What they’re saying: At the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin last week and in conversations this week, here’s what Texas Republicans are telling us:

“Texodus” has entered their lexicon — a term Democrats coined to describe the subsequent retirements of the state’s GOP House members.

Many “headwinds” are working against them, most notably shifting demographics and attitudes of suburban voters.

They talk openly about perceptions the party is run by a bunch of old white guys— and they’re desperate to change that. “The base is shrinking. Period. End of story,” said Rep. Will Hurd, the only black House Republican, who at 42 will leave office rather seek another term representing his heavily Hispanic district in southwest Texas.

Hurd said Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Dusty Johnson of South Dakota are two members trying to make the party more diverse and inclusive.