Red, White and Who? The Swing Voters in South Texas
Oct 21, 2026 · 27m
Summary
This episode of "Red, White, and Who" examines the shifting political landscape in South Texas, where Hispanic voters who backed Trump in 2024 are now weighing their loyalty to the GOP amid economic concerns and aggressive ICE enforcement. Hosts Ryan Knudsen, Elizabeth Findel, and Matt Kwong interview local residents and a home builder to explore how these swing voters feel about the administration’s impact on their communities. The report highlights the high-stakes Senate race between Ken Paxton and James Tallarico, noting that Democrats are leveraging anti-Trump sentiment to court these v…
Topics discussed
Benny Melendez's construction site and ICE concerns
Benny's vote switch and the significance of South Texas voters
Sponsorships and introduction to the Rio Grande Valley
The 2024 shift to Republican and redistricting strategy
Voter sentiment on the Trump administration and border
Canvassing for Eric Flores and the role of Trump
Interviews with Mike Garza and Michelle Hernandez
Bill Ashcraft's opposition and Democratic billboard strategy
Sponsor break and transition to the Senate race
James Tallarico's campaign and appeal to conservative voters
Ken Paxton's candidacy and Trump endorsement complications
Liz Amaya's undecided status and split ticket voting
Analysis of the 'purple' Latino voter coalition
Credits and preview of the next episode
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