Miriam Ma Ferguson promised voters two governors for the price of one in Texas
In short: When Miriam Ferguson ran for governor in 1924, she made no secret of her political strategy. Her husband, a previously impeached governor, was the true architect of her administration. This unconventional partnership defined her two terms, leaving a legacy of populist reform, controversial pardons, and a complete overhaul of state law enforcement.
Miriam Amanda Wallace Ferguson, known as Ma, became the first elected female governor of Texas in 1924. Her path to office was paved by her husband, James Pa Ferguson, who had been impeached and barred from state office in 1917. During her campaign, Ma openly declared that voters would receive two governors for the price of one, frequently yielding the platform to her husband at rallies. Despite this, she secured a victory in the general election, defeating Republican George C. Butte with 58.9 percent of the vote.
Her administration was marked by the brand of populism known as Fergusonism. While she championed labor laws, rural education aid, and the establishment of the University of Houston as a four-year institution, her tenure was shadowed by scandal. She issued nearly 4,000 pardons, fueling persistent rumors that these were sold for cash to benefit her husband. These actions eventually led to a 1936 constitutional amendment that stripped the governor of unilateral pardon power, transferring it to an independent board.
The most significant institutional change during her second term, which began in 1933, involved the Texas Rangers. Following their political opposition to her, Ferguson discharged the entire force. The resulting vacuum in law enforcement allowed Depression-era criminals like Bonnie and Clyde to operate with relative impunity. This crisis forced the state to hire a Chicago consulting firm, leading to the creation of the Texas Department of Public Safety in 1935. Ferguson retired from politics after 1935, passing away in 1961 at the age of 86.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Miriam A. Ferguson
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