Janice R. Andrews
Starr County, Texas, a historically Democratic stronghold, is seeing a sharp increase in support for former President Donald Trump in an unexpected political turnabout. In this largely Hispanic border county, Republican candidate for sheriff Alberto Olivares expressed shock at the increasing number of locals pledging to support Trump in the impending 2024 presidential race.
Starr County has always been a Democratic Party bastion, with over 97% of the population being Hispanic or Latino. Eighty-six percent of voters backed former President Barack Obama in the 2012 election. But in 2020, with President Joe Biden receiving just 52% of the vote, there was a noticeable change in the political environment, and this devotion started to fade.
After going door-to-door in the county as a campaigner, Olivares expressed his amazement on “Fox & Friends First,” saying, “I am just shocked with the number of people that just volunteer that they’re going to vote for Trump.” As a former Democrat, Olivares pointed out that a large portion of the Hispanic population has long identified as conservative, while having continuously supported Democrats for many years.
“We uphold the family and have faith in God. We desire a safe border, financial responsibility, and support for our law enforcement officials. Thus, we’re conservatives,” said Olivares. He continued by saying that the neighborhood is experiencing a “financial squeeze” and is really worried about the current border situation.
Olivares, a former agent of the Border Patrol, entered the race for sheriff because he feels the county needs strong leadership. He underlined how crucial it is to provide Starr County citizens more protection because the county hasn’t had a Republican sheriff in 118 years.
Given that Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are in a close race according to current surveys, the probable political change in Starr County is reflective of a larger national trend. Given the growing support of Hispanic voters, Trump’s campaign may bring about a historic shift in this historically Democratic area. The election of 2024 may mark a sea change in political allegiances among comparable areas and serve as a turning point for Starr County.
