Gas prices in Texas have surged over the past year, reshaping voter sentiment ahead of a closely watched Senate race between Democratic state representative James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton.
A gallon of regular gas now costs $3.68 in Texas, up from $2.59 a year ago, according to AAA. Diesel has climbed more than 80%, from $3.18 to $5.79. The increases follow soaring energy costs tied to the war in Iran.
Several Texas drivers reported the strain. Alina Cardenas, a 19-year-old studying radiology, said she is cutting back on driving and staying home more. Tom L, 40, a data analyst, spends about $400 a month on gas, double what he spent a year ago. Diamond M, a warehouse worker, estimates gas now takes up about 20% of her take-home pay and fills up only on Fridays to stretch her tank through the week.
Cardenas said higher gas prices have "probably made me go more Democrat" and plans to vote for Talarico. Diamond M also intends to vote for Talarico, believing he can lower costs. Tom L, who voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election, said he is "not sure if that was the right decision."
Tom Seng, a professor of energy finances at Texas Christian University, noted that while Texans pay less than the national average, they are paying significantly more than a year ago. "People on Tuesday morning, before they go to the polls... the last thing that they're probably going to see before they get to the polling place? The price of gasoline," Seng said.
On the eve of the election, Trump stood before an oil tanker in Corpus Christi to announce the arrival of the first million barrels of oil from a Venezuela deal and declared at a Lubbock rally that "we're celebrating the greatest oil victory in history." At a Georgia rally, Trump said higher gas prices are bringing "hundreds of billions of dollars" to American gas companies, including Exxon and Chevron, both based in Texas. "We're making a frickin' fortune," he told the crowd.