OK, Texas Dems. What’cha got?

Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa holds a news conference in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

OK, so every statewide office in Texas on the ballot last week was won by a Democrat. The last time that happened, the world was vastly different. You couldn’t Google anything because Google didn’t exist. Netflix hadn’t shipped the first DVD to a consumer. If you wanted to watch a movie, you either went to the movie theater or you rewound a VHS tape before returning it to Blockbuster.

If you had a cell phone, you were still paying for calls by the minute. No one had even thought about texting.

You didn’t call an Uber. It didn’t exist. In 1995 you likely had never sent, received or even heard of email.

In 1995, Texas had approximately 18.7 million residents. Today, that number sits at an estimated 31.7 million.

It has indeed been a very long time since the Dems were in charge here in Texas and much has changed – most of it for the better.

So, Texas Dems, congratulations. You guys won. And please note that there is very little (read: almost none) squawking from our side about the election being stolen or that there was some sort of nefarious “collusion” with someone or another that cost Republicans their rightful victory.

You guys won. Straight up. Again, congratulations. But like the doctor said after he delivered my first-born daughter, “Now comes the hard part.”

For you crowing Democrats, the time will soon be at hand to show us what’cha got. What’s your plan for Texas, arguably right now the most successful state in the Union?

It had better be good because you’re inheriting decades of success under the Republicans. The pressure is on you guys because in a lot of ways, you have no place to go but down.

Here are the facts.

Under Republican leadership, Texas has led the nation in job creation for so long now that it hardly makes news. According to the most recent data Texas is:

• Number one in net payroll jobs added.
• Number one in corporate headquarters relocations.
• Number one (for the 14^th consecutive year) in corporate facilities expansions.
• Number two in net domestic migration (behind Florida to which fed up New Yorkers are fleeing).
• Number one in population growth.
• Number one in Fortune 500 company headquarters.

All these things add together to create opportunity up and down the socio-economic ladder – from the young person just entering the workforce and starting adult life to the 63-year-old successful businessman with available capital to invest.

Those 13 million people who came to Texas since you Dems were last in charge didn’t come here for the pleasant summertime weather. They came because Texas is arguably the most successful state in the Union and it offers – or at least it has offered – great opportunity for families to have a nice life.

I have lived long enough to remember when California was the state with all this good data behind it. But you Democrats took over California. Now look at it.

So, Dems, what’cha got?

Is California your template for Texas?