Chapter 5 Political Parties: Texas in Blue and Red

Learning Objectives 5.1 Describe the function of political parties in Texas 5.2 Explain the levels of organization of political parties and their roles 5.3 Outline the changes in party dominance since the Civil War 5.4 Analyze the factors that affect party competition 5.5 Evaluate the impact third parties have had on Texas party politics and the challenges they face

The Functions of Parties Simplifying Electoral Choices Conservative Liberal Recruiting Candidates Mobilizing Voters Articulating Interests Organizing Government

Party Organization Precinct Chairs County Party Chairs Most local party leader County Party Chairs State Party Chair Party Executive Committee Party Conventions State Party Platforms

Rise and Fall of Political Parties in Texas Democratic Reign in the Postbellum Era 1871, 1872, 1873 broke Republican stranglehold on state politics Won all Congressional seats: 1871 Control of state legislature: 1872 Governorship: 1873 Decline of Democrats Shivercrats Last Hurrah: 1982 December 2, 1997: Dan Morales retires Party in Texas collapsed

Rise and Fall of Political Parties in Texas Rise of the Republicans John Tower first Republican to win statewide office since Reconstruction Southern Strategy Expose divisions within the Democratic Party 1998 Republicans swept all state offices

Rise and Fall of Political Parties in Texas Tea Party Mid 2000s Relief from taxation Higher support in Texas than nationally Senator Ted Cruz Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick Fissures in the Republican Party

Rise and Fall of Political Parties in Texas Lessons from Texas Party Politics Develop New Party Blood Offer a Bigger, Better Vision Give Goodies Co-Opt Emerging Ideologies Build from the Bottom Up

Party Competition Redistricting ad Party Competition Following last two censuses Texas gained seats in the US House of Representation Congressional district has an estimated 700,000 residents State legislatures redraw district lines Equal representation Compact size Communities together Geographic boundaries of local government Legislative Redistricting Board If the legislature cannot agree on district lines

Party Competition The 2001 and 2003 Redistricting Battles: The Drama Begins Redistricting in 2011: Maps and More Maps Redistricting in 2013: Back to Court Party Switching

Third Parties and Independents La Raza Unida Party The United Race Social Movement Serious problems for Democrats Mexican Americans defected to new party Libertarian Party Green Party Independents

Texas Takeaways Parties engage in three basic functions: assisting voters (parties-in-the-electorate), facilitating party goals (parties-as-organizations), and organizing government by structuring and controlling government (parties-in-government). Partisans are the most strongly committed party loyalists and can be counted on to volunteer, donate money, and vote for the party candidates. The state party chair’s primary responsibility is to develop and communicate the party’s brand to the voters and to raise and manage political funds for the party at the state level. A party platform is a list of values, beliefs, and policy issues that are endorsed and supported by a political party. It serves as a roadmap for the party during elections and in agenda setting.

Texas Takeaways Democrats won all the Congressional seats in 1871, took majority control of the state legislature in 1872, and easily won the governorship in 1873. Observers point to December 2, 1997, as the day the Democratic Party in Texas collapsed. The Democrats were divided along ideological grounds. Republicans began to see federal intervention as a primary cause of economic troubles. The growth of the suburbs gave rise to new conservatives. Residents arriving from other states did not have the same attachments to the Democratic Party as long-term Texans. The Tea Party reached national prominence when it held a series of rallies in 2009 in response to the Obama Administration’s economic recovery plans and the Affordable Care Act.

Texas Takeaways Party competition is defined as the relative electoral winning success between the parties. Gerrymandered district lines drawn over time lead to “safe” seats where one party or the other dominates given the voters stacked into a district. It tends to reduce party competition. More Democrats have switched to the Democratic Party since the 1980s.

Texas Takeaways One winner generally leads to a two-party system because individuals and groups band together to win that single available seat. A third party must create a state executive committee, establish procedures for governing the party meetings and selection of candidates, and file a list of party participants with the secretary of state.