The Republicans’ own-goal might save us

Last year, Texas Republicans redrew their congressional map at Donald Trump’s request. Not because a court made them, not to fix anything — Trump just wanted five more Republican seats. Governor Greg Abbott and Republicans in the legislature were happy to deliver.

Here’s the problem: they built that map on a bet that demographic swings to Trump in 2024 would hold. Trump won 55% of the Latino vote in Texas in 2024 — a 13-point jump from 2020 — and Republicans decided that was permanent. So they carved new districts in South Texas assuming those voters would stay put.

They haven’t stayed put.

This spring, in a South Texas district Trump carried by 17 points, Democrat Taylor Rehmet flipped a state Senate seat by 14 — a 31-point swing in months. In this year’s primary, Democratic turnout beat Republican turnout in four of the five redrawn districts.

Even some of the Republicans who benefited are having second thoughts, and Trump’s own approval in Texas has cratered as ICE raids tear through the same Latino communities the party was counting on to carry these seats.

That’s not a break we get to sit back and enjoy. It’s an opening, but redrawn districts don’t flip on their own. They flip because campaigns knock on doors, run ads, and turn out voters who are ready to send Republicans a message.

That’s exactly what Midwest Values PAC does: take small donations from people like you and put them to work in the races where they’ll matter most.

Al

P.S. Watching a gerrymandered map collapse would be nice, but watching James Talarico beat Ken Paxton would be incredible. We can do both. Chip in today and let’s do our part to see this all collapse on Republicans completely.

Midwest Values PAC supports candidates & causes that share our values.

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Somehow, it’s been 20 years since I started Midwest Values PAC to help Democrats win elections — from progressive organizations to state legislatures to Congress to the White House — who share the values I grew up with in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Since 2006, Midwest Values PAC has invested more than $4 million in 341 candidates and organizations — and counting. 

Of course, none of this happens without you (or supporters like you) who care enough to pitch in.

As we mark our 20th anniversary, the work is more urgent than ever. This year, we have a big job: flip the House, take the Senate, and win up and down the ballot at the state and local level.

To mark our 20th year, we’ve set an ambitious goal: 26,000 contributions by Election Day 2026.

Thanks for being part of this fight, and for sticking with us for 20 years (or for just joining — welcome!).

Al

P.S. Over the years, okay, decades, we’ve helped Democrats win tough races all across the country by investing early, intelligently, and strategically. That’s how you flip seats. That’s how you protect democracy. And that’s how you stop the worst impulses of a president who never should have been president in the first place.