"Red State, Fading Values: The Unraveling of Texas Conservatism"
By Dr. Tim Westley
Let’s set the record straight—Texas hasn’t always been a red state. In fact, from 1867 to 2021, Texas elected 41 governors. Only 6 of them were Republicans. That’s just 14%. And three of those six were elected in the last 30 years. Texas may look conservative on the surface today, but our grip on this great state is slipping—and fast.
We are at a tipping point.
Despite holding the Texas House and Senate since 2003, Republicans in Texas are not only fighting Democrats—we’re fighting ourselves. From the Ken Paxton impeachment chaos to internal clashes like Speaker Dade Phelan vs. the conservative grassroots, the conservative party is cracking from the inside out.
Worse still, many so-called Republican leaders have allowed the values we stand for—faith, family, and freedom—to erode under political pressure, personal ambition, and elite donor influence. And while we’re busy compromising our convictions, Democrats are quietly gaining ground in our cities, our suburbs, and now even our small towns.
Why Are We Losing Ground?
The answer is simple:
We’ve allowed ourselves to be more concerned with who can win instead of who should win.
Too many quality conservative candidates are left to fend for themselves, abandoned by party leadership, ignored by big donors, and unsupported by the establishment—not because they lack vision, passion, or values—but because they don’t fit the mold.
Meanwhile, flashy, moderate Republicans with watered-down values and smooth-talking points get the funding, the airtime, and the endorsements—only to sell us out once elected.
This isn’t just disappointing. It’s dangerous.
Texas is seeing demographic and cultural shifts that cannot be ignored:
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Young voters, especially in urban areas, lean heavily progressive.
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Latino and Asian populations, once considered conservative allies, are being pulled left—especially younger generations and women.
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Blue state refugees from California, New York, and Illinois are bringing their politics with them.
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And yes, suburban voters—once solidly Republican—are abandoning us over issues like grid failures, skyrocketing taxes, weak education leadership, and infighting they see as extreme and unproductive.
Are We Losing Texas?
Not yet. But the numbers don’t lie:
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In 2020, Joe Biden came within 5.6% of winning Texas.
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In 2018, Beto O’Rourke nearly unseated Ted Cruz with a margin of just 2.6%.
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Democrats have already flipped several suburban legislative and congressional seats.
The “Red Wall” is cracking.
And unless we make a radical shift—right now—we will lose Texas. Not because Democrats outsmarted us. But because we lost our spine.
What Happened to Us?
We’ve stopped leading with conviction.
We’ve started compromising for comfort.
And worst of all, we’ve begun believing the lie that winning at any cost is better than standing for truth.
We’ve replaced bold leadership with safe bets. We’ve traded moral clarity for political correctness. And in doing so, we’ve betrayed the very values that brought us here in the first place.
What good is a Republican win if the candidate governs like a Democrat?
Too many Republican officials in Texas talk about conservative values but fail to live them. They bow to corporate pressure. They avoid hot-button issues. They dodge tough questions. They forget the people who sent them to office.
It’s no wonder our base feels disillusioned. Churches are disengaging. Young conservatives are feeling alienated. Grassroots warriors are exhausted.
And all the while, the Left is organizing, energizing, and executing.
So What Must We Do?
This moment demands more than just reflection. It demands action. Here’s how we turn the tide:
✅ Return to Our Roots
Recenter on faith, freedom, family, and fiscal responsibility. Not just in speeches—but in policy, in leadership, and in behavior.
✅ Back the Right Candidates
Support candidates of conviction, not just convenience. If a candidate stands on principle, communicates clearly, and represents the platform—rally behind them, period.
✅ Reject Political Cowardice
Stop compromising the conservative agenda for political safety. Stop letting fear, media bias, or big money define who represents us.
✅ Ignite the Grassroots Again
We must reawaken the grassroots army—especially among people of faith. The future of Texas rests not in elite circles, but in the hands of everyday Texans who care deeply about this nation and her future.
✅ Put the Platform Into Practice
What’s the point of having a conservative platform if we’re too afraid to implement it? The Republican Party of Texas platform must be more than paper—it must become policy.
Let me be clear: Texas will not stay red by default. It will only stay red if we fight for it, together.
We must stop looking at today’s Texas through yesterday’s lens. The winds are shifting—and unless we shift our mindset, recommit to our mission, and revive the movement from the bottom up—we will lose this state.
It starts with you.
Support candidates who actually represent your values—even if they aren’t backed by big names or big wallets. Get involved in local elections. Help shape party platforms. Educate your neighbors. Call out compromise. And above all, lead with faith, truth, and courage.
As I’ve said before, “The last 20+ years of Republican dominance in Texas may have Republicans feeling a sense of ‘Red State’ comfort—which can be dangerously deceptive. History shows Texas could be red today and turn blue tomorrow… if we ignore the signs and fail to act.”
Let’s not allow the death of true conservatism in Texas to happen on our watch.
We can still reclaim the mission. We can still revive the movement. But only if we do it now—boldly, unapologetically, and together.
God bless Texas.
#ForeverFaithful #PersonalCommentary #RedTexas
Humbly,
Dr. Tim Westley