texas

Supporters Believe Hillary Clinton Could Turn Texas Blue

Hillary Clinton supporters in North Texas say the presumptive Democratic nominee has a shot at winning the longtime red Lone Star State in the November presidential election.

"I think it's possible," said Mary Clare Fabishak, with the group Metrocrest Democrats.

Texas hasn't voted for a Democrat in 40 years, not since Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter beat incumbent President Gerald Ford in 1976.

"The Republicans are shifting at some levels, and I think many of them will find that Trump is unsupportable," said Fabishak.

In a recent interview with New York Magazine, Clinton said, "if black and Latino voters come out and vote, we could win Texas."

"That's what we're trying to do, get more and more people involved," said Democratic activist Melody Vincent, of Denton County.

"I fully expect this to be turning at least purple come November," said Kathleen Jensen, of Highland Park.

At several watch parties in Dallas County Tuesday night, Democrats celebrated Clinton becoming the first woman in American history projected to win a major party's presidential nomination.

"I have waited my entire life for this," said Rachel Baker Ford, of Garland.

"For me, personally, it means equal pay for women and many of the other things that we have been striving for," said Laura Irvin, of Dallas.

State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, a Clinton superdelegate, thinks Hillary Clinton could win the Lone Star State.

"I think that Texas could go blue, yes. But realistically it gets down to the turnout. And if we get the turnout that I know that we should be able to get, then we will see some surprises in these elections," said West.

West expects a big effort at the Democratic State Convention in San Antonio, which starts June 16.

"If we continue to have Trump say the things that he's saying, spewing the venom that he is spewing, then not only Democrats but independents and some Republicans are going to have to take a good hard look at as to whether or not they'll actually vote for him. I didn't say support him publically, but actually vote for him," West said.

Republicans have won the state by double digits in every presidential election since 1980, except for two – when Bill Clinton was on the ballot.

Mark Montgomery, chairman of the Dallas County Republican Party, says he and other party leaders are confident Texas will remain red.

"In the past few years, the Texas Democratic Party has made tremendous strides in building a modern, data-driven state political party. We are now leading efforts across the state to build the permanent infrastructure necessary to win," said Tariq Thowfeek, communications director for the Texas Democratic Party.

NBC 5's Julie Fine contributed to this report.

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