Party and Factional Division in Texas / / James R. Soukup, Harry Holloway, Clifton McCleskey.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter University of Texas Press Complete eBook-Package Pre-2000
• VerfasserIn: Soukup, James R.,; Holloway, Harry,; McCleskey, Clifton,
• Place / Publishing House: Austin : : University of Texas Press, , [2021]; ©1964
• Year of Publication: 2021
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (240 p.)

Here is the first attempt by scholars to make a comprehensive analysis of voting patterns in Texas. Examining the results of fourteen elections from 1946 through 1962 and organizing a vast fund of statistics relative to Texas political parties and voters, the authors have laid a solid groundwork for further studies in this field. The previously ineffectual Texas Republican Party made great strides in the twentieth century and became a competitor in state as well as national races. Specifically, the authors maintain that Texas in the 1960s was a “one and two-thirds party state.” Within the Democratic Party, factions analogous to warring camps immensely complicated the political struggle. Although the conservative elements within the Democratic Party still had a slight edge, growing liberal strength forced them to moderate their policies and tactics. The authors also contend that there were significant changes in the nature of the issues and the modes of political operation. Though some of the old motivations and tactics lingered on in less significant rural areas, friendship- oriented campaigns appealing to regional and family-like sentiments were being quickly replaced by an organized politics in which political activists made strong ideological appeals to economic and social interests. The Republicans, the conservative Democrats, and the liberal Democrats are each analyzed in relation to regionalism, demography, ethnic elements, and the economic system in Texas; and the history, present status, and future prospects of these factions are discussed in detail. Of special interest are the last two chapters, which analyze the 1962 elections and their bearings on evolving patterns of competition. The developments within the Republican Party and its challenge to the traditional Democratic Party are seen in the perspectives of the growing importance of minority groups and the impact of urbanization. All those interested in Texas politics and the history of the rise of the Republican Party in the state will find this study indispensable for an intelligent appraisal of historical developments.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Introduction -- I. Background of texas politics -- Ideological Setting -- Institutional Setting -- II. The republican party before 1962 -- Historical Perspective -- Location of Republican Counties -- Socio-Economic Characteristics of Republican Counties -- Urbanization and the Republican Party -- An Overview -- The Conservative democrats before 1962 -- General Perspective -- Democratic Counties Economic Characteristics of Conservative Democratic Counties -- Urbanization and the Conservative Democrats -- Perspective for the Future -- IV. The Liberal Democrats before 1962 -- Historical Perspective -- Location and Significance of Most Liberal Counties -- Economic Characteristics of Most Liberal Counties -- Historical Tradition of Liberal Democratic Counties -- Liberalism and the Metropolitan Counties -- Racial-Ethnic Minorities and Liberalism -- The Negro Voter in Texas -- The Latin American Voter in Texas -- Liberal Strengths and Weaknesses: A Summing Up -- V. The 1962 Elections: Results And Implications -- The First Democratic Primary -- The Democratic Runoff -- The General Election -- The 1962 Elections in Context -- Geographic Patterns of Republican and Liberal Democratic Counties -- Socio-Economic Characteristics of Republican and Liberal Democratic Counties -- VI. Conclusions And Future Prospects -- Postscript -- A. Explanation of Process for Determining Quartiles -- B. Counties in First Quartile of Vote for Liberal Democratic, Conservative Democratic, and Republican Candidates in 1957 Special Senate Election -- C. Counties in First Quartile of Vote for Liberal Democratic and Conservative Democratic Candidates in 1962 Democratic Runoff Primary for Governor -- D. Counties in First Quartile of Vote for Democratic and Republican Candidates in 1962 Gubernatorial Election -- E. Classification of Texas Counties According to Urban-Rural Scale -- F. Socio-Economic Characteristics of Metropolitan Counties in Texas, 1960 -- G. Geopolitical Regions of Texas. -- Selected Bibliography -- Index