East Texas Republicans ran their campaigns differently than the rest of the state by bucking culture war rhetoric

Reporting from Burke, Huff asks why Republican state legislators in East Texas drew such different results from statewide candidates. She pairs voter interviews with district returns and asks what it means to have a representative known for showing up or helping a resident with a problem.

In Nacogdoches, Republican state Rep. Joanne Shofner received 71% while Democrat James Talarico received 42% in a different race. Two incoming Republican state representatives each drew close to 75% in their respective races. A political scientist points to casework, county relationships and district projects as possible explanations.