Victor M. Morales is an American teacher who was the Democratic Party's nominee for the 2006 United States Senate election in Texas in 1996.
Morales was a 46-year-old Vietnam War veteran and civics teacher at Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas when his students dared him to run for Senate and he did.[1]
He campaigned around the state in his pickup truck. His campaign slogan was "Porque no? or "Why Not?" His only previous political experience was a two-year term on the City Council of his hometown of Crandall, Texas.[1]
Morales, who had never run for public office before, pulled a major upset in the primary by defeating three politicians: U.S. Congressman John Wiley Bryant, U.S. Congressman Jim Chapman, and former State Supreme Court litigator John Odam. In the March run-off, he defeated Bryant with 51% of the vote. He became the first minority candidate in Texas history to become a United States Senate nominee from either major party. Despite having no staff, raising only $15,000, and not accepting any special interest money he obtained 2.5 million votes.[2]
Exit polls showed that Morales won African Americans' votes (79% to 19%) and Latinos (79% to 20%) respectively.
Early life and education[]
Morales was born November 15, 1949, in Racine, Wisconsin. He was in the navy 1970-72 and served in the Philippines and Vietnam during the Vietnam War.[3] He graduated from Texas A&I University in 1976. He as a city council member in Crandall, Texas. He danced competitively.
See also[]
- 1996 United States Senate election in Texas
- Annie "Mamá" Garcia - Insurgent candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas in 2020 described by the Texas Tribune as "one fed-up mama"
- Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez - Latina candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas in 2020
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Verhovek, Sam Howe (April 11, 1996). "Running on Dare, Teacher Wins Senate Primary". New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/11/us/running-on-dare-teacher-wins-senate-primary.html. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ↑ "Candidate - Victor M. Morales". http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=428. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ↑ Swartz, Mimi. "Truckin’", Texas Monthly website, May 31, 1996. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
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