Justine Bateman is warning that Texas voters flirting with Democrat control could discover that the political shift comes with a punishing price tag. Her argument is blunt: Affordability will not survive if politicians begin searching for fresh sources of revenue.

Democrats fail to recognize how tax increases affect affordability. It also claims the party favors taxes and is unconcerned with making daily life less expensive.

Texas cannot tax income, but the state can increase sales and property taxes. That distinction sits at the center of Bateman’s warning about what Texas could face under new political leadership.

Bateman compared the direction of Texas with California, telling voters they would need substantially more money if they wanted similar government programs. She pointed to Texas having no income tax and a moderate sales tax while questioning how California style programs would be funded.

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“I expect the first thing these new TX politicians will do is jack up every tax they can manipulate. Sales tax and property tax will get higher instantly, and expect some crazy gas tax, too. They’ll say it’s for 'the roads and the schools.' That’s how you know it’s earmarked to steal,” Bateman wrote.

Her prediction focused on three possible targets: sales taxes, property taxes, and gas taxes. She argued that politicians would present the increases as funding for roads and schools, while casting doubt on whether that explanation should be trusted.

Bateman also highlighted figures that were not displayed on the chart she shared. The chart omitted LA’s 11.4% sales tax as well as the high taxes imposed on gas.

Considering Texas voters seem to want to turn that state into California, I’ll tell you that you’re going to need a lot more money. No income tax and moderate sales tax? You’ll never have the cash for aimless programs like we have in CA. I expect the first thing these new TX politicians will do is jack up every tax they can manipulate. Sales tax and property tax will get higher instantly, and expect some crazy gas tax, too. They’ll say it’s for “the roads and the schools.” That’s how you know it’s earmarked to steal. (Chart below does not show that LA sales tax is 11.4%. Also, gas tax + sales tax per gallon often makes our gas prices close to double the national average.)

— Justine Bateman (@JustineBateman) November 5, 2026

Lisa Clark O’Neill reacted directly to that figure. “11.4% 😬 How does anyone afford to live there?” she asked.

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People who manage those costs are either extremely wealthy or receiving welfare. Another commenter expressed no sympathy for voters confronting the consequences of their election choices.

“We can afford it, many can’t. Elections have consequences,” GeorgieGirl44 wrote. The response also predicted that the same situation would eventually reach the commenter’s own state.

Not every reaction accepted that the predicted tax increases would happen automatically. The Holy Goat observed that such measures would need approval from the Texas legislature and questioned whether they could make it through that process.

“Those would have to pass through the TX legislature, and I'm not sure she can pull that off,” The Holy Goat wrote. The comment provided a legislative caveat to Bateman’s sweeping warning.

Faded Magnet delivered one of the sharpest political reactions, expressing anger with the GOP while arguing that Democratic governance would be worse. The commenter said that experience with Democrats had led to voting straight red during recent election cycles.

“Yes. Texas has fallen. I’m furious with the GOP, don’t share a lot of their values, but I’ve seen what Dems do, and do expertly, and it’s incomparably worse, so I’ve been voting straight red for the past few cycles. You can’t vote your way out of communism,” Faded Magnet wrote.

Yes. Texas has fallen.

I’m furious with the GOP, don’t share a lot of their values, but I’ve seen what Dems do, and do expertly, and it’s incomparably worse, so I’ve been voting straight red for the past few cycles. You can’t vote your way out of communism. — Faded Magnet (@FadedMagnet) November 5, 2026

Another response mocked the potential cost of the political shift with deliberately extreme tax figures. “Texas needs a 25% state income tax and a 17% sales tax to fund all their new communists,” Carol Mary wrote.

Federal Democrats could quadruple income taxes to pay for “free” health care.

“For the independents and Republicans who voted blue in order to give the finger to Trump, I hope it was worth it,” markchristenson wrote. The remark framed higher taxes as a consequence those voters could eventually regret.