Introduction
Countrywide the election of Democratic Party President, Barrack Obama and a Democratic Senate appeared to suggest that the party was widely popular and had many voters. However, this was not the case in Texas State which Americans in that state voted for Republican delegation to Congress and its presidential candidate. In Texas State, concerns about elections and voting have been coloured by political changes in past elections. Texas State has been found to displace similar voting and non-voting pattern as other States. For example, the 2008 campaign provided enough illustration of the voting pattern. For many years, Republican Party in Texas has remained popular and has experienced many fights among governorship candidates both within the party and from other parties, and this has been contributed by and the increasing growing Latino population, which is a prominent factor ( Anthony, 1998).
In 2002, Republican Party won the majority of seats in the two houses. While the 2004 election in Texas State served as the completion of a cycle to the party ascendancy in Texas politics. Presidential votes were guaranteed to go to former president Bush because the Republican Party held a 21-11 seat advantage over Democratic Party. The Republican Party only lost only two out of the six districts, but in the 2006 elections, the party maintained its congressional delegation. In the 2008 election, the national Republican Party lost its grip in the national election but gain some ground in the congressional delegation (gain a seat) in Texas State.
Cultural and Regional Support
Texas population and culture is increasingly diverse due to new immigrant from neighbouring countries such as the Mexican, and Asia continent, and the natural growth of the local population. Most elections have put much emphasis on the Latinos population. These people are believed to grow at an alarming rate, and they are expected to grow fast shortly. In the state of Texas, the population size of both Hispanics and Latinos is made up of one-third of the total population in the state. While that of Mexican descent is approximately one-quarter of the total population.
In the previous elections, Latinos and Mexican Americans have supported Republican Party candidates in Texas. Also, Hispanics votes have been an important factor in the Republican Party success in Texas. The reason why Mexican Americans and Latinos have supported Republican Party is that many Activists believe other parties particular Democratic Party in the past neglected Latinos and Mexican Americans’ population. The impact of this has continued to hurt Democratic Party at the polls. But despite overall party dominance, some regions have strong Democratic power. Such regions include Austin, El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.
Demographic Support
In Texas State, Republican Party is associated with older people. More than two-thirds of voters believed to have voted for the party in the last elections were over 48 years old and only 10 per cent of voters were in the bottom two age brackets. Additionally, 22 per cent of supporters are under the age of 30 years, 80 per cent are white, and 65 per cent are men. For many years, this tread has raised many questions about what kind of a future the Republican Party has whose many of its members are close to retirement age, while the small number of young people becomes involved.
According to CNN statistics, Republican Party is predominantly male, college or university educated and they earn more than the average working population, but not necessary just from the south or older. A progressive blogger looked at the CNN statistics and argued that Republican Party has swept the nation disproportionately with voters who have higher-than-average incomes.
A poll that was cited by Bloomberg gives detail on the demographic composition of the Republican Party. More than 90 per cent of Republican Party backers say the United States is moving more toward socialism than capitalism, while 70 per cent of Republican Party backers want the more central government to be involved in job creation. In other words, the voters don’t want the central government interfering except in certain selected areas (Tannahill, 2002).
Campaign Themes
James “Big Jim” Walker campaign theme is “Winning the Future”. This campaign theme will help James “Big Jim” Walker promote its policies. Additionally, it will help to brand James’ youth outreach effort. In Texas State, there has been a reduction in unemployment but it is still high. Therefore, economic insecurity for many Texans has been a huge concern in the past 4 years. The current politicians that are in charge if they are given second chance will only return the same structures that led to Texas economic downturn. James Walker philosophy is simple, Texans are better off when the government is in control. Currently, Texas State is amid voter’s re-examination of the economy and many voters feel the economy disproportionately favours the few elite (Smith, 1980).
Win or Lose
On the economy, James “Big Jim” Walker should emphasize free markets and personal or individual achievement as the primary factors that will help Texas State to prosper economically. Most voters in Texas believe the government should help less fortunate people; however, they believe the effective way in helping less fortunate people is through the private sector. Therefore, the State should put in place policies that will encourage the private sector to prosper (Smith, 1980).
On environmental issues, the government should support the protection of the environment. According to James “Big Jim” Walker policy on the environment, environmental protection and economic prosperity must advance together. Once he has been elected the governor, he should make sure environmental policy meets the needs of local communities in Texas (Long, 1990).
Most Republican voters denounced the teachers’ unions and the performance of the public institution system. Therefore, James “Big Jim” Walker should work on introducing a system that will bring accountability for learning institutions, for example, most Republicans supported the No Child Left behind Act that was introduced in 2001.
Policy on Health, as we all know overall spending on the NHS has been rising every year, James “Big Jim” Walker manifesto confirms. James “Big Jim” Walker also promises managerial reforms in the Texas State health sector that will make the services to be more efficient. With James “Big Jim” Walker candidacy will create rules and bureaucracy in the health sector. Staff in the NHS will properly be accountable to the patients they treat. Additionally, GPs’ pay would be linked to the quality of medical practitioners’ results. And there will be no discrimination in accessing healthcare services. The voters don’t want the central government interfering except in certain selected areas
Works Cited
- Anthony, Elaine. Guide to Texas State agencies. Michigan: The School, 1998
- Long, John. The Republican party: its history, principles and policies. New York: The M. W. Hazen co.1990.
- Smith, Ray. The Republican party: what it has stood for and what it stands for today. New York: The Syracuse press, inc., 1980.
- Tannahill, Neal. Texas Government: Policy and Politics. Texas: Longman Publisher, 2002.