Homa J. Porter

Homa Jackson Porter, usually known as H. J. Porter or Jack Porter (February 21, 1896 – December 7, 1986) was an American businessman and political activist. A key figure in building a competitive Republican Party in his home state of Texas after a century of dominance by the Democratic Party, Porter was best known as future president Lyndon Johnson's general election opponent in the 1948 contest for a seat in the United States Senate.

Early life Porter was born in Annetta, Texas on February 21, 1896, the last of seven children born to James Ewing Porter and Isabella Lavonia (Turner) Porter. He was raised on his family's cotton and corn farm and in Weatherford, Texas. After returning home he worked in real estate and automobile sales in Purcell, Oklahoma, then decided to pursue a career in the petroleum business. Porter moved back to Texas to speculate in land, mineral rights, and test wells for oil drilling, and found success as an independent oil producer. Porter became a Republican after the 1940 election, and began a long term effort to construct a competitive Republican Party in Texas.

U.S. Senate candidate

With Texas part of the Democratic Party's Solid South since the end of the Reconstruction era in the 1870s, the Democratic nomination for statewide office had long been considered tantamount to election. In 1948, the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senator to succeed the retiring W. Lee O'Daniel was won by Lyndon Johnson, who defeated the more conservative Coke Stevenson by less than 100 votes in a bitter runoff election that included allegations of fraud. Stevenson endorsed Porter in the general election, and Porter espoused a platform that included advocacy of states' rights, the continuation of racial segregation, militant anti-communism, and a pro-business approach to tax and economic policy. In addition, Porter argued that Johnson was corrupt and that the runoff election results were so tainted that if Johnson won the general election, the U.S. Senate might refuse to seat him, depriving Texas of half its representation. Porter also argued that with Truman supposedly sure to lose to Republican Thomas E. Dewey, a Republican U.S. Senator could be more effective than a Democrat.

Later life Texas Republicans experienced increased voter support in the years that followed.

In 1957, he defended the Eisenhower's administration decision to dispatch troops to Little Rock.

In 1958, Porter was the subject of controversy when he arranged a $100 per plate fundraiser to aid Republican candidates. His solicitation letter highlighted his closeness with U.S. House minority leader Joseph W. Martin Jr. and suggested that Texans affiliated with the petroleum industry should contribute generously, because with Martin's help Congress could pass an oil and natural gas deregulation bill sponsored by Congressman Oren Harris, which most Texans favored. Republican John Tower won the 1961 special election to replace Johnson in the Senate, a further indication that Porter's 1948 candidacy had put Texas Republicans on the road to viability. Porter continued to support Republican candidates in the 1960s and 1970s, including George H. W. Bush's campaigns for the U.S. House and Senate.

Porter was head of the Harris County campaign of Barry Goldwater for president in 1964, and in 1967 the Harris County Republican Party honored Porter as its Man of the Year. In 1968, Porter initially supported Ronald Reagan for president and later gave his support to Richard Nixon.

In 1972, Porter managed the campaign of Henry Grover, the Republican nominee for governor of Texas. Grover lost to Democrat Dolph Briscoe by less than three percentage points (47.8% to 45%), a further indication that Porter's efforts to create a competitive Republican Party in Texas were succeeding.

Death and burial Porter died in Houston, Texas on December 7, 1986.

Family In 1917, Porter married Ilona Adelia Campbell (1899–1994). They were the parents of a son, James William Porter (1919–2015).