Compounding the problem of voter fatigue that results from frequent elections for a dizzying number of offices is the historical dominance in Texas of only one or two political parties at any one time. For more than a century after the Civil War the Democratic Party dominated Texas politics, so much so that it was practically a necessity to be a Democrat to hold public office (Texas, 2017). Democrats held a lock on state politics and government throughout the first half of the twentieth century, but beneath the surface the party's dominance was crumbling. Political change in Texas and the nation eroded the conditions that fostered Democratic dominance. "This single-party dominance tended to limit the range of political debate, in turn constraining
…show more content…
In some ways the Republican dominance today represents a replay of the era of Democratic Party dominance: "an emphasis on low investment in social services, favorable policies toward business, and strong resistance to the provision of social services” (UT, Political). With the changing demographics in Texas and the changing social climate in relation to existing public policies there are signs of stress in this new majority, as well as concerns in both parties over the impact of the growing numbers of immigrants and first generation Americans, particularly Latinos, on the party system. Both parties have sought to recruit the support of immigrants and their children. But, lately there has been a backlash against immigration, particularly undocumented immigration. This issue has caused great stress in both parties in Texas, but it seems particularly problematic for Republicans whose popular base is much more intensely opposed to undocumented immigration. This places the Republican Party at greater risk of alienating minority groups (which together, now make up a majority of Texans). The ongoing debate over immigration and its ultimate resolution has great potential to transform the party system in Texas, our institutions of state government, public policies, and ultimately our state's political culture. The inherent tensions within our dominant political ideology between classical liberalism, social conservatism, and populism come to the surface on this
In some ways the Republican dominance today represents a replay of the era of Democratic Party dominance: "an emphasis on low investment in social services, favorable policies toward business, and strong resistance to the provision of social services” (UT, Political). With the changing demographics in Texas and the changing social climate in relation to existing public policies there are signs of stress in this new majority, as well as concerns in both parties over the impact of the growing numbers of immigrants and first generation Americans, particularly Latinos, on the party system. Both parties have sought to recruit the support of immigrants and their children. But, lately there has been a backlash against immigration, particularly undocumented immigration. This issue has caused great stress in both parties in Texas, but it seems particularly problematic for Republicans whose popular base is much more intensely opposed to undocumented immigration. This places the Republican Party at greater risk of alienating minority groups (which together, now make up a majority of Texans). The ongoing debate over immigration and its ultimate resolution has great potential to transform the party system in Texas, our institutions of state government, public policies, and ultimately our state's political culture. The inherent tensions within our dominant political ideology between classical liberalism, social conservatism, and populism come to the surface on this