‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ Author Responds To Texas Going Blue In Midterms: “It Was All In The Binder”

James Talarico’s midterm victory over Republican Ken Paxton made him Texas’s first Democratic senator since 1988. The result echoed the plot of Casey McQuiston’s novel *Red, White & Royal Blue*, prompting the author to joke that the state’s political shift had been “all in the binder”.

In the story, Alex Claremont-Diaz devises a strategy to turn Texas blue and help his mother, President Ellen Claremont, win re-election. McQuiston replied to a social media post about Talarico’s win with the binder reference, while fans credited Alex’s fictional impact. The film’s sequel, *Red White & Royal Wedding*, has been shot and is awaiting a Prime Video release date.