From the bleachers to the ballot box, a community weighs a changing Texas – Houston Public Media

From the bleachers to the ballot box, a community weighs a changing Texas  Houston Public Media

At a Deer Park High School football game outside Houston, voters grapple with rising costs, immigration and shifting political loyalties as Democrats mount competitive challenges in two of Texas’ highest-profile races. To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code: In the bleachers at any high school football game across Texas, you'll be hard-pressed to find something fans love more. Eric Schultz called high school football in Texas a "function of the community." He came to the Deer Park High School homecoming game in the suburbs of Houston with his wife and kids even without a player on the field. "No matter if you're in a big city or rural, rural Texas where I grew up everybody goes to the game," Schultz said.

"You know it's the same principle as going to church." The football field remains common ground for Texans in a state where the political tide appears to be shifting. Once reliably red for Republicans, this year Texas is flashing shades of blue. From the economy to immigration, voters across the Lone Star State are wrestling with the top political issues while they consider the candidates. On the ballot this midterm election are two historically close races. Democrats Gina Hinojosa and James Talarico are forcing their Republican counterparts, Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General