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Texas, a Traditional GOP Powerhouse, Is Relegated to the Sidelines

Bob Daemmerich
/
Texas Tribune

Texas has, traditionally, been a powerhouse in national Conservative politics. The last Republican president hailed from the Lone Star State, as did the runner-up in this year’s GOP primary runner-up. But that status may be changing. For the first time in a long time, Texas voters failed to select the eventual winner of the primary season. And now, as The Texas Tribune reports,the most-populous red state is sitting on the sidelines as Republicans begin their national convention in Cleveland. In fact, the Texas delegation has been seated in the back and off to the side.

At one point, there were four GOP presidential contenders vying for the nomination. Former Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush were all raised in Texas. Now all have fallen away, leaving instead a certain New York billionaire.

Texas voters now may have reason to feel a bit ignored. Even so, the state’s pockets are still deep: Last month Trump raised almost eight million dollars on a finance swing through Texas.