“If you remember when Gov. Rick Perry was going out and talking to businesses about moving to Texas because it has the right type of economic principles that has spurred on this incredible growth,” West told Hill.TV co-host Buck Sexton on Wednesday.
West said those companies are relocating workers from other regions of the country that are not as conservative as Texas.
“They are coming with their employees from other places like a California or people moving in from New York, New Jersey, Illinois where you see financial demise happening there and they’re bringing the same principles and values that forced them to leave those states,” West said.
Texas has the second-largest economy in the country, but West is on a tour promoting a soon-be-be-released book arguing that this prosperity will lead to the state’s downfall.
He emphasized that virtually all of Texas’ largest cities are run by Democrats.
“It’s a numbers game and so when you look at Dallas, you look at Austin, you look at Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Corpus Christi – the only major urban population center that’s run by Republicans is Fort Worth,” West said.
The conservative strategist said the real test will be whether Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will be able to win his re-election campaign against Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke.
He thinks Cruz could find some much needed strength from Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) re-election campaign against Democrat Lupe Valdez. The Texas governor holds a 14 point lead over the former Dallas county sheriff.
“The question will be whether or not Sen. Cruz will be able to ride on those coattails of the gubernatorial race or will this really be about his lack of popularity,” he said.
The Texas Senate race has been much tighter than expected.
Emerson College released a survey just a few weeks ago showing O’Rourke just one point shy of Cruz, and the Cook Political Report moved the Texas Senate race to “lean Republican” from “likely Republican.”
In light of O’Rourke’s increasing momentum, Cruz is enlisting the help of Trump – his 2016 presidential primary rival – to campaign for him.
Trump said he plans hold a “major rally” for Cruz in October in the “biggest stadium in Texas we can find.”
— Tess Bonn
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