TEMPLE, Texas — Twyla Lowry plans to do something this November she could not have imagined doing even a few months ago: She’s going to vote for a Democrat.
That would be Gina Hinojosa, running to prevent Republican Greg Abbott from winning a record fourth term as governor. Hinojosa, 52, has a fairly standard platform of Democratic issues — end state school vouchers, and lower health care, grocery and utility costs. She has even promised to send every Texan $1,500 from the state rainy day fund.
But for Lowry, a retired social worker and special education teacher in this Central Texas city of about 100,000, all that matters is that Hinojosa wants to impose a moratorium on data center projects and Abbott doesn’t.
“He’s pushing for them. Everything’s so shady,” said Lowry, 56, who had voted for Abbott all three times.
Lowry, a conservative Christian and lifelong Republican, said she’s not switching parties. In fact, she plans to vote for Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in his race for U.S. Senate. But her willingness to split her ticket for even one race is a sign the Texas political landscape — at least this cycle — is scrambling in unprecedented ways that could result in surprising statewide wins for the Democratic Party.