HOUSTON _ A Mexican eatery in a neighborhood dotted with taquerias seemed an unlikely gathering spot for some of Houston's most ardent conservatives, many who consider halting the flow of illegal immigrants their top priority.
But that's where they gathered on a recent Wednesday, chuckling at an opening prayer to keep President Barack Obama safe "because he recruits more Republicans than anyone."
Speaker after speaker warned of Democratic voter fraud, trumpeted Republican crackdowns on immigration and urged skeptical conservatives _ this is ground zero for supporters of Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz after all _ to line up behind Donald Trump.
"Most of us are Cruz supporters, but at this point we have got to unite," said Mark Ramsey, a member of the state GOP's executive committee. "I finally put a bumper sticker for Trump on my car. It was time to cross that line."
Texas is virtually assured to give its 38 electoral votes to Trump this November. But the same purplish stew brewing in Georgia _ a shrinking white majority and a fast-growing segment of minority voters _ is magnified in the Lone Star State.
Mix in demoralized Cruz supporters and other anti-establishment voters at constant war with the state's Republican hierarchy and it's no wonder why some Republicans are worried about the party's direction.
"It's not the way we hoped we could go," said Mary Lane, a Texas tea party activist who said she tries not to think about the presidential race and beyond. "We have to go with who we have, and I hope folks will get behind Trump, but I'm not really that confident."
Democrats are realistic about their slim hopes to flip Texas in November, but they salivate at their long-term chances. If Democrats can seize Texas, it will give them a nearly insurmountable Electoral College advantage. And the party's rising leaders are trying to leverage Trump _ who is trailing Clinton in some polls of younger Texas voters _ to press their case.
"Young Texans don't align with Trump or the typical conservative ideals of today's GOP," said Celia Morgan, the president of the Texas Young Democrats. "Our generation is tech-savvy, inclusive and understands that we need a level playing field now more than ever. We're poised to make significant changes here at home and across the country."
