Webb County flips to red for first time in 100 years as Trump wins majority vote

WEBB COUNTY, Tex. (KGNS) - For the first time in more than 100 years, Webb County has flipped to red in a presidential race. In a historic shift, more than 50% of the votes in the county went to former President Donald Trump, marking a significant change in the county's voting patterns. The last time a Republican candidate won the majority of Webb County's votes was in the 1912 presidential election.

On Tuesday night, November 5, Trump secured 50.62% of the vote in Webb County, while Vice President Kamala Harris received 48.46%, according to the Webb County Administrative Offices. More than 66,000 registered voters cast their ballots in this year's general election.

Many Laredoans were shocked by the outcome. "I'm surprised he won Webb County, but I'm not surprised he won the election," said one voter. Another added, "My impression was Webb County and Laredo have always been Democratic, so I was surprised and I'm not happy about the outcome."

But there was a shift in the general elections this year. "I was in shock, but I am part of that group because I did vote Republican. I voted for Obama, Joe Biden, and I feel like not a lot has changed," said one voter who noted the change in their political alignment.

Webb County has traditionally been a Democratic stronghold. However, over recent election cycles, the county has seen an increase in Republican support. According to the U.S. Elections Atlas , since the 2012 election between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, there has been a steady rise in Republican voters, while the number of Democratic voters has slightly declined.

Webb County Republican Chair Jose Salazar saw the shift coming. "The Biden and Harris administration happened, and a lot of people realized the policies were not going to be working," he said.

On the other hand, Webb County Democratic Chair Sylvia Bruni expressed disappointment, saying, "22% of the total eligible voters decided that we were going to turn red. We did not turn red. We simply stayed quiet when it came to voting for a woman president."

Despite the division in political opinion, many voters expressed a desire for change. The shift in Webb County follows a similar trend in neighboring Zapata County, which turned red during the 2020 presidential election — a county that had previously voted Democratic for years.

As political dynamics continue to evolve in Webb County, the results of this election mark a turning point in local voting history, leaving many eager to see what the future holds for both parties in the region.

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