Turning Texas Blue

What It Will Take to Break the GOP Grip on America's Reddest State

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Current Events, Political Science, Government, Local Government, Elections
Cover of the book Turning Texas Blue by Mary Beth Rogers, St. Martin's Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Mary Beth Rogers ISBN: 9781466891715
Publisher: St. Martin's Press Publication: January 19, 2016
Imprint: St. Martin's Press Language: English
Author: Mary Beth Rogers
ISBN: 9781466891715
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication: January 19, 2016
Imprint: St. Martin's Press
Language: English

In the 2014 midterm election, Democrats in Texas did not receive even 40 percent of the statewide vote; Republicans swept the tables both in Texas and nationally. But even after two decades of democratic losses, there is a path to turn Texas blue, argues Mary Beth Rogers - if Democrats are smart enough to see and follow it.

Rogers is the last person to successfully campaign-manage a Democrat, Governor Ann Richards, to the statehouse in Austin. In a lively narrative, Rogers tells the story of how Texas moved so far to the right in such a short time and how Democrats might be able to move it back to the center. And, argues Rogers, that will mean a lot more of an effort than simply waiting for the state's demographics to shift even further towards Hispanics - a risky proposition at best. Rogers identifies a ten-point path for Texas Democrats to win at the statewide level and to build a base vote that would allow Texas to become a swing-vote player in national politics once again. One part of that shift starts with local Democratic candidates in local Republican communities making the connection between controversial local issues or problems and the statewide Republican policies that ignore or create them. For example, in a 2014 election in Denton-a Republican suburb-voters approved Texas's first ban on hydraulic fracking. The next day, though, a Republican Texas agency official announced that Texas would not honor the town's vote to ban. No democratic candidate picked up the issue.

Change won't come easily, argues Rogers. But if Texas shifts to even a pale shade of purple, it changes everything in American politics today.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

In the 2014 midterm election, Democrats in Texas did not receive even 40 percent of the statewide vote; Republicans swept the tables both in Texas and nationally. But even after two decades of democratic losses, there is a path to turn Texas blue, argues Mary Beth Rogers - if Democrats are smart enough to see and follow it.

Rogers is the last person to successfully campaign-manage a Democrat, Governor Ann Richards, to the statehouse in Austin. In a lively narrative, Rogers tells the story of how Texas moved so far to the right in such a short time and how Democrats might be able to move it back to the center. And, argues Rogers, that will mean a lot more of an effort than simply waiting for the state's demographics to shift even further towards Hispanics - a risky proposition at best. Rogers identifies a ten-point path for Texas Democrats to win at the statewide level and to build a base vote that would allow Texas to become a swing-vote player in national politics once again. One part of that shift starts with local Democratic candidates in local Republican communities making the connection between controversial local issues or problems and the statewide Republican policies that ignore or create them. For example, in a 2014 election in Denton-a Republican suburb-voters approved Texas's first ban on hydraulic fracking. The next day, though, a Republican Texas agency official announced that Texas would not honor the town's vote to ban. No democratic candidate picked up the issue.

Change won't come easily, argues Rogers. But if Texas shifts to even a pale shade of purple, it changes everything in American politics today.

More books from St. Martin's Press

Cover of the book The Big Book of Irony by Mary Beth Rogers
Cover of the book Stark by Mary Beth Rogers
Cover of the book Dread Murder by Mary Beth Rogers
Cover of the book By Invitation Only by Mary Beth Rogers
Cover of the book The King's Coat by Mary Beth Rogers
Cover of the book Be My Prince by Mary Beth Rogers
Cover of the book The New Age Dog by Mary Beth Rogers
Cover of the book Funk by Mary Beth Rogers
Cover of the book Perfect Beauty by Mary Beth Rogers
Cover of the book Actually, It Is Your Parents' Fault by Mary Beth Rogers
Cover of the book The Secret Miracle by Mary Beth Rogers
Cover of the book The Reckoning by Mary Beth Rogers
Cover of the book Myths About Sex & Pregnancy by Mary Beth Rogers
Cover of the book Spider from Mars by Mary Beth Rogers
Cover of the book Short-Term Trading in the New Stock Market by Mary Beth Rogers
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy