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The Raza Unida Party (RUP) was a political party established in the early 1970s in Crystal City, Texas. The party was founded by José Ángle Gutiérrez and Mario Compean who had previously helped found the Mexican American Youth Organization, or MAYO. As a third political party, the RUP's goal was to serve as an alternative to the two-party system in the state. The party, focusing on the civil rights of minorities, primarily Mexican-Americans (also sometimes referred to as Chicanos), in Texas, was the first political party (and the only one to this day) in the country to have been formed by an ethnic group. 

RUP was formed as a result of the political dissatisfaction Mexican-Americans felt not only with the Republican Party, but specifically with the Democratic Party in Texas and nationwide. Thus, the RUP quickly became committed to improving the conditions of Mexican-Americans locally and throughout the country. Not only was the party dedicated to having proper representation for Mexican-Americans in politics, but members of the RUP were also committed to improving the life of their people by fighting for social, economic, educational, and political justice and equity, to name a few. 

Although the party had its roots in Crystal City, Texas, RUP quickly became popular throughout various other parts of the country. Several chapters soon began to pop up in many counties throughout the Southwest, namely in California and Colorado, in addition to those in Texas. Furthermore, although RUP was a political party founded by Mexican-Americans and focused on the rights of Mexican-Americans, they recognized the overlap between the needs of Mexican-Americans and other minorities. Thus, they encouraged anyone dedicated to the fight towards equity and representation to join. The party came to an end in 1978 after having lost several elections that year.