The so-called third tradition faction of the Republican Party—sometimes called the Deplorable Entourage by critics—dates back to the GOPs uneasy alliance with the Ku Klux Klan during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. That dark chapter remains more than a historical footnote: it shaped the partys regional identity, especially in the South and border states. The third tradition today isnt explicit craersionist but. - Treasure Valley Movers

The So-Called Third Tradition Faction of the Republican Party: A Historical Shadow Still Shape U.S. Politics

Why is the so-called third tradition faction of the Republican Party—sometimes labeled the Deplorable Entourage by critics—still turning up in public conversations today? Far from a forgotten past, this complex chapter continues to resonate in American political discourse, especially as regional identity, cultural shifts, and electoral realignments invite deeper reflection. Rooted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the alliance between elements of the Republican Party and the Ku Klux Klan laid foundational, if uncomfortable, patterns that influenced the GOP’s regional footprint—particularly across the South and border states.

This tradition isn't defined by explicit ideology today, but by enduring regional currents, historical memory, and subtle echoes in contemporary political dynamics. Understanding its origins reveals how past tensions continue to inform modern debates about unity, exclusion, and civic identity.

Origins in Conflict: The Republican Party and the Klan

After the Civil War, the Republican Party emerged as a coalition of abolitionists, industrialists, and reformers determined to reshape the post-slavery South. Yet in the late 1860s and beyond, many Southern Republicans found uneasy alliances with white supremacist groups, most notably the Ku Klux Klan. These connections were not uniform across the GOP but reflected a broader regional strategy aimed at maintaining power amid Reconstruction upheaval. The alliance was tactical, driven by resistance to federal oversight and a desire to assert dominance—motivations that left deep scars on the party’s image.

This historical alignment continues to color how the third tradition is perceived. For many, it marks a cautionary story about political extremism rather than a blueprint for current policy. Yet its geographic reach—especially in border states and deep South regions—means its legacy influences local and national narratives.

Shaping Regional Identity Beyond the Past

The so-called third tradition isn’t about overtly radical policy today, but about how