Elections and Parties 1964 Johnson D Goldwater R Realignment Shifting image of national Democratic Party and National Republican Party nationalization of politics Backlash against liberalism of Democratic Party growing association of Democrats with minority rights labor unions Underlying changes in Texas economy The New Republicanism In 1978 Bill Clements won an extremely close race becoming Texas s first Republican governor in 105 years Ronald Reagan s election 1980 accelerated the Republicanization of the state The New Republicanism In 1978 Bill Clements won an extremely close race becoming Texas s first Republican governor in 105 years Ronald Reagan s election 1980 accelerated the Republicanization of the state Ann Richards vs Clayton Williams 1990 George W Bush 1994 Republicans took control of the state legislature in Texas Demographics 2010 Anglo 44 Hispanic 38 4 Black 12 4 Asian 4 3 Political Parties organized groups that attempt to influence control government by electing their members to government offices This spirit of party unfortunately is inseparable from our nature having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind It exists under different shapes in all governments more or less stifled controlled or repressed but in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy George Washington 1796 Winning elections In the United States the vast majority of elections are winner take all First Past the Post elections 37 4 18 9 43 l 29 79 Friedman 12 43 Perry 39 03 Strayhorn 18 13 Duverger s Law Within the context of single member plurality voting there are strong incentives for a TwoParty political system to form Single Member Plurality Voting tends to discourage small 3rd parties Democrats Repbs Tea Party The Big Tent