Where the Rio Grande Valley shapes one of the nation's most Latino media markets
This South Texas media market is among the most heavily Hispanic in the United States, with Democratic margins historically wide but showing measurable rightward shifts in recent cycles as working-class border communities reassess party allegiances.
| County | Pop. | Margin | Dem | Rep | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hidalgo | 892K | R+2.9 | 104,517 | 110,760 | 217,265 | 15.3% |
| Hidalgo | 828K | R+2.9 | 104,517 | 110,760 | 217,265 | 15.3% |
| Hidalgo | 703K | R+2.9 | 104,517 | 110,760 | 217,265 | 15.3% |
| Hidalgo | 569K | R+2.9 | 104,517 | 110,760 | 217,265 | 15.3% |
| Cameron | 426K | R+5.8 | 54,258 | 60,991 | 116,153 | 8.2% |
| Cameron | 419K | R+5.8 | 54,258 | 60,991 | 116,153 | 8.2% |
| Cameron | 383K | R+5.8 | 54,258 | 60,991 | 116,153 | 8.2% |
| Cameron | 335K | R+5.8 | 54,258 | 60,991 | 116,153 | 8.2% |
| Starr | 66K | R+16.0 | 6,862 | 9,487 | 16,421 | 1.2% |
| Starr | 63K | R+16.0 | 6,862 | 9,487 | 16,421 | 1.2% |
| Starr | 61K | R+16.0 | 6,862 | 9,487 | 16,421 | 1.2% |
| Starr | 54K | R+16.0 | 6,862 | 9,487 | 16,421 | 1.2% |
| Willacy | 22K | R+3.3 | 2,673 | 2,856 | 5,563 | 0.4% |
| Willacy | 20K | R+3.3 | 2,673 | 2,856 | 5,563 | 0.4% |
| Willacy | 20K | R+3.3 | 2,673 | 2,856 | 5,563 | 0.4% |
| Willacy | 20K | R+3.3 | 2,673 | 2,856 | 5,563 | 0.4% |
| Group | Local | National |
|---|---|---|
▶Hispanic / Latino(18) | 89.8% | 19.3% |
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 8.6% | 57.4% |
▶Asian(6) | 0.8% | 6.0% |
▶Black / African American(7) | 0.6% | 12.2% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(3) | 0.4% | 0.9% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(7) | 0.1% | 0.9% |
Catholic-Evangelical edge: +52.2pp (vs national 4.5pp). A strongly Catholic-leaning religious profile, which nationally correlates with Democratic-leaning urban and suburban communities.
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents | US Pop | US Adherents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.7% | 74.4% | — | — | |
| 10.4% | 17.7% | — | — | |
| 3.4% | 5.9% | — | — | |
LDS (Mormon) | 1.2% | 2.0% | — | — |
| 1.1% | 1.9% | — | — | |
Non-religiousPopulation | 41.3% | — | — | — |
Who lives in the Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen media market? 4,881,911 residents across 16 counties.
17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree — 16pp below the national average. Places with similar education levels vote R+22 on average nationally.
Scale, voting-age share, and this geography's footprint inside the national electorate.
Income, attainment, and ownership indicators that often shape coalition structure and turnout behavior.
Age structure, language use, and nativity signals that explain how this geography differs from state and nation.
| Offices | Margin A | Margin B | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| President vs Senate | R+4.4 | D+5.5 | 10.0pp |