The Rio Grande Valley along the U.S.-Mexico border in South Texas was once a reliable Democratic stronghold but swung to Donald Trump in 2024. Opinion writer Mara Gay traveled there to gauge voter sentiment amid upcoming midterm elections that could determine whether Texas sends a Democrat to the U.S. Senate. Voters described fears about immigration enforcement, frustration with the economy, and a desire for stability.
Interviewees like Marco Pardo-Orduna said they felt used by Democrats during campaigns and then forgotten afterward. Rigo Garcia-Bautista noted that no major candidate had visited in years. Alexis Uscanga blamed local politicians—dismissing them as all Democrats—for insufficient opportunities pushing young people to leave.
Francisco Quezada described the region as 99 percent Hispanic with strong community ties. Haley Escamilla said, "The border crossed us," reflecting generational roots. Seby Haddad highlighted a conservative, Catholic community valuing family, hard work, infrastructure investment, labor rights, social services, and law enforcement.
Garcia-Bautista pointed to scarce jobs that can provide housing, cars, or stable income. Ariana Vianey Hinojosa, whose father is a Border Patrol agent, recalled strict immigration views. Pardo-Orduna, a veteran and son of an immigrant, expressed discomfort with current enforcement tactics. Quezada summed up the mood as "worried and anxious."
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing