Connecting today’s news with the research & opinion you need

It’s Happening

What to Know: Today is Election Day. But in all likelihood, we won’t know who our next president is on Election Night, and delays could spark some unrest.

The TPPF Take: The U.S. Constitution is robust and ready for challenges such as this.

“Lawsuits will be filed in many states, with Republicans seeking to uphold state law and Democrats seeking relief from state law,” says TPPF’s Kevin Roberts. “The Constitution is remarkably resilient in challenging times, and the American people should give it time to work.”

A Blue Wave?

What to Know: Strong early voting numbers in Texas are causing a lot of speculation on an impending “blue wave” of Democratic votes—and Democratic control—of deep-red Texas.

The TPPF Take: Don’t believe the hype; President Trump will likely win Texas handily.

“If you drill down into the numbers, you can infer what sort of voter is turning out,” says TPPF’s Chuck DeVore. “Republican voters are ahead of where they were four years ago, when President Trump won over Hillary Clinton by 9 points. You’re going to have a massive turnout on Election Day, and those voters are going to skew very heavily toward Trump.”

Down-Ballot Races

What to Know: Although the presidential race is important, it’s not the only thing on the ballot. Texas voters will also decide on more than $10 billion of local bond measures. The biggest item is Dallas ISD’s $3.7 billion bond proposition—the largest bond in Texas history.

The TPPF Take: Even in the midst of major economic downturn and a partial shutdown, liberal local governments want to spend $10 billion they don’t have. To the extent that voters allow it, this radical borrowing could spur higher taxes and bigger government.

“For Texans worried about sky-high tax bills and soaring public debt, there’s a lot on the line today,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “Voters must choose wisely. What gets decided today will have major consequences tomorrow.”