Texas Government: Political Culture, Parties, Elections and Campaigns

Introduction

Texas politics is a reflection of its history and culture. Texas was not the first US state nor the lastbut it is by far much different from all the rest. Texas was annexed from Mexico by the US and incorporated into the Union in 1845. It has the longest border with Mexico and today its culture is a mixture of both Hispanic and American influences. This paper explores the state's political culture and its impact on politics, parties, elections, and campaigns.

Texas Political Culture

The Spanish, Mexican, and American influences (and recently a large incorporation of West Coast influences) has created a diverse political culture in Texas. Due to its history there is a lot of love among Texans for personal freedom and independence, and in a lot of ways many generations of people who view themselves as Texans have had a substantial distrust for big government (Jordan, 1978). Much of the US is likely to see Texas as mainly conservative, but cities like Austin and Houston are becoming more progressive due to demographic changes, resulting from urban growth and an increase in diverse populations (Long, 2010; Miller, 2020). This diversity is why the political culture of Texas is somewhat complicated.

Understanding Texas Political Culture

Texas is known as the "Lone Star State" because prior to its annexation by the US it was actually for a short time an independent republic, separate from both Mexico and the US. Its flag bore a single star which represented this independence. However, although a lot has changed in the nearly 200 years since Texas was its own republic, this spirit and identity of independence remains very strong in the state of Texas. For instance, it has its own electric grid, distinct from that of the rest of the US. Because of its size, it has a wide range of communities. It is also very economically strong in terms of GDP.

Even though I was aware of this information before the PSCI 2306 course, my perception of Texas political culture was still largely influenced by popular media, which often represents the state as staunchly conservative, clinging to Old World traditions, and resistant to change. However, the course revealed to me that Texas's political culture is actually far more nuanced. It does have a strong, traditional conservative base, especially in rural areas, but urban areas like Austin, Houston, and Dallas have increasingly become more progressive populations, which has in turn affected the states political culture. Weigel and Tierney (2020) in fact note that there are seven political states within one TexasNorth Texas, West Texas, Rio Grande, Hill Country, East Texas, Houston, and Metroplex. North Texas and East Texas generally vote conservativebut the other states are moving more and more towards liberal politics (Weigel & Tierney, 2020).

The Influence of Texas Political Culture on Parties, Elections, and Campaigns

The state's political culture has a big impact on its parties, elections, and campaigns. The individualism of traditional Texans and their overall skepticism towards government have historically favored conservative candidates who present themselves as favoring de-regulation and a hands-off style of government. However, as Texas becomes more urbanized and its demographics change from an increase in immigration and migration, one can see a gradual move towards more progressive policies, especially in the cities. Immigrants in the Rio Grande area, for instance, tend...

…strategies that I could use to target specific demographics. Plus, the new knowledge I have about the influence of interest groups, as highlighted by Texans for Public Justice (2023), can help me to develop campaign financing decisions and create alliance formations.

Obstacles and Advances

One of the major challenges in Texas politics is the problem of polarization and the diminishing middle ground between all parties. The course highlighted how gerrymandering and primary elections often favor extreme candidates, which inevitably leads to a more divided political landscape, especially as the middle ground remains abandoned in the general election (Weigel & Tierney, 2020). On the positive side, there seems to have been a rise of grassroots movements and increased voter participation, especially among young people and minority groups, and there is more awareness about how elections are influenced by special interests (Texans for Public Justice, 2023).

Conclusion

The PSCI 2306 course showed that Texas is not just conservative or progressive; it is a mix of both. Big cities like Houston and Austin tend to lean Democratic, but big rural areas still favor Republicans and a traditional, conservative Texas culture. This balance may be shifting, though, as cities grow and demographics change.

The PSCI 2306 course also gave a deeper look into the political culture and history of Texas. Texas used to be a Democratic state (but then the Democratic party used to be somewhat different from what it is today). For decades, though, Texas has supported conservative values. With immigration and migration to Texas rising, Texas's cities now support more liberal politics and policies. At the same time, rural Texas still champions traditional ideals, i.e., individualism, property rights, and limited government. But Texas is changing. And…