Changes

===Politics: move to the GOP===

===Politics: move to the GOP===

Historically, Texas was a [[Democratic Party (USA)|Democratic Party]] stronghold.<ref name="TSHA">[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/wap02 Political Parties - Handbook of Texas Online]. ''Texas State Historical Association''. Retrieved August 16, 2016.</ref> This was the case until the 1960s, and was especially the case in the early 20th Century.<ref name="TSHA"/> Due to the Dominance of the Democrats, the Democrat primaries were considered "the real election", during this time.<ref name="TSHA"/> In the party however, there were competing factions, and during the [[New Deal]], a conservative-liberal divide within the Democratic Party emerged.<ref name="TSHA"/> As the Democratic Party became more liberal (in a conservative state), and as different changes occurred in the state, conservative voters switched to the growing, conservative Republican Party,<ref>Sirois, Francis (November 8, 2016). [http://www.newschannel10.com/story/33661247/history-of-texas-voters History of Texas voters]. ''KFDA''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref> until it took the Democrats place as the dominant party in Texas.<ref name="TSHA"/><ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/architect/texas/realignment.html How Texas Became a "Red" State - Frontline]. ''PBS''. April 12, 2005. Retrieved August 16, 2016.</ref>

Historically, Texas was a [[Democratic Party (USA)|Democratic Party]] stronghold.<ref name="TSHA">[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/wap02 Political Parties - Handbook of Texas Online]. ''Texas State Historical Association''. Retrieved August 16, 2016.</ref> This was the case until the 1960s, and was especially the case in the early 20th Century.<ref name="TSHA"/> Due to the Dominance of the Democrats, the Democrat primaries were considered "the real election", during this time.<ref name="TSHA"/> Competing factions existed within the party, however, and during the [[New Deal]] a conservative-liberal divide within the Democratic Party emerged.<ref name="TSHA"/> As the Democratic Party became more liberal (in a conservative state), and as different changes occurred in the state, conservative voters switched to the growing, conservative Republican Party,<ref>Sirois, Francis (November 8, 2016). [http://www.newschannel10.com/story/33661247/history-of-texas-voters History of Texas voters]. ''KFDA''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref> until it took the Democrats place as the dominant party in Texas.<ref name="TSHA"/><ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/architect/texas/realignment.html How Texas Became a "Red" State - Frontline]. ''PBS''. April 12, 2005. Retrieved August 16, 2016.</ref>

By the 1970s Texas was voting Republican in national election, and after 1990 the GOP started dominating state elections. The first major Republican was Senator [[John Tower]], elected in 1961.  The election of Republican William P. Clements in 1978 as governor signaled the rise of a two-party system in state offices. The Democrats, however, reclaimed the governor's mansion in 1982 with the election of Mark White. In 1990 Texas voters elected liberal Democrat, Ann Richards. Under her administration women and minorities were appointed to numerous offices. She was the last Democrat to be elected governor, and was defeated for reelection in 1994. Texans supported [[Jimmy Carter]], a Sunbelt Democrat, for president in 1976 but voted Republican in the next three presidential contests. Indeed, in 1992 [[Bill Clinton]] became the first Democrat in the history of the United States to lose Texas and win the presidency. He was opposed by two native sons, incumbent [[George H.W. Bush]] and maverick [[Ross Perot]]. In 1994 Republican [[George W. Bush]], son of the former president, beat Richards for governor.  Meanwhile, Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison in 1993 became the first woman to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate. Her election marked the first time Texas had two Republican senators since 1875.  In recent years Texas has become a stronghold for Republicans and a national bastion of economic and social [[American conservatism|conservatism]].

By the 1970s Texas was voting Republican in national election, and after 1990 the GOP started dominating state elections. The first major Republican was Senator [[John Tower]], elected in 1961.  The election of Republican William P. Clements in 1978 as governor signaled the rise of a two-party system in state offices. The Democrats, however, reclaimed the governor's mansion in 1982 with the election of Mark White. In 1990 Texas voters elected liberal Democrat, Ann Richards. Under her administration women and minorities were appointed to numerous offices. She was the last Democrat to be elected governor, and was defeated for reelection in 1994. Texans supported [[Jimmy Carter]], a Sunbelt Democrat, for president in 1976 but voted Republican in the next three presidential contests. Indeed, in 1992 [[Bill Clinton]] became the first Democrat in the history of the United States to lose Texas and win the presidency. He was opposed by two native sons, incumbent [[George H.W. Bush]] and maverick [[Ross Perot]]. In 1994 Republican [[George W. Bush]], son of the former president, beat Richards for governor.  Meanwhile, Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison in 1993 became the first woman to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate. Her election marked the first time Texas had two Republican senators since 1875.  In recent years Texas has become a stronghold for Republicans and a national bastion of economic and social [[American conservatism|conservatism]].

In the 2014 Texas elections, the [[Tea Party Movement]] made large electoral gains, with numerous Tea Party favorites being elected into office, like [[Dan Patrick]] as lieutenant governor,<ref name="Holdssway">{{cite news | last1=Fernandez | first1=Manny | title=Lieutenant Governor Loses Texas Runoff as Tea Party Holds Sway | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/28/us/politics/tea-party-favorite-beats-lieutenant-governor-in-texas.html | date=May 27, 2014 | publisher=[[The New York Times]] | accessdate=April 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>Koppel, Nathan (January 21, 2015). [http://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-lt-gov-dan-patrick-moves-quickly-to-advance-conservative-agenda-1421883867 "Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Moves Quickly to Advance Conservative Agenda"]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved April 2, 2015.</ref> [[Ken Paxton]] as attorney general,<ref name="Holdssway"/><ref name="Grissom">Grissom, Brandi (May 28, 2014). [http://www.texastribune.org/2014/05/28/tea-party-conservatives-win-top-gop-runoff-contest/ Tea Party Conservatives Win Top GOP Runoff Contests], ''[[Texas Tribune]]''. Retrieved April 2, 2015.</ref> in addition to numerous other candidates<ref name="Grissom"/> including conservative Republican [[Greg Abbott]] as governor.<ref>Fernandez, Manny (January 20, 2015). [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/21/us/politics/new-texas-governor-greg-abbott-expected-to-continue-on-perrys-path.html?_r=1 Texas’ New Governor Echoes the Plans of Perry]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved October 1, 2016.</ref>

In the 2014 Texas elections, the [[Tea Party Movement]] made large electoral gains, with numerous Tea Party favorites being elected into office, like [[Dan Patrick]] as lieutenant governor,<ref name="Holdssway">{{cite news | last1=Fernandez | first1=Manny | title=Lieutenant Governor Loses Texas Runoff as Tea Party Holds Sway | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/28/us/politics/tea-party-favorite-beats-lieutenant-governor-in-texas.html | date=May 27, 2014 | publisher=[[The New York Times]] | accessdate=April 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>Koppel, Nathan (January 21, 2015). [http://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-lt-gov-dan-patrick-moves-quickly-to-advance-conservative-agenda-1421883867 "Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Moves Quickly to Advance Conservative Agenda"]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved April 2, 2015.</ref> [[Ken Paxton]] as attorney general,<ref name="Holdssway"/><ref name="Grissom">Grissom, Brandi (May 28, 2014). [http://www.texastribune.org/2014/05/28/tea-party-conservatives-win-top-gop-runoff-contest/ Tea Party Conservatives Win Top GOP Runoff Contests], ''[[Texas Tribune]]''. Retrieved April 2, 2015.</ref> in addition to numerous other candidates<ref name="Grissom"/> including conservative Republican [[Greg Abbott]] as governor.<ref>Fernandez, Manny (January 20, 2015). [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/21/us/politics/new-texas-governor-greg-abbott-expected-to-continue-on-perrys-path.html?_r=1 Texas’ New Governor Echoes the Plans of Perry]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved October 1, 2016.</ref>