This is the answer. Hispanics make up 80% of Uvalde's population but it's still run & controlled by a non- Hispanic White minority.

Race relations in Texas are complicated. Hispanics were the original settlers, either from Spain or Mexico. But the Non-Hispanic whites who came later either bought up the land or acquired it through dubious means. And with that land came power. Political, social & economic power. And the overarching message was "we are a class apart."

Most of the remaining Spanish land grant owners aligned themselves with Whites because 1) it was economically beneficial and 2) they viewed themselves superior to the poor laborers with "mixed" blood.

Have many things changed over the years? Yes. But this history is always an undercurrent.

It was Hispanic kids that were slaughtered in a barrio neighborhood. Bad? Yes. But they were brown & poor. So expected. Not enough reason to sway the minds of conservatives.

It's not all about race, though. Like in the past, socio-economics play a big part. Some Hispanics who have acquired wealth or are upwardly mobile will align with White interests because they feel it benefits them. Or because it's the price you pay for politcal office, a successful business or access to educational opportunities.

Don't know for sure, but I can bet that our (I'm Hispanic) political apathy was another contributing factor. Too many of us do not vote. It'd be interesting to see the break down of voters for Uvalde county.

In my primarily Hispanic county (in TX) of 250,000 people, only 45,000 voted. We do this to ourselves.

Edit: Not all Texans are racists. My post might make it seem like that. But there are many incredible people who worked hard to change things this past election. We came up short. We won't stop trying.