Greater Houston - Politics

Politics

Politically, the Greater Houston area has historically been divided between areas of strength of the Republican and Democratic parties.

The city of Houston itself has historically voted Democratic except for its affluent western and west-central portions, including the River Oaks, Westchase, Memorial and Uptown areas, as well as the Kingwood and Clear Lake City master-planned communities on Houston's far northeast and southeast sides, respectively. All these areas favor and are almost entirely represented both in Congress and in the Texas Legislature by Republicans. Democrats' strongest areas are within Loop 610, and also in the largely poor and minority northern, eastern and southern portions of Houston. Most of these areas have sizable Hispanic populations, though some northern and southern parts of the city have notable African-American communities. Democrats are also stronger in the more liberal Neartown area, which is home to a large artist and LGBT community, and Alief, which houses a sizable Asian American population. In 2008, almost every county in the region voted for Republican John McCain; only Harris County was won by Democratic candidate Barack Obama, by a small margin (51%–49%). Galveston has long been a staunch Democratic stronghold, with the most active Democratic county establishment in the state.

Houston's suburbs, are also politically divided. Such examples:

• Pasadena, which went for Barack Obama, is heavily Hispanic and lower-middle class on its north side, which favors Democrats, and slightly more affluent on its south side, which favors Republicans. A northwestern section of the city is represented by Democrat Ana Hernandez (District 143), while the city's central core, which contains most of its population, is represented by Republican Robert Talton (District 144). A small, largely unincorporated southeastern section of the city is represented by Republican John Davis (District 129), who also represents the NASA Johnson Space Center. Hernandez's district is also home to Galena Park and Jacinto City, which also have large Hispanic populations that favor Democrats.

• In Fort Bend County, southwest of Houston, Democrats are strongest in northern Missouri City and older sections of Rosenberg, which are home to large numbers of African-American and Hispanic voters, while more affluent areas of the county, such as Sugar Land, Katy, and Sienna Plantation, are heavily Republican. These areas house sizable Asian-American populations, many of whom are largely pro-business and generally favor Republicans, though a sizable community of Democratic business owners does exist among the area's Asian caucuses. In the 2008 election, John McCain won the county by 51% to 49%. Republicans control every county-wide elected office.

• Montgomery County, north of Houston, is a Republican stronghold, supported by voters in affluent communities on Lake Conroe and in The Woodlands. Rural residents of the county, though primarily lower- and middle-class, tend to be very socially conservative and also have a substantial Republican following. However, the city of Conroe proper, the county seat, tends to lean Democratic. Although The Woodlands is home to many corporate transplants from Europe, Japan, Canada, and Australia, who tend to be of a more liberal persuasion, most of these people are not U.S. citizens and thus have little impact on the voting trends of the county.

• The mainland areas of Galveston County, north of Galveston Island, have also become increasingly divided on political issues. Democrats have a presence in La Marque and Texas City, both of which are home to large numbers of unionized refinery workers and African Americans, a traditionally Democratic voting bloc. However, Democrats' strength in this area is increasingly being superseded by newer developments in the northern areas of the county around Friendswood and League City that favor Republicans.

• Brazoria County, south of Houston, is heavily Republican, especially in rural areas and in central portions of the county, such as Manvel, Alvin, and Angleton. However, Democrats perform strongly in southern portions of the county such as Lake Jackson, Clute, and Freeport due to its large Hispanic population as well as its large base of unionized refinery workers. Additionally, the northern areas of the county around fast-growing Pearland have recently become more moderate and even Democratic compared to the rest of the county due to its ethnic diversity as well as large numbers of Northern and West Coast transplants.

• In Liberty County, east of Houston, Republicans are represented at the state and federal levels, and the county went strongly for John McCain in 2008. However, Democrats hold a near-monopoly in county politics, though in 2006 it elected a countywide Republican (the County Treasurer position) for the first time since Reconstruction.

• Chambers County, between Harris and Jefferson counties, is one of the most Republican counties in the area. According to the Office of the Secretary of State, in 2008, Republicans carried all of the candidates except for one Democratic judge, whom ran unopposed. The county went 75% for John McCain over Barack Obama. The same held true in 2010 when Republicans won all county wide elections ranging from 71% to 91%.