Becoming an Informed Voter: Researching Texas Congressional Delegation

This research paper provides an in-depth analysis of the political history of San Antonio, Texas, and the broader Texas political landscape. It examines the dominance of the Republican Party in rural Texas, the influence of the Texas Democratic Party, and the state's position as a swing state. The paper delves into the evolution of the Democratic Party in Texas, contrasting it with the rise of the Republican Party. It also includes a detailed discussion of State Senator José Menéndez, his background, political journey, and the views of various interest groups on his performance. The paper concludes by summarizing the key findings, emphasizing the tendency of Texans to support one political party for extended periods and the current dominance of the Republican Party. The paper also references various sources, including academic journals and news articles, to support its claims and provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. The assignment fulfills the requirements of GOVT 2306, focusing on becoming an informed voter through research on congressional delegations and state senators.

BEcoming an informed voter
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CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION 1
Today Texas stays Republican, deciding in favor of Donald Trump in 2016
(Texastribune.org, 2020). Republican predominance of rustic Texas keeps the larger part of
Texas regions Republican. In this essay, there will be a discussion about the recent political
history of San Antonio, Texas. Apart from this, the situation of the state and congressional
district voted in the recent presidential and congressional elections will also be discussed.
Moreover, the discussion will also incorporate the current State Senator José Menéndez.

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION 2
The political history of San Antonio, Texas
Republican dominance of rural Texas has all the majority of Texas counties
Republican. Currently, the Texas Democratic Party holds around 13 of the state’s 36 US
house seats. From a political perspective, Texas is marked as a red state due to various
emerging factors. Apart from this, the government of this state operates under the constitution
of Texas and it consists of a unitary democratic state government that operates under a
presidential system with the guided framework of Dillon Rule. Texas is also considered as
the swing states. With Texas, several other states are included in the swing states such as
Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia, all of which
came within a 10-point margin of victory in the 2016 Election (Gray, 2019).
Texas Democratic Party
Preceding the Annexation of Texas, the Democratic Party had a dependable balance
in the legislative issues of the locale. A ground-breaking gathering of men that considered
themselves the "Texas Association" filled in as an early model for the Democratic Party of
Texas (Justfacts.votesmart.org, 2020). The Texas Association drew its enrolment from
effective dealers, specialists, and attorneys, frequently going from Tennessee (McGregor &
Mourão, 2017). Numerous individuals from the Texas association were dear companions of
Andrew Jackson, and most hosted solid connections to the Democratic Get-together. Also, a
large portion of different pioneers in Texas was from states in the south, and American
southerners of this time commonly held solid loyalties to the Democratic Party (Krochmal,
2016).
The Texas Democratic Party is the essential association answerable for expanding the
portrayal of its ideological base in the state, area, province, and regional government. Its
perpetual staff gives preparing and assets to Democratic up-and-comers inside the state,

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION 3
especially on grassroots association and raising support (Calvert, De Leon & Cantrell, 2020).
The Party association screens political talk in the state and talks for the benefit of its
individuals. The gathering utilizes a full-time Communications Director who is liable for the
association's interchanges methodology, which incorporates talking with setting up state and
national media (Lim, Silveira & Snyder, 2016).
The dominant political party in the State
The Republican Party of Texas is the dominant party in Texas. This party is affiliated
with the United States Republican Party and this party is lead under the leadership of State
Chairman. James Dickey (Texastribune.org, 2020). The Vice-Chairmen of this party are
Alma Jackson. Previously, the Democratic Party was dominating Texas politics. This party
was dominating the state since the late 1960s and it the mid of 1990, this party has become
the state’s dominant political party (Daemmrich, 2019). As time passes, the power and
popularity of this party have started decreasing to the bottom level and their place is taken by
the Republican Party. Currently, at the federal level, the separate delegation of the Texas
Congressional delegation is composed of 24 Republicans and 12 Democrats. Apart from this,
2 US Senators have belonged from the Republican Party (Daemmrich, 2019). In Texas, it is
observed that a single political party rule for a particular time and as time passes their ruling
power has also changed. As, this was the last time in 1976 when the state people voted for
Jimmy Carter and until this year, it was the last time when any candidate from the
Democratic Party. At that time, Jimmy Carter was the person who was handling the functions
of the Democratic Party effectively and efficiently (McGregor & Mourão, 2017).
The tendency of supporting one political party for a long time
The voter of the state starts fascinating with the Republican Party due to the
increasing social liberalism in the Democratic Party. Since then (1980) Republican Party won

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION 4
every election. In 105 years, William Perry Clements Jr. Dallas had become the first governor
who belongs to the Republican governor (Senate.texas.gov, 2017). It is observed that people
tend to support a particular political party for a long hold. Before the Republican Party, the
state people were supporting the Democratic Party for a long time effectively and efficiently.
Apart from this, the Republican Party grew significantly in Texas during Reconstruction after
protected alterations liberating the slaves and offering suffrage to dark guys, as blacks joined
the gathering that had guaranteed the end of slavery (Smith, 2017).
José Menéndez's journey of becoming a state senator and a brief introduction of his
background
State Senator. José Menéndez is the senator of the state. He has been serving the
district since the year 2015. He was born in San Antonia and in his childhood, he grew up by
working at his family’s small business that was located in the city’s west side
(Senate.texas.gov, 2017). Menéndez has passed over 200 bills that are currently delivering
immense benefit to children, seniors and all the San Antonio families effectively and
efficiently. Among 200 bills, David's Law was designed to deliver immense benefit to
students and schools in the form of preventing combat and cyberbullying (Texastribune.org,
2020). Senator. José Menéndez started his public service career in the year 1997. This year,
he was elected to the position of San Antonio's city council district. Late on, in the year 2000,
he was elected to serve as the State Representative for House District (Texastribune.org,
2020). In 2017, he was also awarded the "Texas Municipal League Legislator of the Year
Award”. He belongs to the Democrat party. On 1st March 2016, he won the election by
defeating Trey Martinez Fischer (opponent).

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION 5
Rating of interest groups to José Menéndez
Various interest groups provided their views about the senator José Menéndez. For
this session, the rating of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is concerned, José
Menéndez stands on 100% at NARAL Pro-Choice Texas. As per ACLU, the got the positive
click on animals and wildlife, business and consumers, civil liberties and civil rights, energy,
the executive branch, etc (Senate.texas.gov, 2017). Apart from this, as per the economy and
fiscal parameters of ACLU about the government of José Menéndez, 30% parameters are
concluded in the section of Empower Texans for fiscal responsibilities and 76% parameters
are concluding on the fulfillment of Texas Association of Business (Calvert, De Leon &
Cantrell, 2020).
José Menéndez is the liberal leader
José Menéndez is a liberal leader. He is the leader of Texas who supports new
ideology and methods for the benefit of all the citizens. Apart from this, he also holds few
traditional values and but most of the time his decisions reflect that he focuses on the future
growth of the country. As per the rating issued by the American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU) I consider him the liberal leaders. However, because of his behavior to hold few old
traditional values many people especially opponent party leaders showcase that José
Menéndez shows the parameters of liberal behaviour but deep inside his is extremely
conservative by nature (Justfacts.votesmart.org, 2020). Here, I would like to add that it is
great if he still holds the old traditional values with liberal approaches.
In this essay, it is concluded that in Texas there is the tendency of supporting one
political party for a long time. Currently, the Republican party is the elect party in the state
and previously the Democratic party had ruled the state. Apart from this, it is also concluded
that the leader of the Republican party is State Chairman. James Dickey and Vice-Chairmen

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION 6
of this party is Alma Jackson. State Senator. José Menéndez is the senator of the state.
According to the parameters of NARAL pro-choice Texas of ACLU, José Menéndez is been
marked as the liberal leader. In the end, general qualities of a political leader is also
discussed.

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION 7
References
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Cohen, R. E., Barnes, J. A., Cook, C., Barone, M., Jacobson, L., & Peck, L. F. (2019). The
Almanac of American Politics 2020: Members of Congress and Governors: Columbia
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Daemmrich. B. (2019). State Senator José Menéndez: The STAAR Test Is Hurting Our Kids.
We Need to Act Now. Retrieved from: https://www.texasmonthly.com/opinion/state-
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Gray, G. (2019). The Ideological Foundation of the People’s Party of Texas. California: UNC
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Justfacts.votesmart.org. (2020). José Menéndez's Ratings and Endorsements. Retrieved from:
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CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION 8
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CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION 9
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