The prospect of Texas “going blue” was one of the big stories throughout this election—and rightly so. In anticipation of this threat, Republican lawmakers redistricted the state after Donald Trump’s win in 2024, carving out new seats calculated to skew Republican. But that gerrymander seemed to be based on the assumption that Latino voters would continue voting along the same lines they had in 2024. The New Yorker staff writer Jesús Rodríguez, who covered James Talarico’s and Gina Hinojosa’s campaigns, talks with David Remnick about the effects of the gerrymander, and what the race in Texas tells Democrats about 2028.

Further reading and listening:

• “James Talarico’s Final Sprint,” by Jesús Rodríguez
• “Texas Democrats Venture Into ‘No Man’s Land,’” by Jesús Rodríguez
• “Gina Hinojosa Thinks Texas Is Different this Time,” an episode of The New Yorker Radio
• “The Well-Funded Fight to Keep Latinos Voting Republican,” by Jesús Rodríguez

• “Gina Hinojosa’s Populism for Democrats,” by Stephania Taladrid

New episodes of The New Yorker Radio Hour drop every Tuesday and Friday. Join host David Remnick as he discusses the latest in politics, news, and current events in conversation with political leaders, newsmakers, innovators, New Yorker staff writers, authors, actors, and musicians.

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