Texas: A Voter-Suppressed State, Not a Red One
This past week, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made headlines at Texas college campuses when she said, "Texas is not a red state, it is a voter-suppressed state." Her words highlight a long-standing issue in Texas: a history of suppressing voters, particularly those from marginalized communities like women, people of color, and younger generations. With a crucial election on the horizon, understanding the state's legacy of voter suppression and why voting is so essential has never been more urgent.
Texas has a long and complex history of voter suppression, dating back to the post-Civil War era. After the 15th Amendment gave Black men the right to vote, Texas leaders quickly introduced measures to strip them of that power. Poll taxes, literacy tests, and blatant intimidation were weaponized to strip Black citizens of their political power. The Jim Crow era only intensified these practices, and while federal civil rights legislation in the 1960s brought some relief, voter suppression in Texas did not vanish—it evolved.
Modern voter suppression in Texas takes many forms: strict voter ID laws, the reduction of polling places in minority and low-income areas, and aggressive purges of voter rolls. These tactics disproportionately target communities of color, perpetuating the myth that Texas is a solidly "red" state. In reality, many Texans—especially women, young people, and Black and Latino communities—are systematically shut out of the electoral process. Their voices are silenced, not by lack of interest, but by a system designed to suppress their participation.
In recent years, Texas has doubled down on its suppression efforts. The 2021 passage of Senate Bill 7 introduced more barriers, making it harder to vote by mail and empowering poll watchers, raising concerns about increased voter intimidation. In 2023, new legislation continues to restrict access, with a focus on large, diverse urban areas like Houston. The state's hostile takeover of Harris County's election management, a county with a majority Black and Latino population, threatens local democracy and limits voter access. Even more alarmingly, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken aggressive steps to prevent counties from expanding voter registration efforts. In September 2024, Paxton threatened legal action against counties that mailed unsolicited voter registration forms, cutting off proactive attempts to register new voters, many of whom are from underrepresented communities.
Despite these challenges, voting remains one of the most powerful tools for creating change. Ocasio-Cortez’s statement serves as a rallying cry: Texas is not inherently a conservative state, but one where millions of voices are intentionally suppressed. Elections offer a chance to upend this narrative and push for policies that reflect the true needs of Texans such as policies that center on reproductive justice, healthcare access, education reform, and economic equality.
For women, people of color, and other marginalized groups in Texas, voting has never been easy. But it has always been vital. The fight against voter suppression requires participation and solidarity. Across the state, grassroots organizations are tirelessly registering voters, educating communities, and working to protect every Texan's right to vote. But these efforts need collective support, particularly from those with the most at stake.
Voting is not just about deciding who leads; it’s about asserting power. The power to shape policies that impact your body, your family, and your future. The power to fight for gender equality, racial justice, and economic fairness. In Texas, every vote is a declaration of resistance against a system that wants you to believe your voice doesn’t matter, but it does. Don’t let voter suppression win. Get informed, get organized, and above all else, vote.
