LUBBOCK, Texas — They share a roof, split the bills and attend the same university. But as Texas’ unexpectedly competitive Senate race takes center stage in West Texas, three college roommates have very different ideas about who should shape the state’s future.
The students attend Texas Tech University, where they’re balancing classes, career ambitions and newfound independence while navigating political differences that extend far beyond their shared apartment.
For Isabella, the election could shape her future career in oil and gas, an industry heavily influenced by government policy. For Kate, women’s healthcare and immigration are driving her support for Democrat James Talarico. And for Candy, rising everyday costs and concerns about public education are shaping her vote.
Their differences came into focus as President Donald Trump descended on Lubbock to rally alongside Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton on Tuesday. Across town, Democrat James Talarico was courting voters in a state Republicans have dominated for decades.
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Inside their cozy off-campus apartment, where laptops lie open, notebooks are spread out and favorite snacks are within arm’s reach, the three roommates spoke candidly with Fox News Digital about the issues shaping their political views — and how they navigate those differences under one roof.
“I don’t think we’ll flip anytime soon,” Isabella said of Talarico’s bid to turn Texas blue for the first time in more than three decades.
Kate, who voted for Talarico, sees things differently.
“I think, as a first-time voter, just in general, it’s exciting to just feel like you have the ability to make a change,” the 19-year-old who hails from Dallas said.
The competing perspectives come as the Texas Senate race has become a razor-thin contest, despite Trump’s nearly 14-point victory in the state in 2024.
A Fox News poll conducted in October found Paxton and Talarico tied at 49% among likely voters, underscoring the unusually competitive contest in a state where Republicans have maintained a firm grip on statewide politics since the 1990s.
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For Isabella, the election is closely tied to her career ambitions.
Studying oil and gas at Texas Tech, she said Republican policies offer a more favorable environment for the energy industry, particularly when it comes to pipeline construction and government regulations.
“I don’t think that there should be extreme regulations against exploration and production,” she said.
Kate, meanwhile, said her support for Talarico was driven largely by his positions on abortion and immigration.
“I think that women should have the right to their own bodies,” she said, expressing opposition to Texas’ near-total abortion ban.
She also praised Talarico’s approach to immigration enforcement, arguing that authorities should prioritize dangerous criminals rather than people working and contributing to their communities.
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Candy, 21, who grew up in Chico, Texas, said she voted for Talarico and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, citing public education, healthcare and affordability.
Candy said filling up her car now costs roughly $60 to $70, nearly double the $30 to $35 she previously paid. For a college student already juggling tuition, groceries and other living expenses, that extra cost every week adds up quickly, leaving less room in her budget.
“That 30 or 40 [dollars] could go toward other expenses,” she explained.
Despite supporting Democrats, Candy expressed uncertainty about whether Texas is ready for a broader political shift. “I believe there’s hope for Texas, but I don’t think Texas is as blue yet,” she said.
Kate expressed similar uncertainty, saying her experience in a college town has exposed her to more liberal viewpoints than she might not encounter elsewhere in the state.
“I hope it flips, but I also am not certain that it’d flip, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we didn’t flip,” Kate said.
For Isabella, the prospect of Texas electing a Democrat is considerably less appealing.
But despite their competing political views, the roommates have found common ground in an area that sometimes divides people: their shared living space.
Navigating those differences isn’t always easy. Political disagreements occasionally surface, but the students are learning that difficult conversations can offer opportunities to better understand one another without necessarily changing minds.
“I don’t think that politics should play a huge role in a friendship or in your living situation,” Isabella told Fox News Digital.
Kate expressed a similar sentiment, explaining that she tries to understand her friends as individuals rather than judge them by their political preferences.
“My entire personality doesn’t change, based off who I vote for,” she said. “And their personality doesn’t change based off of who they vote for.”