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

What Does it Mean?

What to Know: We still don’t know who the winner of the presidency is; we may not know for weeks.

The TPPF Take: Fear not! It’s a brand new day in Texas, and we can all be optimistic for the future.

“We’re in great spirits, because we woke up in Texas this morning, the greatest state in the greatest country in the history of the world,” says TPPF’s Kevin Roberts. “Over the next few days or even weeks, the outcomes of this election will not be clear. But whatever the outcome is, it will soon be time for us to come together as a nation.”

Changes Coming

What to Know: Exit polls show that President Trump gained support among minority voters.

The TPPF Take: Working class Americans are coming together across racial divides.

“I think we are seeing the emergence of a realignment of the conservative movement that is multiracial and multiethnic, and that should define the movement for the next decade at least,” says TPPF’s Josh Trevino. “The narrative has been that Trump’s election was the last gasp of white conservatives. But what we saw on Election Night is that while Trump lost support among whites, he gained support among Blacks and Hispanics.”

Bonds, Baby Bonds

What to Know: Texans approved much of the new debt proposed on Election Day—but not every bond got a thumbs up. In Dallas, voters rejected portions of the biggest bond package in Texas history.

The TPPF Take: Voters said NO to the “extras” in Dallas ISD’s $3.7 billion bond package. This was possible because state lawmakers passed a new law last session requiring school districts to break up their bonds by category of expense.

“Before this new law took effect, school districts were forcing voters to decide on massive single-item bond propositions filled with good things, bad things, and everything in-between. Now voters have more choice in the process,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “There’s still more work to do on the school district debt problem, but small reforms like this—which was championed by the Texas Public Policy Foundation—are helping to create a better system and a more informed voter."