00:01For the first time in a generation and some Texans are waking up to a blue reality.
00:07The Democrats swept the state with James Tallarico winning the Senate seat.
00:11The first Democrat to do so in 38 years.
00:15But they also had other victories in the governor's race and down the ballot.
00:19And this is really significant because Republicans have been able to rely on Texas as a conservative
00:24state for so long.
00:26Now, we're in Dallas, which is a democratic city and I've seen people along the street
00:32celebrating the last night's results.
00:34But we're at a local smokehouse and I'm speaking with Gabriel Oduña, who is an independent
00:39voter but this year voted for James Tallarico.
00:42Gabriel, first of all, what do you make of the results?
00:45I'm still in shock.
00:47So, I mean, I thought they had a chance but I didn't think it was going to be like that.
00:51So I'm in shock just would be the answer that I would give you for that about the results.
00:57And why did you vote for James Tallarico this year?
01:00Honestly, it was just more of, it was, I'm an independent so I always vote on the issues.
01:05And at this point, I mean, I thought we just had so many issues kind of snowballing.
01:10And honestly, we just need the bleeding to stop.
01:12And what I mean by that is tariffs, the war, you know, immigration crackdowns that have affected
01:18not only us here locally, but also family members outside in different states.
01:24So it was just a number of things that ended up affecting the bottom line, not just for
01:29us, but for a lot of people.
01:31So what is it that you want James Tallarico to focus on when he goes to Washington?
01:37I would really want him to just stick to what he said.
01:40Just focus on affordability and we'll see what happens after that.
01:44And I think that's always been my concern.
01:46I think that's why I'm an independent.
01:48It's because unfortunately, you know, people talk, but then very few things are done.
01:54So that's what I would say is hopefully he just focuses in on that and then we'll go from there.
01:59And finally, do you think the results last night will change the state of Texas?
02:05Well, no, I don't think so.
02:07I think it's more a referendum, you know, if you're asking just my feeling on it, because
02:11I know I wake up and I still feel as a Texan.
02:13Like I said, I might be an independent, but I can tell you that I have friends across the
02:18political aisle and they still woke up the same way today.
02:22So, but I just know that this, these issues that just kind of snowballed together affected
02:27you doesn't matter what what party you are, it's going to affect you one way or another.
02:32And I just still think we still have that Texan DNA.
02:36And I think we're going to give this a shot and then kind of go from there.
02:39So Gabriel, thank you so much.
02:41I can't stress how significant and momentous the results were last night,
02:46because this has been a conservative stronghold for so long.
02:50And we're seeing this trend across other states right across the country.
02:53And Republicans are now left with some major questions about,
02:57what does this mean for the future of the party?
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