Election 2024 - It is Always About the Economy, Stupid!

Election Night Takeaways

The reminder for those of us who have been stressing over election nights for far too many years is this — it’s always about the Economy — Republicans make that case best and the voters trust the GOP on matters of the economy.  

For Donald Trump, this election is now a mandate from the voters to deliver on the promises he made to get the economy moving, fix immigration, and work to reduce chaos in the world.  Trump’s legacy will be defined by his ability to put together an agenda that will help everyday Americans. His challenge will be to stay focused on that job without becoming distracted by his vendettas against his perceived enemies.  

Through the Democratic process available to them, the American people have now put their faith in Trump to make their America better. Voters across the country also delivered majorities in the US Senate and possibly also the US House.  This is governing a coalition rarely handed to a Party in leadership. The stakes for Trump and the GOP are high, they have no barriers in their way, and no place for excuses. They must now deliver on tough issues like Immigration Reform, lowering prices on gas and fuel, and creating opportunities for American families.

The Texas Red Wave

In Texas, the GOP and its candidates rode the Red wave high. Sen. Ted Cruz beat Colin Allred for the US Senate seat, the GOP picked up one Texas Senate Seat (new balance 20R-11D) and four Texas House seats (new balance 88R - 62D).

Trump and Cruz bested their 2018 and 2020 numbers by big numbers. Trump went from +5.6% in 2020 to +13.9% in 20204. Cruz won by only 215,000 votes in 2018 and in 2024 he won with a margin of 976,000 votes.

It was a very good night for Trump, Cruz, and the Texas GOP.  

The Texas Democrats had high hopes to win the US Senate seat and start a “blue wave”, but instead lost ground statewide up and down the ballot.  They remain a minority in Texas, a position they have held for three decades.

The Rural Vote in Texas

As per usual, the Rural Red voters of Texas turned out strong for the top of the ticket, driving bigger margins for Cruz and Trump than they had in their last elections. Many rural counties delivered percentages of over 90% to Trump and Cruz.  

Rural Texans and communities are impacted in a huge way by high grocery and fuel prices, rising costs for insurance and homeownership, and taxes, so it’s not a surprise to me that the economic case drove strong turnout from rural Texans.  

There was also strong support for the GOP in rural, border counties with majority Hispanic voters. A well-organized effort to energize Hispanics on the border counties delivered for the GOP and its candidates. 

Hispanics and Republicans have long shared common values, especially on economic matters.  This coalition was formed in the 1990’s by Governor George W. Bush and until this cycle candidates and the Texas GOP have been relatively unable to mobilize these voters.  A group called Project Red Texas has been working for several cycles to build a farm team in South Texas and this election they are seeing the

Vouchers on the Ballot

School Choice voucher proposals were on the ballot in three states — Nebraska, Colorado, and Kentucky — and in all three states, the voters rejected them.  

In Rural, Red Nebraska, voters voted to repeal legislation passed by their conservative legislature earlier this year. A grassroots movement to place a repeal referendum on the state ballot was successful and the 

In Kentucky, Trump won 65-35 and at the same time an “amendment to allow the state legislature to give financial support to students in private or charter schools” failed 65 % against 35% for, and the measure failed in all of the state’s 120 counties.

In Colorado, voters in that state rejected an amendment that provided a pathway to vouchers by adding school choice to the state constitution.  The Colorado measure failed 52% against, 47% for.  

Public school advocates in Texas have proposed allowing Texans to vote on this important issue on a statewide general election ballot, which has been met with opposition by the School Choice advocates who prefer that legislators make the decision.  Governor Abbott’s use of out-of-state money to target Rural Republicans who killed vouchers and last night’s GOP pickups of the four Democrat seats all but guarantee a positive outcome next session for a taxpayer-funded voucher system for Texas.