Slide 11964: Johnson (D); Goldwater (R)Realignment?The New RepublicanismThe New RepublicanismSlide 6Texas Demographics, 2010Slide 8Slide 9Slide 10Slide 11Slide 12Slide 13Slide 14Slide 15Slide 16Slide 17Slide 18Slide 19Elections and Parties1964: 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 economyThe 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 stateThe 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 2002Texas Demographics, 2010Anglo: 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, 1796Winning elections: In the United States, the vast majority of elections are winner-take-all “First Past the Post” elections.43%37.4%18.9%Bell: 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 Two-Party political system to form.-Single Member Plurality Voting tends to discourage small 3rd partiesDemocrats Tea PartyRepbs.The Big