Texas State students were likely a key factor in flipping this conservative county to Democrats

[TexasTowelie]

By Matt Zdun, Chris Essig and Darla Cameron, Texas Tribune


SAN MARCOS -- As the dust settles after last week’s election, the political identity of Hays County hangs in the balance: Is it red or blue?

The rapidly growing Central Texas suburban county — Texas' 22nd-largest by registered voters – hadn’t voted for a Democrat at the top of the ticket since 1992. In this year's general election, however, it gave U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, a 15-point edge over Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. It was the first time in 13 general elections that the county flipped, even though it has become increasingly blue in recent elections.

What exactly fueled the flip is still unknown – and it's most likely due to a slate of factors – but University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus said the “off-the-charts-big” student turnout at Texas State University played a big role.

Turnout was so large during early voting that students reported waiting in lines for more than an hour. After the Texas Civil Rights Project threatened to sue the county amid allegations that it was suppressing the college student vote, Hays County commissioners extended early voting on the Texas State campus and created an additional Election Day voting site.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2018/11/15/texas-state-students-young-voters-hays-county/