By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
That was Democratic congressional candidate Evan Hunt’s assessment during a virtual town hall this week as he made the case that Texas’ 3rd Congressional District may be more competitive than many political observers believe.
Hunt, who is challenging Republican Congressman Keith Self in November, argued that some longtime Republican voters no longer recognize the party they once supported.
The comment came in response to a question about how a Democrat could realistically compete in a district that has historically favored Republicans.
Asked afterward to elaborate, Hunt pointed to conversations he has had with voters on the campaign trail.
“Countless people in Collin County have told me that they are lifelong Republicans who are voting for Democrats this cycle,” Hunt said. “They say that they didn’t leave the Republican Party, the Republican Party under Trump left them.”
The town hall touched on immigration, government reform, gun policy, water resources and Hunt’s effort to unseat Self in November.
Why Evan Hunt Thinks the Race Is Competitive
In responses to follow-up questions from TX3DNews after the town hall, Hunt pointed to recent turnout numbers as one reason he believes Democrats may have a better opportunity in TX-03 than many political observers assume.
“Other than thousands of people showing up for Talarico rallies and No Kings protests, the primary vote is the best indicator that this race is winnable,” Hunt said.
Hunt noted that Democrats received roughly 60,000 votes in the primary compared to approximately 79,000 Republican votes. He also pointed out that about 20,000 Republican primary voters did not support Self.
“That means anything is possible in November,” Hunt said.
The argument reflects a broader theme Hunt returned to throughout the town hall: that voter frustration with government and political institutions is creating opportunities for candidates outside the traditional partisan divide.
Trump, Impeachment and Government Reform
Hunt was equally direct when asked whether he would support impeachment proceedings if Democrats regain control of the House.
“I think Trump is the worst president in history,” Hunt said.
However, Hunt said he would oppose impeachment efforts pursued solely for political reasons.
“I am against impeachment for show,” he said.
Instead, Hunt argued Congress should focus on what he described as structural reforms, including congressional term limits, restrictions on stock trading by lawmakers, campaign finance changes and ethics reforms for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Throughout the evening, Hunt repeatedly returned to concerns about public trust in government and the influence of money and special interests in politics.
Immigration Draws Some of the Strongest Responses
During the town hall, Hunt criticized recent increases in federal funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“I don’t think they should have given a dollar more to ICE,” Hunt said.
In follow-up comments provided to TX3DNews after the town hall, Hunt expanded on his criticism of current ICE operations.
“Anybody who wants to wear a mask and dress like a Navy Seal should go back to the border,” Hunt said.
“The majority of funding being used for bonuses and massive detention centers should be transitioned to local and state police to scale with our population growth and enforce catching the ‘worst, first.'”
Hunt also called for expanding immigration courts and said undocumented offenders arrested for crimes should move through expedited deportation proceedings while maintaining constitutional due process protections.
“We can let friendly neighborhood police catch criminals,” Hunt said. “If those criminals are also undocumented, then they should be transitioned to immigration courts for expedited deportation, in accordance with constitutional due process.”
Similar Concerns Across a Diverse District
Asked after the town hall what had surprised him most during the campaign, Hunt pointed to the similarities between voters across the district.
TX-03 now stretches beyond Collin County into six East Texas counties, creating a district that includes both rapidly growing suburbs and rural communities.
“I originally thought that people in rural communities to the east would have vastly different concerns than the folks in Collin County,” Hunt said. “But they don’t.”
According to Hunt, voters throughout the district consistently raise concerns about public education, healthcare, immigration reform and the rising cost of living.
“There is a common understanding that big money and special interests have infected our politics,” Hunt said. “There is a common desire for bold reforms, like term limits, to fix it.”
The town hall also included discussions on gun policy, defense spending, water resources, climate policy and Supreme Court reform.
Looking Ahead to November
Hunt will face Self in November in a district that has historically favored Republicans.
While Hunt argues political shifts and voter frustration have created an opening for Democrats, Republicans point to the district’s voting history and continued support for issues such as border security, public safety and conservative governance as evidence that TX-03 remains firmly in GOP territory.
Whether Hunt’s belief that some longtime Republicans are reconsidering their political loyalties translates into votes will be tested this fall.
Editor’s Note: Additional comments from Hunt were provided in response to follow-up questions submitted after the town hall.
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