a lot of people keep saying this but they dont really know what a purple state is.

voter suppression is obviously an issue. but tx has a lethargic latino voting population regardless (at least on the liberal side). and an organized loyal religious conservative voting base that comes out in full force every election (even conservative evangelical/catholic hispanics). and those margins are lopsided.

north carolina has some of the worst voter suppression in the nation. and statewide races are still close. thats what a purplish/swingy state looks like (even without the hypothetical equalizing).

people think that the latino population in tx would hypothetically even the score if the playing field was more fair. but the numbers arent really there.

and a lot of solid red states have blue metros. but that doesnt necessarily make it a competitive state.

for example...georgia has many of the same issues that texas has. but it was closer (half the presidential vote percentage margin)
than texas was. and nobody considers it a purple state.

wisconsin has arguably the most restrictive voter id laws in country, some of the worst gerrymandering, and dems just outvoted repubs in the primary and look poised for competitive/victorious statewide races. but in texas...dems got blown out in the primary and havent really been competitive statewide since the early 90s. thats not really a purple state...hypothetical or not.