Chapter 23 Political Parties American and Texas Government: Policy and Politics, 10/e Neal Tannahill

Case Study: Texas Republicans The Republican Party dominates Texas politics. While the 2004 presidential race was extremely close in most of the rest of the country, in Texas President Bush bested his opponent John Kerry by an overwhelming margin. Bush received 61 percent of the votes in Texas while Kerry received only 38 percent. Bush received more votes than Kerry in all but 18 of the state’s 254 counties. The margin of victory in 154 of the counties Bush won was over 70 percent. – The Republicans control 21 of 32 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, a majority of seats in the state Senate, on the Texas Railroad Commissions, the Texas Supreme Court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Texas State Board of Education. – Republicans hold a majority of county offices and district judgeships in most large urban and suburban counties. – Democrats continue to hold most elected county office and judicial positions in rural counties.

The Party System In the United States, successful political parties have generally been large, broad-based coalitions in which a variety of interests coexist. Throughout most of its history, the United States has had a two-party system. Many states, including Texas, have experienced one- party dominance for long periods of time.

Party Organization The National Party Organizations – Political parties in America are decentralized in a fashion that parallels America’s federal system. – In a sense, America has 51 Republican and 51 Democratic parties, the national party organization and party organizations in each state. – The main location of party activity in America is the states.

Party Organization Texas Party Organizations – In Texas, the Democratic and Republican parties have temporary and permanent party organizations. – The temporary party organization of each party assembles for a few hours or days in general election years to allow rank-and-file party supporters an opportunity to participate in the party’s decision- making process. – On the evening of the March primary after the polls have closed, Texans have the opportunity to attend precinct conventions. – The precinct conventions are followed by county and district conventions and then state conventions for each party.

Party Organization

Each of Texas’s two major political parties has a permanent party organization that operates year- round. At the base of the permanent party organization are the precinct chairpersons, elected by party voters in each of the state’s precincts, except in those areas where one party is so weak that no one can be found to accept the job. The county executive committee is the next highest level of permanent party organization. The state executive committee is the highest level of party organization in the state.

History of the Texas Party System First Party Era, 1870s through the 1930s: One-Party Democratic – From the end of Reconstruction until the 1930s, Texas was a one-party Democratic state. – Because of its association with the Union victory in the Civil War and Reconstruction, the Republican Party was anathema to most native white Southerners. – In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Democratic Party in Texas was under the control of a conservative upper-income white elite of large landowners and industrialists who believed that government should promote the state’s economic development through low taxes, limited public spending, and regulations designed to favor agricultural and business interests.

History of the Texas Party System Second Party Era, 1940–1952: Democratic Party Factionalism – By the 1940s, an identifiable liberal faction began to emerge within the Democratic Party to challenge conservative dominance. – The liberal wing of the Texas Democratic Party achieved some political success during the 1930s as the Great Depression caused many Texans to question the wisdom of the state’s conservative public policies. – The conservative Democrats reestablished themselves as the dominant wing of the Democratic Party during the 1940s.

History of the Texas Party System Third Party Era, 1953–1977: Conservative Democrats v. Liberal Democrats v. Republicans – The period running from the early 1950s through the late 1970s was a time of transition for party politics in the Lone Star State. – By the 1950s, the liberal wing of the Texas Democratic Party had become a formidable political force. – Liberal Democrats gained strength because the Democratic electorate was changing. – The legal barriers that had kept many African Americans, Hispanics, and poor whites from the polls were coming down, primarily because of the intervention of the federal courts and the U.S. Congress. – The liberal wing of the party also benefited from the defection of some conservative voters to the GOP.

History of the Texas Party System Fourth Party Era, 1978–1993: Texas Becomes a Two-Party State – While liberal Democrats were gaining strength, the Texas Republican Party was coming to life. – What accounts for the rise of the GOP as a significant electoral force in Texas? First, the legacy of the Civil War and Reconstruction finally began to diminish in importance, especially for younger Texans. Second, many conservative white Democrats became disenchanted with what they saw as an increasingly liberal national Democratic Party. A final factor accounting for the growth of the Texas Republican Party was the immigration of white-collar workers from outside the South.

History of the Texas Party System Fifth Party Era, 1994 to the Present: Texas Becomes a Republican State – Texas has become a two-party state, but the Republican Party has become the dominant party. – Each party has its areas of strength and weakness, and both Democrats and Republicans are capable of winning elections, though Republicans do better in the top-of-the-ballot races. – The Democrats do well among minority citizens, low-income voters of all races, persons who call themselves liberals or moderates, people who live in South Texas, native Texans, older voters, younger women who work outside the home, members of labor unions, Jews, and some professionals. – The Republican Party is supported by middle- and upper-income non-Hispanic white voters living in the suburbs, conservatives, younger men, business people, professionals, people living in the Hill Country, and people who attend church regularly, except for African Americans.

History of the Texas Party System

The Party Balance Republicans outnumber Democrats in Texas. Surveys taken in 2004 showed that 55.5 percent of Texans considered themselves Republicans or leaned to the Republican Party compared to just 38 percent who identified or leaned in the direction of the Democratic Party. Today Republicans control a majority of the Texas seating in the U.S. House of Representatives and occupy both of the state’s U.S. Senate seats. Republicans hold all six of the state’s executive offices, including governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, land commissioner, and agriculture commissioner. The Republicans hold a majority of the seats in the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas Senate, and on the Texas State Board of Education. Republicans also hold every seat on the state’s Supreme Court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Texas Railroad Commission.

The Party Balance

Voting Patterns Income – Generally speaking, middle- and upper-income groups vote Republican, while lower-income groups vote Democrat. Race and Ethnicity – African American and Hispanic voters generally support Democrats, while white voters lean toward Republicans. Region – The border region of Texas is firmly Democratic. East Texas was once firmly Democratic but is becoming more Republican with more and more East Texans voting for GOP candidates, especially in contests for statewide and national office. Place of Residence – The Republicans do well in the suburbs, while the Democrats run best in the inner city.

Issue Orientation Texas Republicans and Democrats agree on a number of issues basic to the operation of the political and economic systems of the state. However, they do offer different pictures of the role of government in society. The two parties are closer on issues central to the operation of the political and economic systems of the state.

Issue Orientation

The Impact of Partisan Change In less than 30 years Texas has undergone a political transformation. Thirty years ago Democrats controlled almost every elective office; today Republicans control all three branches of state government and many at the local level as well. Though the party in control of government has changed, the prevailing governing ideology has not changed significantly. In other words, conservative business interests still dominate Texas politics.

The Future of Party Politics in Texas The dominance of the Republican Party is likely to last for at least the rest of this decade. Recognizing the strength of the GOP, strong Democratic candidates will be unwilling to run against Republicans and the Democrats will find it difficult to compete with the Republicans when it comes to fundraising. The Texas Democratic Party may reemerge owing largely to demographic changes underway already in the state. In the not-so-distant future, early in the next century, racial and ethnic minority groups will make up a majority of the state’s population and, as it stands, racial and ethnic minority voters tend to support the Democratic Party.