Latino Voters, Texas and California Politics, and America’s Political Realignment

Dave Spencer and Kurt Bardella are joined by political strategist Mike Madrid for a special episode breaking down Latino voter shifts, the growing volatility in Texas and California politics, and why both parties are struggling to connect with frustrated voters heading into the midterms. In this episode, the group discusses whether Texas is becoming more competitive than Republicans want to admit, how tariffs and rising costs are reshaping Latino voter sentiment, and why Mike Madrid believes both parties are struggling to understand where voters are politically right now. They also discuss Ken Paxton’s political rise, whether James Talarico could emerge as a serious statewide Democratic contender, and how Trump may have damaged Republican momentum with working-class Latino voters. The conversation then turns to California politics, including the governor’s race, Gavin Newsom’s political future, and whether Democrats are struggling to define what the party stands for beyond opposition to Trump. Mike Madrid also explains why populism continues reshaping American politics and why he believes the country’s political realignment is far from over. 1:26 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast – Special Episode 2:14 Mike Madrid on Why Texas Is Back in Play 5:29 Latino Voters, Tariffs, and Trump’s Economic Problem 16:13 James Talarico and the Texas Senate Race 19:24 California’s Governor Race and the Democratic Identity Crisis 25:37 Gavin Newsom, California, and the Democratic Future Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.