The Democrats are in pure panic mode. Their party is about to be destroyed for good.
And the Democrat Party is about to crumble into pieces after this latest news leaks.
In a significant political move, longtime Texas Democrat and Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina has announced his decision to leave the Democratic Party and join the Republican Party. This shift marks yet another instance of a South Texas leader embracing the GOP, a trend gaining traction in the region.
Webb County, a historically Democratic stronghold, flipped red in the November election, joining other border counties that supported a Republican presidential candidate for the first time in over a century, according to The Center Square.
The county, part of a region that has leaned Democratic since Texas became a state in 1836, delivered a historic victory for Donald Trump, signaling a dramatic political shift in an area where the majority of voters are Hispanic.
Judge Tijerina explained his departure in a Facebook post, stating, “As Webb County Judge, I have fought to protect our shared values here in South Texas – hard work, faith, family, and freedom. Unfortunately, the radical National Democrat party no longer stands for these values, and I want to be a part of a party that not only stands for these values but also protects them.”
Tijerina expressed his alignment with the concerns of many South Texans, saying, “The party left me, and the people of South Texas, behind.” His decision to join the Republican Party reflects his desire to uphold the values he believes the Democratic Party no longer represents.
In response to Tijerina’s announcement, Texas Governor Greg Abbott praised the judge’s decision, stating, “This is excellent. Democrats in South Texas are switching to the party that aligns with their values – the Republican Party. South Texas Hispanics in particular are joining the party of faith, family, freedom & common sense – the Republican Party. Welcome!”
In a Fox News interview, Tijerina elaborated on his reasons for leaving the Democratic Party, citing the party’s drift “further left, embracing policies that don’t reflect the values of our community.”
He criticized the party’s radicalization and highlighted key issues important to his constituents, including border security and support for the oil and gas industry. Webb County, where Tijerina serves, participates in Governor Abbott’s border security initiative, Operation Lone Star.
A recent poll indicated that a majority of Hispanic Texans support deporting illegal border crossers, underscoring the importance of border security to the region’s voters.
Tijerina also voiced concerns about the Biden administration’s policies impacting the oil and gas industry, a vital economic driver in South Texas. The region is home to major infrastructure projects supporting U.S. energy production and export, with the Port of Brownsville serving as a hub for liquified natural gas exports.
The judge did not shy away from critiquing what he called “woke movements,” such as policies allowing boys to compete in girls’ sports—policies that polls show are overwhelmingly opposed by Hispanic Texans. He joins a growing list of former Texas Democrats who have left the party, citing similar grievances.
Last year, multiple prominent Democrats in Texas, including State Rep. Shawn Thierry of Houston and former Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, left the party over concerns about its ideological direction.
Thierry, for example, sided with Republicans to ban medical procedures related to gender transitions for minors, calling out what she described as a profit-driven medical industry.
Similarly, State Rep. Ryan Guillen of Starr County switched parties, with Starr County flipping red in 2020 for the first time in 132 years.
These defections and political realignments point to a broader shift among South Texas voters and leaders, who increasingly find themselves at odds with the national Democratic Party’s platform.
Tijerina’s move further emphasizes the Republican Party’s growing foothold in a region once dominated by Democrats, fueled by shared values and priorities like faith, family, and economic opportunity.
As the political landscape in South Texas continues to evolve, Tijerina’s decision highlights a broader trend that could reshape the Democrat Party for years to come.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
