ELECTORAL VOTES 34

2008 ELECTION Likely McCain

ABOUT
TEXAS

Texas became a state in December 1845, participating in its first presidential election in 1848. Texas seceded from the Union in 1861 and was not included in the 1864 or 1868 elections. From 1872 through 1976, Texas went Democratic in the vast majority of elections. However, that changed in 1980, and Texas has sided with the Republicans ever since. Having a Bush on the ticket each election from 1980 through 2004 (except 1996) has helped make Texas a reliably “red” state. In 2004, George W. Bush won the state by a margin of 61 percent to 38 percent over John Kerry. Texas’ population has grown rapidly in recent decades, and its 34 electoral votes are second only to California’s 55. Depending on the results of the 2010 census, the state could gain up to three more electoral votes in 2012.