The word "Republican" isn't synonymous with "pro-gun." Many are, of course, and others are simply anti-gun control. A select few are neither, but let's focus on the first two categories for a moment.
Because Texas Gun Rights has some tough words for all of them, but especially the second group.
Let's understand that "anti-gun control" isn't the same as "pro-gun." It means they'll oppose gun control that's pushed, but they won't back pro-gun measures. They'll hold the line and nothing else.
In some places, that's all you can really hope for anyway, so the difference is meaningless. States like California, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and so on are prime examples of where holding the status quo is about the best one can accomplish anyway.
But at the federal level, especially here and now, we can expect more.
Pro-Second Amendment voters are facing a stark reality heading into the 2026 midterm elections: raw enthusiasm and rhetoric won’t be enough — and early voting trends prove it.
Turnout Trends Are Shifting FAST
There’s no question that 2026 is not a routine primary year.
Across major Texas counties — including Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, and Travis — early voting in both parties is surging compared to previous cycles, especially among Democratic voters.
In some of these areas, turnout is up more than 50% compared to 2022 and 2024 — and Democrats are leading early vote totals in longtime GOP territory.
That’s significant.
Even partisan analysts are reporting scenarios where Democrat turnout is outpacing Republican participation in battleground counties that historically leaned GOP — a trend that cannot be ignored.
A Deep-Red Seat Just Flipped Blue: A WARNING SIGN
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If there were ever a wake-up call for the pro-gun movement, it came in Texas Senate District 9.
This district voted for Donald Trump by an astounding 17-point margin in 2024 — a deep-red stronghold.
And yet, in a low-turnout special election runoff, Democrat Taylor Rehmet defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss by more than 14 points, and was just sworn into office this week.
Let that sink in:
A district that Trump won by double digits flipped to a Democrat — not by a hair, but by a 14-point margin — in an election where barely 15% of registered voters bothered to cast ballots.
The argument here, and this is a solid one, is that if Republicans want to fire up their base, they need to step up and start delivering to that base. Tariffs weren't what they were focused on. Neither was illegal immigration, though that was important for many of us. Improved economics were, and seeing the restoration of our gun rights were.
So far, we've gotten a bit of the former and a bit of the latter, but not enough of either.
The Department of Justice, under Trump, has been schizophrenic about gun rights, defending them against state or local infringements, but defending federal infringements like the republic hinged on precisely those laws.
Then, Trump endorses a GOP gun-grabber in Tony Gonzales for the 23rd district of Texas. Yeah, he's a known quantity versus someone like YouTuber Brandon Herrera, but Herrera never allegedly cheated on his spouse to the point that his mistress allegedly set herself on fire, so he's got that going for him.
The problem is that we expected more and better. Yes, Trump was a little wishy-washy on gun rights in his first term, but since that didn't grant him any peace with regards to the Democrats or the media, I really thought he'd double down and be more pro-gun this time around. He's still better than I probably had any reason to hope, but still...
If the GOP wants the turnout in the midterms to potentially stave off a Democratic takeover of the House and Senate, the first thing they have to do is give Republican and right-leaning independents something to get excited about.
Some clear wins on guns beyond repealing the NFA tax, and just the tax, on suppressors and short-barreled long guns. Yeah, we're greedy, but we're the voters. We're entitled to wanting more.
