Political Parties in Texas

These flashcards cover the roles, structures, history, and demographic influences of political parties in Texas as described in the Chapter 05 lecture notes.

What are the primary roles of political parties in Texas according to the lecture?

Helping candidates win elections, assisting voters in making choices, raising money, helping "get out the vote," and organizing the government if they win.

In Texas politics, what is the purpose of providing a candidate with a party label?

It provides a label under which candidates run and with which voters identify, which is especially important in a state that elects large numbers of officeholders.

At what stage of life does political socialization primarily occur?

Our early years.

Who are the primary agents of political socialization?

Parents, religious leaders, teachers, and others.

What has historically been the status of Texas regarding party dominance?

Texas has largely been a one-party state: first Democratic, then Republican.

Which two factions currently dominate modern-day Texas Republican politics?

Republicans loyal to former President Trump and business-oriented mainstream Republicans (establishment Republicans).

What are the three levels at which political parties in Texas are organized?

Precinct, county, and state levels.

How is the permanent party organization structured at the county level?

It is headed by a county chair and a county executive committee composed of the chair and the precinct chairs.

What requirement must a candidate meet to win a primary in Texas?

They must win a majority of the primary vote; if not, a runoff is held between the two highest vote getters.

What meeting sequence defines the temporary party organization in Texas?

Precinct conventions send delegates to the county/district convention, which then elects delegates to the state convention.

What is the "first past the post" single-member district electoral system?

An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes wins, making it difficult for third parties to thrive.

How does proportional representation differ from the Texas electoral system?

It is a multimember district system that allows each political party representation in proportion to its percentage of the total vote.

Which movement in the $1950s$ signaled the beginning of a shift toward presidential Republicanism in Texas?

The Shivercrat movement.

According to the transcript, what characterizes the contemporary Democratic Party's base in Texas?

African Americans, Latinos, and White liberals in urban areas.

Of the $13$ Democrats representing Texas in Congress, how many are Latino or African American?

$$11$$

Why has the Tea Party movement had significant influence in Texas?

Because of its libertarian antitax message and its focus on influencing Republican primaries rather than running third-party candidates.

What was the turnout percentage for African Americans in the $2018$ statewide elections compared to Whites?

$45.8\%$ for African Americans versus $56.8\%$ for Whites.

What percentage of the Texas population is African American?

About $12\%$

In $2020$, what percentage of registered voters in Texas were Latinos?

About $23\%$

The tension in the $2023$ Legislative session centered on which two Republican leaders?

Speaker Dade Phelan and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

What was the Republican share of the presidential vote in Texas in the $2020$ election according to the provided graph?

Approximately $52.1\%$

How much did Latino turnout change between the $2020$ Presidential Year and the $2022$ Statewide Election Year?

It dropped from $38.4\%$ in $2020$ to $26.5\%$ in $2022$, a difference of $11.9\%$.

What is the defining characteristic of "Blue Dog Democrats"?

They are conservative Democrats who have become increasingly rare (an "endangered species") in the South.

Which third party supports fiscal conservatism similar to establishment Republicans but is socially liberal on issues like same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization?

The Libertarian Party.