DALLAS, Texas — Texas Democrats are holding their state convention in Dallas. And they hope they can break an almost three decade drought of not winning any statewide office.
Gilberto Hinojosa, the chairperson of the Texas Democratic Party, said two of the biggest issues right now are giving Texans the right to an abortion and passing stricter gun laws.
He believes voters will remember Gov. Greg Abbott’s inaction on these two issues come election day.
“They’re going to register that fear, that anger at the polls in November. So I believe that momentum will continue because these are issues that are presently in the mind of voters today,” Hinojosa said.
Democrats haven’t won a statewide election since 1994. But Hinojosa said the party is determined to turn Texas blue this year.
“We are now within single, low single digits of Republicans in both statewide races involving state officials and the presidential election,” Hinojosa said. “I think the projection that we’re seeing out there, in terms of where the party is at, is we’re ready to flip the state. We’re the closest we’ve ever been, we’ve got the resources to be able to do that, and the structure to be able to achievThe Texas Democratic Convention is underway in Dallas. Two times this week, ERCOT has asked Texans to conserve energy. One of the first things I noticed in the exhibit hall is this @CollierForTexas shirt: pic.twitter.com/kTEyo7tXdN
— Charlotte Scott (@reportsbychar) July 14, 2022
Gov. Abbott is facing Beto O’Rourke in the gubernatorial race, as new polling shows only five points separating the two candidates. Sofia Sepulveda, the community engagement and advocacy manager with Equality Texas, said O’Rourke would be a welcome champion for the LGBTQIA community.
“[He’s] someone who’s willing to protect our community and ensure that we have basic rights just like everybody else,” Sepulveda said.
But, Sepulveda said, Texans can’t just rely on politicians to help them.
“Voting is just the beginning,” Sepulveda said. “We need to start getting engaged, call the local officials, call the representatives, and push them to make sure that they’re doing what they’re supposed to do. How do we get people together? By educating them and ensuring that they have the information at their fingertips in order to speak, not just eloquently but with truth, to our elected officials.”
Kassandra Elejarza, the president of Texas Democratic Women, said legalizing abortion in Texas is a top priority.
“Democratic women are standing with women all over our nation,” Elejarza said. “We need Mike Collier for lieutenant governor. That is where it’s going to get done. So every Democrat that we are electing is an ally to Texas Democratic women, to women all across our state and all across our nation.”
Elejarza is encouraging Texans to vote for every Democrat on the ballot.
“We’re going to knock on doors that have never been knocked on,” Elejarza said. “We’re running programs that are targeting new voters in our region all across our state. And we’re making sure that we care. Elections are won with your heart. And so if we’re asking our neighbors, we’re going to go ask every neighbor that’s out there, we’re going to ask every cousin who’s out there, we’re gonna ask our friends, and we’re asking everybody out there, come out and vote for them on this.”
In addition to abortion rights and gun control, Hinojosa said the party will also prioritize fixing the power grid, improving Texas public schools including teacher pay, and decriminalizing marijuana.
This convention will also elect a new chairman of the state party, a job Hinojosa hopes to keep but has two challengers.