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.

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:41:07 +0000

**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