Democrats double voter turnout in heavily conservative Texas as Ted Cruz’s race heats up

Texas Democrats have more than doubled the party’s turnout since the last primary election four years ago.

One million Democrats had cast ballots in the state’s recent primary election, while 1.5 million Republicans did. In 2014 Democrats only had a 30 per cent share of the vote in the historically conservative state.

The jump was less than what party officials had hoped for but it will make for a tighter race in November general election in certain races, particularly Republican Senator Ted Cruz being challenged by Democrat Beto O’Rourke.

Democrats are hoping to mount challenges in other races as well though because at last count, voter turnout was up for the party in 15 of the most populated counties.

Texas is made of nearly 40 per cent Hispanic and Latino residents according to the last US Census data. It is now perhaps ready to send the first Latinas - Democrats Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia - to Congress from districts that are seen as safe wins for the party.

While Mr O’Rourke performed well in terms of fundraising and overall - he garnered nearly 700,000 votes to Mr Cruz’s 1.3 million - he stumbled in the southern parts of the state that are predominantly Hispanic or Latino.

As The Hill newspaper reported: “Hispanic turnout will be key for the Democratic effort in the fall”.

What may bolster Democrats in the state even more is Mr Cruz himself.

He expressed concern about the party’s growing numbers, telling CNN this past week: "The extreme left is energized and angry, and it makes it all the important for conservatives to show up in November”.

"If conservatives stay home, if we rest on our laurels, we could see Texas turn blue,” he said, referring to the colour denoted on maps to Democrats.

Texas has been a reliably ‘red’ state for decades. In fact, the last time a Democrat held a US Senate seat for the state was 1993-1994, the same year as the last Democratic Governor.

Since then, Republicans have controlled all federal level offices and governorships.

A presidential candidate has not won the state since Former President Jimmy Carter in 1979.