Statewide races are effectively tied as voters describe different priorities
At Deer Park High School in the Houston suburb, Houston Public Media’s Bianca Seward interviewed voters at the tailgate, in the concession line and in the stands during the school’s homecoming game. Seward described Deer Park as a conservative suburb of Houston. The segment opened with host Scott Detrow noting that Texas has been a safe Republican state for three decades, but that polling suggests next month’s midterms could be tight.
Seward cited recent polling showing Democrats Gina Hinojosa and James Talarico in competitive races against Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, with both contests effectively tied.
Taylor came to watch her niece Sydney Wilber, identified in the stadium announcement as a junior co-captain and two-time All-American. Taylor, a Democrat living in Deer Park, said she had seen campaign signs on back roads. “The other day, I took some back roads, and I saw two houses that had Talarico and Gina Hinojosa signs outside. And it made me so hopeful because I do not remember seeing that during Kamala Harris’ run,” she said. Taylor added, “If we can do it, this is the year.”
Eric Schutlz attended with his wife and children whenever he could. He described the weekly game as a community gathering with the same principle as going to church, bringing families together to support the band, football players and cheerleaders. For this year’s election, Schutlz said, his priorities would be children and older people: “Elderly paved the way, kids are the future. So those are important topics that need to be taken care of.” He said he would vote Republican and expected Texas to remain Republican: “The dividing line comes in bigger cities, but when you get in smaller communities, they’re more like-minded. And, you know, I think it’ll stay the same.”
Nate Esser, sitting a couple dozen bleachers down, said, “I’m hoping people will wake up and realize that current administration is not doing anything for them right now.” He cited inflation, the economy, gas prices, fairness and equal rights for trans people, gay people and people of color as concerns. Esser said his 401K was doing great, but that this did not benefit most people, and he was “sick of this ICE crap.”
Seward said immigration enforcement had taken center stage in political debates across Texas after a series of incidents involving ICE agents and allegations of excessive force. Esser guessed he was one of the few people in the community speaking that way. Seward told him she had found “a mixed bag” and answered, “Fifty/fifty.” Esser said the response surprised him and made him feel good.
Stephanie Peterson managed the concession booth, made sure the shelves stayed stocked and watched rising prices affect both the booth and her family’s pantry. She said: “Just the prices going up, it’s killing us. Basically, now you have to have two income family just to survive, and we don’t have that. So it’s like you don’t know how you’re going to survive anymore.”
Peterson, who voted for Trump in 2024, said she might stay home on Election Day. “I don’t know. It depends. I’m undecided. I’ll just say that.” Seward said that in the fourth quarter of the election, either party would need voters ready to “jump off the bench.”
The interviewed voters did not share a single political outlook. Taylor saw signs of Democratic opportunity, Schutlz expected the state to remain Republican, Esser pressed economic and social issues, and Peterson remained undecided about whether to vote.
As the game came to a close, fans who had described different priorities and desired Election Day outcomes continued cheering for the same team under the Friday-night lights.