Just three voted in the Democratic primary; meet Democrats pushing through the country’s most Trump-friendly town, a tough nut

A county loyal to Trump

Roberts County sits about 80 miles northwest of Amarillo and has roughly 870 residents. Agribusiness and oil shape its economy, and it is one of three Texas counties where alcohol sales remain prohibited. Its only city is Miami, pronounced “My-am-uh.”

Donald Trump won 94.58 percent of the county’s vote in 2016, the highest Republican share in the country that year. He received 96.18 percent in 2020 and 95.63 percent in 2024. This year, the Democratic primary drew three voters, while 306 participated in the GOP primary.

Organizing faces steep odds

Sean Birkenfeld, president of the regional political action committee Panhandle Democrats, said the group has struggled to gain traction. He contacted residents about an event in Roberts County, but the plans fell through before anyone could be counted.

Mark Nair, the Democratic nominee for Texas’ 13th congressional district, which includes Roberts County, said he has visited several times but found it hard to draw a crowd. He described people he meets as warm, while saying some remain convinced Trump could deliver results.

Some supporters stay private

One Miami resident described herself as a political outsider and said she had lost friends over her views. The account illustrates the social cost some Democrats associate with speaking openly in a strongly pro-Trump community.

Building a local presence

For now, organizers are focused on basic outreach, including sharing election dates, polling details and candidates’ names. Nair said some people who do attend his events feel betrayed after voting for Trump several times, though he cautioned that they do not represent the whole county.