03/04/2020
A few observations from yesterday’s primary elections:
Despite early morning chaos and long lines at the polls in many large counties, early results from the Texas primary seem to yield a relative status quo. Both parties largely delivered victories to incumbents and known quantities over unknowns and challengers closer to the extreme wings of each party.
In the Democratic presidential primary, Joe Biden won the state by carrying 211 of Texas’ 254 counties – including Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Nueces, Potter, Jefferson, and Fort Bend counties. Biden carried many of the state’s largest cities such as Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi and Amarillo.
Bernie Sanders carried a total of 37 counties, including 19 in the Rio Grande Valley. He won in cities such as San Antonio, El Paso, Lubbock and Austin. This reflects the fact that Sanders’ message resonated with many of the state’s Latino and young voters. Sanders also polled especially well with college students, winning in seven counties with the state’s largest colleges and universities. However, 11 of the 37 counties Sanders won saw fewer than 100 total votes cast.
Michael Bloomberg won in only six counties; three of those saw fewer than 100 total votes cast.
In the Republican presidential primary, President Donald Trump won all 155 of Texas’ delegates to the Republican National Convention. According to recent polling, Trump maintains a slight lead over each of the three top Democratic challengers in Texas.
