Delivering unrivaled insight into the latest trends and issues, Jones/Maxwell/Crain/Davis/Wlezien/Flores' TEXAS POLITICS TODAY, 19th edition, combines a comparative approach with tightly integrated learning objectives and questions addressing the Texas GOVT2306 Core Objectives. Equipping you to think critically, it offers expanded coverage of ideology and social issues, Texas demographic changes, the importance of Latinos in Texas politics, political polarization, legislative rules changes, districting, voting obstacles, criminal justice reforms and more. First person essays illustrate how Texas politics works in real-world practice. Closing the gap between political theory and reality, the text gives you a clear understanding of how Texas compares with other states. In addition, MindTap for Texas Politics equips you with "anywhere, anytime" digital learning tools.

In the 2014 midterm election, Democrats in Texas did not receive even 40 percent of the statewide vote; Republicans swept the tables both in Texas and nationally. But even after two decades of democratic losses, there is a path to turn Texas blue, argues Mary Beth Rogers - if Democrats are smart enough to see and follow it. Rogers is the last person to successfully campaign-manage a Democrat, Governor Ann Richards, to the statehouse in Austin. In a lively narrative, Rogers tells the story of how Texas moved so far to the right in such a short time and how Democrats might be able to move it back to the center. And, argues Rogers, that will mean a lot more of an effort than simply waiting for the state's demographics to shift even further towards Hispanics - a risky proposition at best. Rogers identifies a ten-point path for Texas Democrats to win at the statewide level and to build a base vote that would allow Texas to become a swing-vote player in national politics once again. One part of that shift starts with local Democratic candidates in local Republican communities making the connection between controversial local issues or problems and the statewide Republican policies that ignore or create them. For example, in a 2014 election in Denton-a Republican suburb-voters approved Texas's first ban on hydraulic fracking. The next day, though, a Republican Texas agency official announced that Texas would not honor the town's vote to ban. No democratic candidate picked up the issue. Change won't come easily, argues Rogers. But if Texas shifts to even a pale shade of purple, it changes everything in American politics today.

TEXAS POLITICS TODAY is the standard in its coverage of Texas institutions, policies, and politics. It combines a comparative approach with tightly integrated learning objectives and questions addressing the Texas GOVT2306 Core Objectives. The text closes the gap between theory and practice with its Insiders and Politics in Practice features. The text reveals the inner workings of Texas elites, interest groups, campaign megadonors, and policy makers. The authors tapped their resources among political activists and officeholders to provide students with exclusive essays written by essayists ranging from the governor to campaign consultants to marijuana advocates, showing students how real-world politics operates in Texas. Texas Politics Today stimulates critical thinking and civic participation with a special focus on current political issues ranging from immigration, LGBT politics, gun control policies, abortion laws, and Latino politics to the culture wars in education. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

Updated with the latest legislative and election results, Brown/Langenegger/Garcia/Biles/Rynbrandt/Reyna/Huerta's PRACTICING TEXAS POLITICS, ENHANCED, 17th Edition, shows you the ins and outs of public-policy making in the Lone Star State. It includes a special focus on the role of a growing Latino population, the effects of 2018 elections, the results of the 86th Texas Legislative Session and the impact of oil and gas on state finances. "Point/Counterpoint" features examine both sides of controversial issues -- illustrating that there is rarely a single "right" answer -- while "Students in Action" features spotlight students making a meaningful difference. Equipping you with anywhere, anytime learning, MindTap Political Science digital learning solution provides everything in one place -- eBook, activities, flashcards, quizzes, dictionary and more -- to maximize your study time.