Glossary: Elections and Campaigns in Texas
blanket primary: A primary in which the ballot is not restricted to candidates from one party
campaign: the efforts of candidates to secure positions in the government or the efforts to get policy matters adopted
caucus: a form of candidate nomination that occurs in a town-hall style format rather than a day-long election; usually reserved for presidential elections
closed primary: a primary election in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote.
coattail effect: the result when a popular presidential candidate helps candidates from his or her party win their own elections
delegates: party members who are chosen to represent a particular candidate at the party’s state- or national-level nominating convention
district system: the means by which electoral votes are divided between candidates based on who wins districts and/or the state
election: the process by which government officials are selected and matters of policy are determined
electoral college: the constitutionally created group of individuals, chosen by the states, with the responsibility of formally selecting the next U.S. president
general election: the election in which voters cast ballots to select public officials
gerrymandering: the drawing of district lines to guarantee a desired electoral outcome
incumbency advantage: the advantage held by officeholders that allows them to often win reelection
incumbent: the current holder of a political office
midterm elections: the congressional elections that occur in the even-numbered years between presidential election years, in the middle of the president’s term
nonpartisan blanket primary. A primary in which the ballot is not restricted to candidates from one party, where the top two candidates advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation
open primary: a primary election in which any registered voter can participate in the contest, regardless of party affiliation
platform: the set of issues important to the political party and the party delegates
political action committees (PACs): organizations created to raise money for political campaigns and spend money to influence policy and politics
primary election: a ballot vote in which citizens select a party's nominee for the general election
Raiding: occurs when voters of one party cross over and vote in the primary of another party, effectively allowing a party to help choose its opposition’s candidate.
runoff primary: a second primary election held between the two candidates who received the most votes in the primary election if no candidate in the first primary election had received a majority
shadow campaign: a campaign run by political action committees and other organizations without the coordination of the candidate
special elections: an election that is not held on a regularly scheduled basis. In
Texas, a special election is called to ratify amendments to the Texas Constitution, fill a vacancy in a public office, or give approval for the state government to borrow money.
straight-ticket voting: the practice of voting only for candidates from the same party
super PACs: officially known as Independent Expenditure-Only Committees; organizations that can fundraise and spend as they please to support or attack a candidate but not contribute directly to a candidate or strategize with a candidate’s campaign
top-two primary: a primary election in which the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party, become the nominees for the general election
winner-take-all system: all electoral votes for a state are given to the candidate who wins the most votes in that state