Demographic Support

Congratulations!  You have just been hired to organize and manage the 2018 Gubernatorial Campaign for Jane “Bitzi” Johnson Miller.  She is the granddaughter of former governor Joe “Big Daddy” Johnson (Governor in a fictional Texas from 1954-1958) and a conservative Republican.  She was born and raised in west Texas on a ranch. Divorced, with two grown children, she started her own software company in Dallas in 1993- she sold it to Dell in 2014 for $2.5 million. Based on what you know about the history, geography, economy and political culture of Texas, advise “Bitzi” Johnson Miller on how she should run her campaign.  Based on the lectures, course readings and an analysis of the distribution of presidential and gubernatorial votes in 2014 (http://www.texastribune.org/2014/11/05/interactive-compare-governors-race-2010-2014/) develop a campaign plan to help “Bitzi” win the 2018 gubernatorial election in Texas. The paper should make it clear that you understand what kind of candidate can win in Texas, where they are likely to get votes; what types of people are likely to vote for your candidate, what issues are important and how those issues will appeal to voters and why a candidate is likely to win or lose in The Lone Star State!

< Yo Your Paper should include the Following:

Title Page (title of paper, date, class and your name)

Picture of your candidate (download a picture of what you think “Bitzi” Johnson Miller would look like)

Body of the paper (at least 5 pages) must include:

Section 1: Introduction

Describe candidate – family, experience, education, and other characteristics that will help “Bitzi” win. To get full credit, add additional qualities to the description in the assignment (maybe race, description of professional experience, additional family members, etc.). This is where you sell your candidate- make me want to vote for her!  Points will be deducted if you do not offer a thorough (at least two paragraphs) and compelling description of the candidate that would make people in Texas want to vote for her.

Section 2: Cultural and Regional Support

Her likely strength among the different historic political cultures: (traditionalistic, individualistic, and moralistic) and specific geographic regions of Texas. In which regions will she do well? In which geographic regions will she do poorly? Thoroughly explain your answer. For example, will she do better in the Metroplex or West Texas? How about East Texas or Permian Basin? Tell me at least three regions in which she will do well and explain why.  Points will be deducted if you do not describe the three political cultures and explain why people from at least one would vote for “Bitzi.” Likewise, points will be deducted if you do not identify at least three geographic regions that will support her candidacy and explain why.

Section 3: Demographic Support

Describing key groups (ideological, racial, gender and economic) likely to vote for her and why. Will she get more liberal or conservative votes? Will she get more votes from Hispanics, African Americans or whites? Will women voter for her? Will she gain votes from specific economic groups (lower income, middle class or higher income)? Explain why the groups you note will vote for her and how the campaign will reach out to each one.  Points will be deducted if you do not identify the demographic groups that will support her and explain why they will support her.

Section 4:  Campaign Themes

Present three issues (for example: education reform; economic development; the economy; cutting taxes; cutting  spending; more or less government regulation)  that will be the central focus of your campaign and why you selected those issues and not others. Explain her position on each of the three issues and how they might help her appeal demographic groups noted above.  Points will be deducted if you do not discuss (not just list) at least three issues and explain how those positions will help her appeal to voters.

Section 5: Win or Lose

E              Evaluation of “Bitzi’s” chances of winning based on the rest of the paper and at least three articles discussing the 2014 Texas Governor’s race. In other words, look at three articles on the 2014 race and evaluate where and why Greg Abbott (Republican) won and Wendy Davis (Democrat) lost. Use and reference these articles as well as the campaign you describe above (regional support, demographic support and campaign themes and issues) to explain why “Bitzi” will win or lose.