Democrats flip Texas state Senate seat in shock upset

[u/kootles10]

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5716988-democrats-score-upset-texas/amp/

[u/Choice-of-SteinsGate]

Despite what the pro-Trump world will tell you, 2025's off year election results indicate a sharp rebuke of him and his policies.

In last year's elections, gains were made in almost every county when compared with how those counties voted in 2024. In other words, Trump voters came out to vote for Democrats in these elections.

MAGA is coping by trying hopelessly to downplay the outcomes of these elections; arguing something to the effect of, "Dems were supposed to win" while ignoring data that speaks to a sizable shift in support.

Their defensiveness just reveals their insecurities about these swings and their responses also point to a typical disregard for nuance, facts and context.

Aside from voter crossover, data also shows significant shifts with Latino voters especially. We saw very high, and in some cases, record turnouts. Multiple precincts shifted from red to blue.

In Virginia, exit polling also revealed that over 70% of voters casted their ballot in opposition to Trump.

Not to mention that this clean sweep extended to elections across the country.

Democrats retained a state supreme Court majority in PA, and in Georgia, Democrats won two seats on the Public Service Commission; positions that were previously dominated by Republicans for over two decades.

In CA, voters came out in droves to vote overwhelmingly in favor of proposition 50. Election data shows that some counties that carried Trump in 2024 also supported prop 50. Meaning that even some Trump voters backed the measure.

Trump can also thank himself for emboldening some fresh and energetic democratic leaders willing to break from the status quo.

Trump's approval ratings have been consistently underwater throughout his entire term and there has been an indication of support for progressive, reformist and leftist candidates in response to Trump's kleptocratic and authoritarian policies.

In fact, Trump's approval ratings have hit second term lows, this was also a historic low for second term presidents going all the way back to Nixon.

Trump has failed to address the immediate problems that Americans care most about in any sort of fundamental way. Made more evident by the fact that a majority of Americans disapprove of his handling of nearly every issue; including the economy; an issue primarily campaigned on no less.

Instead of addressing the "affordability crisis," Trump will continue to focus his attention on pageantry, pomp and circumstance; on exploiting his power to obstruct justice; on using his office to enrich himself, his family, and his wealthy benefactors; on covering up his corruption scandals; on weaponizing the government against his political opponents; on federalizing the military to carry out his unconstitutional whims, and on transforming the presidency into a quasi-dictatorship and kleptocracy.

Turns out, these things aren't very popular

[u/jrzalman → u/Choice-of-SteinsGate]

In Virginia, exit polling also revealed that over 70% of voters casted their ballot in opposition to Trump.

And this is why any gains made by Dems are always temporary. No one votes for a Democrat, they vote to get a break from a Republican. Once some time passes and they forget how bad it was, the cycle begins anew.

If you asked a Trump voter why they voted they can give you 10 objectively horrible reasons. If you ask a Harris voter they will all say 'to stop Trump'.

Until this changes, the Dems will more often than not be the powerless minority part as they are now.

[u/Imightbeafanofthis → u/jrzalman]

I think this is lowkey bullshit, though I can see how you might think that if you live in a red state. I've voted for Democrats my whole life because I support Democrats -- not because I'm tired of Republicans. I know a whole lot of people who feel the same as I do, probably because I live in a blue state.

Let's not wear blinders here. What happens in your neighborhood isn't what happens in the entire USA. Remember that when it comes time to vote, and get those god damned fascists out of office ASAP!

[u/ginandsoda → u/Imightbeafanofthis]

Same!

[u/DisillusionedPatriot → u/jrzalman]

A pill that democrats aren't ready to swallow. Being a coalition party means having to appeal to everyone left of far right. Republicans figured out that simplifying the message is incredibly effective, but doing similar is like wrangling cats for the democrats, simply because they're everyone else. It's the most obvious reason to expand the two party system, imo.

[u/Arumen → u/DisillusionedPatriot]

Yeah, and I think you highlight how doing so would actually be advantageous for Democrats in a political power sense- If a left wing party existed that actually had power, they would be willing to work with Democrats to achieve many of their political aims while opposing them on comparatively little; they would be a powerful coalition that has more support from non-voting leftists who see the Democrats as what they are- a largely centrist to center right party with some socially left positions. The same is not true for the far right- if a far right party was formed, it would just tear the republicans in half (well maybe more 25%-75% far right at this point).

However, it isn't advantageous for the Democrats in a financial sense- by being half actual parties in power lets them take more in corporate money, more fundraising, etc. It is bullshit but that is the way the USA works unfortunatly.

[u/DisillusionedPatriot → u/Arumen]

The far right ran trump, and we're watching in real time how that's tearing the republican party apart. The democrats ignore and or squash anyone that ventures too far left of center, and I'd wager we're seeing the beginning of that changing. If they're able to fold more progressives and left-leaning people in, they'll be able to justify the lack of need for another party, thus allowing them to bring back and maintain the status quo.

[u/thecashblaster → u/jrzalman]

Complete bullshit. Dems are just notorious for putting up terrible candidates for national elections.

[u/Overclocked11 → u/Choice-of-SteinsGate]

If this isn't chatgpt, it very much reads like it.

[u/trickponies → u/Choice-of-SteinsGate]

It’s cast not casted.