Both Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden have made stops in Texas over the past two weeks.
The president spoke at the LBJ Library and stopped at Houston City Hall Monday, where former Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is lying in state. The vice president gave speeches in Dallas and Houston last week; she will speak at Lee's memory service Thursday.
Both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have also attended fundraisers and private events during their visits.
"This is the kind of soft attention that can happen as a result of other things, but it may have an effect on the Democrats' bottom line," says University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus.
Rottinghaus says candidates for national office often have fundraisers in Texas, but have not considered the state competitive. No Democrat has won statewide office in Texas since Bob Bullock was elected to a second term as lieutenant governor in 1994. In that same election, Republican George W. Bush defeated Democratic incumbent Ann Richards.
"Texas has long been a very Republican state, but I think Democrats have in the very far back of their minds, if they spend some time here and invest a little money, this is going to be a change moment for the state," Rottinghaus says.
He says Donald Trump may be less popular among undecided voters, and Senator Ted Cruz may face another tough reelection campaign after beating Beto O'Rourke by just 2.6% in 2018.
"There are a lot of factors that would have to fall into place for a Democrat, even Colin Allred, to win in this state," Rottinghaus says.
Rottinghaus says Texas Democrats may be laying the groundwork to try to succeed in future elections. He says the Democratic Party has lacked manpower and money to keep up with Republicans.
"It's going to take a lot of work, so Democrats might be hoping to plant some seeds now and have it organically grow," he says.
He says growing and maintaining a more organized structure could help Democrats reach more people in future elections even if they fail this year. Rottinghaus says Democrats can benefit from people in high office delivering speeches here because it can help build interest in the party and "build their bench."
Democrats running for statewide office have said the party needs to work to potential voters who are not participating now.
"For Democrats, turnout isn't the only goal," Rottinghaus says. "It's really turnout in particular demographics that are the most critical: younger voters, voters of color and voters in those big, urban, progressive areas. Typically, people who don't vote tend to match the profile Democrats would get support from."
He says one way to "juice up turnout" is to draw politicians from higher office like the president and vice president.
In 2020, Donald Trump beat Joe Biden in Texas 52-47%. In 2016, Trump beat Hillary Clinton 53-43%.
In 2020, Senator John Cornyn was reelected, beating Mary Jennings Hegar 54-44%.
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