The midterms did more than change which party will control Congress for the next year. By electing Gina Hinojosa governor, Texas voters ended a decade-long partnership between Austin and Washington on the border and set the state on a collision course with the Trump administration over immigration enforcement.
Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa speaks after election. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)President Trump said Thursday that he will step in if Texas' incoming Democratic administration abandons the state's role in border enforcement. A reporter put the question to him directly in the Oval Office.
"Are you ready to reinforce the Texas southern border now that democratic, the new democratic governor is removing state manpower from border defense?" the reporter asked.
"I am sure that the new governor is going to want to have security of this Texas border," Trump said. "There were people on television two days ago saying how it's like living in heaven compared to living in hell when Biden was there. And I'm sure they'll continue my policy. And if they don't continue my policy, I will."
Democrats in Texas also captured the attorney general's office and flipped the Texas House, giving the party control over the levers that have made Texas the federal government's most important state partner on immigration. Republicans held the Texas Senate.
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