Texas Democrats discussing prospects for turning state blue — or at least purple

It might be hard to remember a time when Texas was a blue state, but that’s what it was until well into Lyndon Johnson’s presidency. 

Now that Texan demographics are changing, many are starting to wonder if the Lone Star state is going to turn from bright red to a bit more blue. As it turns out, the population is not the only factor influencing the state’s turn.

For the first time, big Democratic donors are starting to pour money into Texas in anticipation of it becoming a battleground state as early as the 2016 presidential election. And if Texas looks vulnerable, what would that mean for national politics?

Steve Mostyn is a trial lawyer in Texas and, in 2012, was one of Barack Obama’s biggest financial supporters. He’s starting to see Democratic backers from across the country getting interested in his home state and believes that 2016 might be a pivotal year.

“Texas is one of only four states that’s a majority minority. And we’re the only state that is a majority minority that is Republican,” he said. “We see the Democrats changing. And we see great possibilities here.”

And if Texas were to turn Democratic, the entire political landscape of the country would change.

“Because of the population and the growth and the delegates, it will change the entire political map,” Mostyn said.

Mostyn says he’s driven to change Texas because he’s dissatisfied with its present reality.

“We’re number one in 25-year-olds without a high school diploma. We are in the bottom of funding our schools. We’re broke as a state,” he said.

This isn’t a quick change though. Mostyn says turning Texas blue will take grass-roots organizing and significant funding — something, he adds, Texas hasn’t seen in a long time.

“We’ve seen it for the last 20 years leave Texas. For the first time now, I’m seeing money come back in. And that’s what I’m spending my time doing,” Mostyn said.

But Mostyn sees impact even more quickly if the federal courts redraw the Congressional districts in time for the 2014 elections.

“Then we should be able to pick up some Congressional seats,” he said.

The federal courts are considering challenges to the constitutionality of boundaries drawn by the Texas Legislature.

“In our local Texas House races and Texas Senate, we will begin to see the effects in 2014, because we’re going to pour money — we’re going gather and distribute money to those local races,” he said.