In Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, a historical blue stronghold, lifelong Hispanic Democrats are rethinking their loyalty.

The Daily Caller reported that dissatisfaction in this border region has been brewing as rising costs and cultural disconnects fuel a shift that could send ripples throughout Texas’ political landscape.

The Rio Grande Valley, heavily Hispanic and often struggling with economic challenges, has long backed Democratic candidates. However, GOP enthusiasm has been building, driven by soaring inflation, economic instability, and dissatisfaction with Democratic cultural positions.

Prices overall have risen 20% since Jan ’21, according to the CPI, but many consumer staples are up 30% to 40% – or more: pic.twitter.com/n2Vx3g0EAx

— E.J. Antoni, Ph.D. (@RealEJAntoni) October 12, 2024

Celebrate Trump's Historic 2024 Victory with the Exclusive Trump 47th President Collection!

Zapata County, where Trump won in 2020 for the first time in a century, serves as a prime example of the region’s changing sentiments. “What they want is change,” said Jennifer Thatcher, Zapata County’s Republican Chair. “Everybody’s tired of the same thing, you know, same empty promises and nothing getting done.”

From 2016 to 2020, Trump gained tens of thousands of votes across the Valley, cutting into the Democratic dominance of Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy, Zapata, and Cameron counties.

Local GOP organizers are now optimistic that the numbers will grow even further in 2024. Starr County Republican Chair Toni Trevino sees this shift clearly, noting, “His support is just really remarkable—off the charts, more so than in ‘16 and ‘20.”

Economic concerns dominate. For locals like Jorge Bazan, who has seen supply prices skyrocket, everyday essentials are now financially out of reach. “The economy was better when he [Trump] was in office,” Bazan said, as he explained his decision to vote Republican despite a lifelong affiliation with the Democrats.

Many other Valley voters echo his sentiments, voting locally for Democratic candidates but leaning toward the GOP at the national level.

New @cygnal poll out of Florida: Hispanics (Puerto Ricans included) love Trump.

Capturing 50% of Hispanic vote. +28 with Cubans. +2 with Puerto Ricans. pic.twitter.com/TDjOCC4p5c

— Brent Scher (@BrentScher) October 30, 2024

This shift isn’t just about financial strain. Barrera, another Starr County organizer, shared that local frustrations extend to national Democratic priorities, including border security and rising crime concerns.

He argues that Hispanic families in the Valley came to America to work and improve their lives, not to receive handouts or be part of social experiments. “These people, they want to work. They don’t want a giveaway,” Barrera explained, emphasizing the cultural and economic mismatch with today’s Democratic Party.

The GOP’s approach to mobilizing these voters has changed too. In a region where many races go uncontested, former Republican Texas Rep. Mayra Flores has emphasized the importance of offering meaningful competition. The local Democratic stronghold has created a “single-party rule,” Flores says, limiting choices and suppressing conservative voices.

However, recent GOP efforts are resonating, sparking unprecedented voter engagement and turnout among locals who once kept their conservative values quiet.

While economic issues take center stage, other Democratic stances—on social issues like abortion and immigration policies—further motivate this pivot. It’s a shift grounded in pragmatism; people here feel that jobs, security, and family values matter more than political allegiances.

With Harris struggling to gain traction with Hispanic voters nationwide, according to recent polls, the Valley’s trends may soon reflect a broader national movement.