TEXAS — Following former President Donald Trump's announcement for reelection, lawmakers and constituents expressed mixed reactions to the news.
Texas Democrats say Trump’s bid for president in 2024 comes as no surprise.
"We fully expect having this extremist joke of a losing candidate at the top of the Republican ticket will help us in our mission of flipping Texas into a state where working families are given a fighting chance instead of being sold out to the highest corporate CEO campaign donor," wrote Texas Democratic Party chair Gilberto Hinojosa on Twitter.
In a prepared statement, Hinojosa said that Trump's campaign listed reasons his decision will hopefully aid in finally turning Texas — a state that's been controlled by Republicans for decades — blue.
"Texas Democrats celebrate the announcement of our twice-impeached, under-investigation, under-subpoena, former president's 2024 presidency bid," he said in the statement. "We look forward to Donald Trump galvanizing Democrats across the country for a fourth straight election cycle."
In the 2022 midterm election, Texans voted to reelect Gov. Greg Abbott over his Democratic opponent Beto O' Rourke. In the 2016 presidential election, Trump won Texas by 9 points. And in the 2020 election, Trump secured Texas' 38 Electoral College votes, beating Biden by 52.1% to 46.5%. If Biden had won Texas, he would've been the second Democratic candidate since Jimmy Carter to do so.
Although political analysts have thrown out names of potential candidates, Trump remains the only person to confirm. After a resounding victory in Florida, Ron DeSantis continues to be one of the political heavyweights mentioned. Earlier this week, Spectrum News 1 reported a GOP poll shows Texas Republicans favor DeSantis over Trump 43% to Trump's 32%.
"The 2024 Republican primary will be a fascinating circus to watch," Hinojosa said.
The Texas GOP did not return requests for comments by Spectrum News 1 on Trump's decision to seek reelection.
In the midterm election, Republicans hoped to see a red wave throughout the country. They ultimately failed to retake control of the Senate and lost the House majority.
During his Florida speech, Trump insisted that "America's comeback" begins now, telling the crowd that "this will not be my campaign, this will be our campaign all together."