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Texas Agriculture Archive

November 7, 2003

Let the election games begin!

By Steve Pringle

TFB Legislative Director

Up until the late 1970s, elections in Texas were decided in the Democratic Primary. Yes, we still had a general election, but the Democrats almost always won.

However, about 1980, we began to see a shift in party politics to the general election, with the Republican party becoming ever stronger. Now, with the redistricting plan approved by the state legislature and signed by the Governor, (assuming it passes the court tests) we will soon begin electing our Congressmen in the Republican Primary, with the general election, again, mostly meaningless. At least that seems to be the most likely outcome of our most recent three months of state legislative activity.

After removing the personalities (and that is difficult to do), primary election determinations may not be so bad. After all, less people vote in the primary, and organizations like Farm Bureau—whose members take the time to vote—can possibly be more influential in elective politics.

But let's look at some of the personalities. Texas stands to lose at least four rural Democratic friends, not the least of which is Congressman Charlie Stenholm, who is the ranking minority member of the House Agriculture Committee (two years ago both the chairman and ranking member were from Texas). After the next election we will be back to one member on the committee, and that one will be in his second term—if the redistricting experts have their way—or we could continue to have the ranking minority member.

We also stand to lose Congressmen Chet Edwards, Max Sandlin, Jim Turner, Ralph Hall, and numerous other friends who have voted with Farm Bureau. We have always been able to count on these friends in providing those government services that agriculture needs and deserves.

All is not lost with Republicans, however.

Remember, we were able to pass the 2002 Farm Bill with the leadership of Chairman Larry Combest and many Republican votes (unfortunately a majority of Texas Republicans voted against the 2002 Farm Bill).

But on those tax cut and less government spending issues—and there are probably more of those than the government needs' issues—we will get almost a unanimous vote from our Republican friends, even those in the urban areas.

So where to now?

I am confident that rural Texas will elect members of Congress that are friendly to our most important issues. It will be their responsibility to convince their majority party to enact those things that are important to agriculture.

Yes, rural Texas will survive, possibly with a few of our old friends, and probably a significant number of new ones. Texas has done an about-face. Now, let the election games begin!