Of course, these cultures can also mix together. Elazar’s theory states that Texas is a mixture of traditionalist and individualist political cultures. So, if an individualistic political culture focuses on individual achievement – think of the lone cowboy going out on the range doing the job to the best of his ability – then government activities should focus on opportunities for individual achievement. The traditionalist political culture represents southerners who migrated to East Texas and brought the values of a hierarchical society with traditional moral values and discourages government activities other than to keep power in the hands of these dominant groups. Both of these cultures describe Texas today-a conservative state with little government intervention in the economy, keeping taxes low and spending little. But we must also recognize the tension between the two cultures. While an individualistic political culture emphasizes individual freedom with little government interference, a traditionalist political culture promotes the values of a traditional social order.
The political culture of Texas currently prizes itself for being pro-business, with low government regulation, and no state income tax, in line with traditionalist and individualist cultures. It has also historically been characterized by low voter turnout, lower than most other American states – with the argument that Texans view political participation as an economic perk versus the value of contributing to society. Texas is also a state with a history of suppressing minority voters.
However, in 2018, the senatorial race between Republican Ted Cruz and Democrat Beto O’Rourke brought a record turnout of nearly eight million people in a non-presidential election year.
There has been speculation that Texas will see more competition between political parties in future elections, and even that a Democrat could win the national election in Republican Texas. In 2020, sixty-six percent of Texas registered voters participated – the highest Texas voter turnout since 1992, when two Texans were on the ballot, Ross Perot and George H.W. Bush; seventy-three percent of eligible Texans voted that year.
The division of power between federal, state, and local governments, known as federalism, gives states the ability to create their own governmental structures, determine how elections will be conducted, and what policies they choose to prioritize. In other words, it allows states the ability to create a government that fits the culture in the state in question. There is no reason to believe that the government of Texas should be set up like the government of New York. While Elazar’s contribution is still widely accepted, a new description of culture is emerging that takes into account economic and social changes. There have been social and demographic changes. Immigrants no longer come primarily from Europe, but also from Asia and countries to our south. In Texas, we also have people moving here from other states with different political cultures, primarily from California, New York, and Illinois. We now live in a highly mobile society where people choose where they live based on factors that fit their lifestyles. This new political culture is seeing cities that are more socially diverse and more tolerant of nontraditional lifestyles. Texas may be changing, and it will be interesting to see how these new factors affect the political culture, but when thinking about Texas’ political culture, keep in mind that change happens over time.