User:ArchieofRioGrande/Draft:ElectionRiots

Background
Prior to the election of 1886 in Laredo, Texas, the Democratic Party (United States) and the Reform Party were caught up in a political dispute where two groups, the first called Botas (the Boots) in the Democratic Party and the Guaraches (the Sandals) in the Reform Pparty fought for political supremacy in the city of Laredo. In the lead-up to the election, armed marches from both sides were conducted on the streets of Laredo.

The Reform party was established in 1884 to counteract the Democratic establishment led by Raymond Martin, a naturalized citizen of the United States from France who was born in 1828. Martin settled in Laredo in 1854, opening a local store which became successful. He ran for and was elected to the Laredo city council in 1859.