Title Red state : an insider's story of how the GOP came to dominate Texas politics / Wayne Thorburn

Edition First edition Published Austin : University of Texas Press, 2014

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Description 1 online resource Series Jack and Doris Smothers Series in Texas History, Life, and Culture ; Number 42 Jack and Doris Smothers series in Texas history, life, and culture ; no. 42. Contents Understanding Texas -- Dividing the state -- A century of one-party politics -- Stirrings and small cracks -- Toward a two-party Texas -- The two-party interlude -- The era of Republican dominance -- The future of Texas politics Summary <P>In November 1960, the Democratic party dominated Texas. The newly elected vice president, Lyndon Johnson, was a Texan. Democrats held all thirty statewide elective positions. The state legislature had 181 Democrats and no Republicans or anyone else. Then fast forward fifty years to November 2010. Texas has not voted for a Democratic president since 1976. Every statewide elective office is held by Republicans. Representing Texas in Washington is a congressional delegation of twenty-five Republicans and nine Democrats. Republicans control the Texas Senate by a margin of nineteen to twelve and the Texas House of Representatives by 101 to 49.</p><p><cite>Red State</cite> explores why this transformation of Texas politics took place and what these changes imply for the future. As both a political scientist and a Republican party insider, Wayne Thorburn is especially qualified to explain how a solidly one-party Democratic state has become a Republican stronghold. He analyzes a wealth of data to show how changes in the state?s demographics?including an influx of new residents, the shift from rural to urban, and the growth of the Mexican American population?have moved Texas through three stages of party competition, from two-tiered politics, to two-party competition between Democrats and Republicans, and then to the return to one-party dominance, this time by Republicans. His findings reveal that the shift from Democratic to Republican governance has been driven not by any change in Texans? ideological perspective or public policy orientation?even when Texans were voting Democrat, conservatives outnumbered liberals or moderates?but by the Republican party?s increasing identification with conservatism since 1960.</p> Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes Print version record Subject Republican Party (Tex.) -- History Democratic Party (Tex.) -- History SUBJECT Democratic Party (Tex.) fast Republican Party (Tex.) fast Subject Political parties -- Texas -- History Party affiliation -- Texas -- History Political culture -- Texas POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Political Process -- Elections. POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Political Process -- General. POLITICAL SCIENCE -- American Government -- State. Party affiliation Political culture Political parties Politics and government SUBJECT Texas -- Politics and government -- 1951- http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85134281 Subject Texas Genre/Form Electronic books History Form Electronic book ISBN 0292759215 9780292759213

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