Political Parties of Texas in the early 20th century (1928)
1) El Partido Viejo
The Partido Viejo began through the conflict between the "Botas" (boots) - old-money political bosses such as President Raymond Martin and the "Guaraches" (sandals) - lower-class politicians such as Santos Benavides. But following the rise of the Popular Union, men such as Benavides began to abandon the conflict to forge their own path.
Enter Archie Parr. A native of Matagorda Island, Parr was an Anglo from a modest family. In his youth, Parr lived in Duval County and San Antonio - both regions with Hispanic majorities. Parr worked at a plantation with mostly Mexican labourers, and served the Liberty Party for a brief period before beginning to contest local elections against Liberty candidates - who were primarily Anglos and Frenchmen, despite the county's Mexican majority. Parr positioned himself as a 'patron' of the Hispanic lower-class, fighting against discrimination from the Tejanos and the whites alike, and attempted to appeal to those living south of the Rio Grande as well as immigrants in San Antonio and El Paso. Parr earned much success in his political candidacy, becoming a pan-Texas leader with the help of former Botas and Guaraches alike, who all disliked the rising Popular Union. Today, the PV is a moderately successful party, and has begun to emerge as a formidable rival of the Partido Liberal in Coahuila, Tamaulipas, and New Leon.
2) Partido Liberal
Speaking of which..
The Liberal Party was founded following the end of the Mexican Civil War and the overthrowal of Infante Carlos by Benito Juarez, by Jesus Carranza Neira. Carranza, a staunch supporter of Juarez's liberal revolution, founded the party to represent the many Mexicans living south of the Rio Grande who wished to reunify with their brethren in Mexico. The Liberals rose as the main political party in the Coahuila region, and continue to rule today, led by Carranza's son. The PL have traditionally avoided allying with any mainstream Texan parties, and instead have sometimes used violence to achieve their goals. Today, they stand as the main party south of the Rio Grande, especially in Coahuila, although the Partido Viejo's rise has begun to create competition.
3) The Liberty Party
The oldest and most esteemed party in Texas, the Liberty Party was founded by Sam Houston and Mirabeau LaMar in the 1840s, back when Texas had just earned its independence. The Liberty Party has ruled Texas through good times and bad, from the victory against Louisiana to the crushing losses suffered in the war against California. It has effectively become the dominant party in the whole country, but it is not without opposition.
Led by John Nance Garner, or "Jeannot le Nopal", the Liberty Party now attempts to broaden its horizons, appealing to Hispanics, Germans, and others while shunning its earlier image as a party of the elite in order to win over the votes of the common men.
4) The Popular Union
In the 1890s, the Popular Union was founded from a collection of disparate groups - the Mexican-Texan Club, the Farmers' Alliance, the remnants of the old German Casino-Verein and numerous labour unions. The union's strength came from Anglo and German farmers, who were greatly unhappy with the situation in the country following the wars with California and Louisiana. Mexican supporters of the party were, by and large, members of radical societies, especially those who opposed the Botas and were dissatisfied with the Guaraches. Afro-Texans were also prominent in their support for the Union, as the least racist party (although least in this sentence is of course, relative) and the most willing to oppose racial discrimination (though still unwilling).
Today, the Union is led by Henri Wurzbach, and seems to be enjoying more support throughout Texas following economic chaos and famine caused by dust storms. It is likely that the Union might usurp the Liberty Party in the next election, though not entirely opposed.