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Texas Redistricting Faces Latino Backlash Ahead of 2026 Elections
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Redistricting Based on 2024 Latino Support
Republican leaders in Texas redrew congressional maps after Donald Trump secured an unprecedented share of the Latino vote in 2024. The new configuration kept high Latino concentrations—74.5% of the citizen voting-age population in the 15th District and 51.6% in the 35th—while making both districts more competitive. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates the 15th a “Toss-up” and the 35th “Lean Republican,” and Cook Political rates the 15th “Lean Republican.” An August 2026 Texas Southern University poll found Democratic candidates leading in three South Texas districts, including the 15th.
Economic Pressures and Growing Disillusionment
Latino voters in South Texas cite rising living costs as a primary grievance. Gasoline averaged $4.09 per gallon in the McAllen area as of September 22, according to AAA data. A September poll of 1,000 Texas Latinos conducted for Cook Political and TelevisaUnivision reported that 18% of Latino Trump supporters no longer back him, and nearly two-thirds would be less likely to vote for candidates who endorse his immigration policies. Trump’s nationwide approval rating has slipped to 33%, the lowest since his return to office, per the Reuters/Ipsos tracking poll.
Competitive Races in Districts 15 and 35
Incumbent Republican Monica De La Cruz faces Democratic singer-candidate Bobby Pulido in the 15th District. Pulido, a two-time Latin Grammy winner, leads De La Cruz by five points in a late-August Texas Southern University poll. His campaign emphasizes economic opportunity and cultural outreach, including surprise appearances at local quinceañeras. In the 35th, analysts note a shift toward a “Lean Republican” rating despite the district’s sizable Latino electorate.
Party Responses to the Shift
Republican National Congressional Committee Hispanic press secretary Christian Martinez rejected the notion of a Latino exodus, blaming Democratic “denial, excuses, and condescension” for any losses. TelevisaUnivision CEO Daniel Alegre cautioned that Latino voters will support whichever candidate they believe will improve their lives, rather than adhering to a single party.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I'm more open than ever before to vote Democrat.” — Saúl Guajardo, 53, of McAllen
- “It's not one of these that you're talking to a wall because they're all going to vote Democrat or they're all going to vote Republican,” — Daniel Alegre, CEO of Spanish-language media company TelevisaUnivision
- “As a Democrat, I think that we misunderstand the Hispanic vote and I think, honestly, I think Republicans don't get it either,” — Bobby Pulido
- “He's got such great roots here in the Valley,” — Michael Silva