Texas isn't really a republican stronghold state and hasn't been since pretty much ever (anything before the "southern strategy" is political prehistory at this

Texas isn't really a republican stronghold state and hasn't been since pretty much ever (anything before the "southern strategy" is political prehistory at this point IMO). Texas has always had more of a "moralizing authoritarian" bent to its government (comparable to say, the caronlinas, which usually get saddled with that reputation) at least for the past century. There are other states that are far better at being small government (and they aren't generally considered republican strongholds either) The reason Texas has a small government reputation is because most people analyzing it can look out their overton window and see CA and NY.