AUSTIN, Texas – While most of the attention is at the top of the ticket this election cycle, the battle for the Texas House is on the line and the stakes are high.
Democrats are nine seats away from the majority after picking up 12 seats in 2018. Last year, Republicans held 83 of the House’s 150 seats, while Democrats held 67. Both parties would like to have at least 76 seats to gain a majority.
And when you look at the amount of money poured into a number of races this year, it's clear just how competitive this has gotten. Democrats had the cash advantage, but this last fundraising cycle Republicans pretty much erased it.
Still, Democrats believe the record voter turnout the state is seeing plays in their favor.
“I do think my Republicans friends are very worried. Texans are voting in record numbers. Younger Texans are voting. People from a diverse array of backgrounds are voting,” said Rep. Celia Israel, the chair of the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee. “I believe our candidates have a stronger message to connect with those voters and to help keep them going down the ballot and making their voice heard.”
But Texas Republican Party Chairman Allen West says he doesn’t think Texans are ready to embrace Democratic stances.
“Well, I don’t think we’re heavily concerned anymore when we have seen some of the positions taken by the Democrat party,” West said pointing to Joe Biden’s comments on transitioning from oil and gas.
Democrats are targeting 22 Republican House seats. Rep. Israel says she’s confident in the statehouse flipping, but also noted the changing position of several Republicans this campaign cycle on the expansion of Medicaid.
“I think there will be an opportunity for us to make a case to the Senate and to the governor that we should, at the very least, take this to the voters and that’s what my bill would do,” she said.
Despite Republicans reversing their positions, West says that’s not where the focus should be.
“I can’t speak for the individuals that will be there in the statehouse, but I don’t know why we’d want to push an expansion of a program that is meant for people that are at or below the poverty level. Right now a big concern that I have is that Texas is only second to California with 800,000 jobs that have been lost. I think it’s most important that we talk about how do we strengthen our economy so people don’t have to depend on Medicaid,” he said.
Whichever party controls the Texas House will not only have a say over policy, but redistricting as well. Every ten years, state lawmakers draw State House, State Senate and Congressional districts based on the latest census counts.