Democratic political analyst Ruy Teixeira said Friday that Texas Democrats are struggling to boost party support among white voters.
“The fundamental problem is the white vote,” Teixeira told Hill.TV’s Krystal Ball on “What America’s Thinking.”
Teixeira said Hispanic turnout is “only partially the issue” facing Democrats, and that support among white voters is just north of 20 percent.
“It used to be parked around 20 percent for the Democrats, and now it’s gone up some,” he said. “They’ve benefitted from college-educated whites in some of the suburban areas in Texas, but it’s still not quite enough.”
He said it would be an achievement to hit 30 percent Democratic support.
“If you combine continuing that trend with trying to get more Hispanic voters to the polls, then there’s a natural increase in the number of eligible voters as well, then you may have a winning formula,” he added. “But I think we’re maybe a cycle or two away from that.”
Teixeria’s comments come as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) attempts to fend off Democratic challenger Rep. Beto O’Rourke in the state’s Senate race. Despite a tight race earlier this year, recent polls show Cruz breaking away from O’Rourke.
A Quinnipiac University Poll released last week showed 54 percent of likely voters saying they supported Cruz, while 45 percent backed O’Rourke.
The same poll showed 69 percent of white voters backing Cruz, and 61 percent of Hispanic voters supporting O’Rourke.
— Julia Manchester
hilltv copyright
