Causes for the rise of a strong Republican Party in Texas

The Democratic Party was started in Texas in 1848. Democrats had stiff competition with Whigs and Know Nothing Party. In Texas, the Grand Old Party (GOP) fell into trouble during the time of Civil War and Reconstruction. During the Civil War, Texas as a slave holding state took its stand with the confederates, but they were defeated. The unionists established a "carpetbag" system of government in the south. They placed their people in key positions without considering the local politics and thus promptly started the Reconstruction. The southerners stood with the Democrats because the Abraham Lincoln who led the Northerners belonged to the Republican Party. The Democrats not only swept Texas, but also throughout all regions of south which led to the term "Solid South." They won majority seats in congress, state legislatures, local and judicial contests. Large industrialists and landowners who controlled the state policies had a philosophy of conservatism. When the Texas constitution was passed in 1876 and the Reconstruction ended, the Democratic Party had a solid base in Texas.
During 1930s, there arose a liberal faction in the Democratic Party. They challenged the conservatives and there started factionalism within the party. The new liberal faction stood for a liberal philosophy. They favored reforms in political, economic, and social institutions. The period from 1950 to late 1970s experienced the rise of Republican Party. Conservatives began to leave Democratic Party and joined the Republican Party. The Republicans in Texas elevated the status of their party during 1960s and 1970s and sent their candidates to US Congress, legislature and local governments.
There were many reasons for the decline of the Democratic Party in Texas. One of the main reasons was that the importance of Civil War began to diminish among the youngsters of Texas. The white conservatives found that the Democratic Party, which was once conservative, was slowly drifting towards liberal policies. Meanwhile, Texas Republican Party also received supporters from outside south.
The period from 1978-94 witnessed competitive state politics and an emergence of two party system. The period also signaled the growth of the Republican Party.
There is no doubt that Texas has a two party system, but the Republicans are dominant in the state. In 2002 elections, the Republicans had captured most of the statewide offices, legislature, and both Senate and House. After the polls of 2004, Republicans once again consolidated their position. The statistics of 20004 reveal that the majority of the Texans favored the Republican Party and only 38.8% leaned towards the Democratic Party.