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How the Democrats won back the US-Mexico border
Democrats won all 10 congressional districts along the US-Mexico border in Tuesday’s midterm elections, reversing the Republican gains Donald Trump made there in 2024. The result suggests that the border region’s political shift towards Republicans was not sustained, and Democrats made larger gains there than across the country overall.
Two districts in Texas, the 15th and 23rd, changed from Republican to Democratic control. In border districts where at least half the vote had been counted, the median shift towards Democrats compared with 2024 was 23 percentage points, against 14.1 points nationwide. In Starr County, which Trump won by 16 points in 2024, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico held a 55.8-point lead; Democrats also widened their margins in Hidalgo and Cameron counties.
In short
- Democrats won all 10 US-Mexico border congressional districts.
- Two Texas districts flipped from Republican to Democratic control.
- The median shift towards Democrats was 23 points.
Explained simply
The US–Mexico border region includes communities on both sides of the boundary, but in US elections its residents vote in local, state and federal races. The area includes several congressional districts in Texas, whose representatives are elected to the House of Representatives in Washington.
For many years, border communities in Texas generally backed Democrats, though some shifted towards Republicans in 2024. The two main parties compete for control of Congress, and changes in closely contested districts can affect which party has more influence over laws and government oversight.
Border counties such as Starr, Hidalgo and Cameron are home to large Hispanic populations, but voters’ choices vary across the region. Election results there can show whether a party’s support is holding among groups and communities that may be important in future elections.