Another indication that each party is setting itself up for the 2016 presidential election
This story is for 2306 students as they look at the nature of elections in Texas.
The Texas Two Step is the term used to refer to the peculiar way that Texas Democratic Party selects its presidential delegates. Simply put, 2/3rds of the delegates are selected in the primary election while the remaining 1/3rd are selected in the precinct convention held when the polls closed. This process is discussed in the section on the temporary party organization.
For more detail:
- A guide to Texas' electoral two-step.
- Texas Democratic primary and caucuses, 2008.
The unusual process allowed Obama to get more delegates from Texas than Hillary Clinton despite having lost the popular vote. Supporters of Clinton seemingly don't want to see that repeated in 2016.
Previous efforts to change the process had been unsuccessful. Here's a story about a failed attempt to do so in the 2010 Texas Democratic Convention:
- Democrats Keep Controversial "Texas Two-Step"
For more detail on the current effort:
- Saying goodbye to the Texas two-step.
- Texas Dems Dropping 'Two-Step' Presidential Primary.
- Texas Democrats ditching the “Texas 2-step;” no more primary caucus.
The Texas Republican Party simply uses the results of the popular election.
