For every Presidential election since 1976, the state of Texas has been a Republican stronghold. Every couple of years since, we have gotten the same ridiculous itches of turning Texas blue, and it never happens. But after years of GOP rule, Democrats finally achieved their goal last week, turning the Senate seat blue, along with essentially the entire state government.

It is a drastic shift for Texans, many of whom have grown up only knowing Texas as a red state. The shift now puts Texas' 40 electoral votes potentially on the table in 2028, which has Democrats riding high and mighty. They feel the momentum is with them, people agree with their ideology, and those important electoral votes will go to them in 2028. But, as they have been for a week, they are misreading the mandate handed to them.

If they are not careful, too, then all that work to turn Texas "blue," might go up in a cascading cloud of smoke.

Political commentator Presley Baker says the Democrats, as usual, are spiking the football a bit early, as they have a fine line to walk in the Lone Star State.

"There are things important to Texas, oil and gas, the energy sector, no gun control, no income taxes...all of these are important to Texas," she says.

They are not just important because they fit true native Texan values. They are important because the majority of those are the lifeblood of our economy. Oil and gas in particular are what Texas thrives upon. If the Democrats start attacking that, along with agriculture, they are in for quite the battle.

If they come into office frothing at the mouth like a rabid animal to institute their socialistic agenda, Texas will be deep ruby red in just two years. In short, they are taking Texas for granted and believe they have already won. Which is not all that different from the GOP. The GOP for years has taken Texas for granted as automatic wins, with Governor Greg Abbott barely campaigning this last election cycle. Just assuming it was in the bag.

"Texas cannot be taken for granted because you have very independent minded voters...Republicans need to see it not just as a stop in 2028, but a place where they need to be pouring in money for advertising and campaign rallies," says Baker.

So, moderation for Democrats is going to be the key, which is a tall order. If there is anything the Democrat party is bad at, among many things, it is relating to voters. Again, if they go into Austin guns blazing, trying to repeal the values Texans hold dear, they are in for a very rude awakening.

It could also spell complete disaster for the Democrats in 2028.

"If we see a candidate in 2028 rejecting Trump voters, rejecting and vilifying Republicans...we are not going to see the same people show up for Democrats in Texas," Baker says.

Democrats see the midterm victories as a mandate for their agenda. In reality, it was people just desperately wanting to stick it to President Trump because gas prices were one whole dollar higher than a year ago.

If they continue misreading the mandate, Texas might not be the big kahuna they are aiming it to be.

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