For Republicans, a Democratic win in Texas would have a very different meaning.
At roughly the same time Talarico was addressing his supporters in the Fiesta Center, Trump – alongside the Republican Party’s Senate candidate Ken Paxton – was just a few miles away, in a venue twice the size.
“If you go out and vote, we’re going to have a tremendous win in Texas,” the president told the crowd.
Trump’s visit to reliably-Republican Lubbock suggests the party is concerned about turnout even in the most conservative portions of the state. It is a worry that has been echoed by other Texas Republicans.
“Understand, we could lose Texas,” Texas Senator Ted Cruz said in his podcast on Friday. “The Democrats are massively out-turning-out the Republicans.”
Don Huffines, who is running for election as the state’s chief financial officer, issued an even more dire warning. “Texas is the foundation of the Republican Party in America,” he posted on X.
“When the foundation breaks, it all falls apart. When we lose Texas, we lose the USA.”
For weeks now, party leaders have been warning that a liberal breakthrough in the Lone Star State could have dire consequences.
They fear a Talarico win would motivate more local Democrats to run for statewide and federal offices. Better quality candidates with more funding could lead to a snowball effect similar to the Democratic inroads seen in other southern states, such as Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.
“I think that it’s pretty clear that Republicans, especially candidates, consultants, operatives, and others who are active in the party, see that this is a real threat,” said Steinhauser.
“The days of waving this off and saying that Texas would never turn blue are over.”