Final answer:
Candidates use party labels in nonpartisan elections in Texas cities to help voters understand their policy positions and to benefit from the resources and support that political parties provide.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals running for mayor or city council positions often campaign using party labels in major Texas cities like Houston, Dallas, and Austin despite these being nonpartisan elections. The reason for this is that party identification informs voters about the candidates' potential policy beliefs, even if the election itself does not require a party label. Candidates may choose to align with political parties because it can convey their political platform to voters more clearly.
Even though local officials like mayors and city council members often run without an official party label, parties still endorse and support candidates, providing resources and a base of support that can be critical for a campaign.
Voters sometimes engage in straight-ticket voting, selecting all candidates from one political party, which indicates party loyalty can influence voter behavior even in nonpartisan races. Furthermore, political parties offer significant support in terms of finance and organization which is especially beneficial for candidates who may not have the means to campaign as effectively by themselves.