The United States Debates Texas Statehood

Not for the first (or last) time, Congress was unwilling to decide so important an issue in an election year, and in 1844 the Texas question figured so prominently that the race was regarded as a referendum on territorial expansion. Democratic nominee, James Knox Polk, was from Tennessee. He declared himself in favor of annexing both Texas and Oregon. His running mate was George Mifflin Dallas of Pennsylvania. (It is unknown whether the city of Dallas was named for him; several other men named Dallas are contenders).