AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Democrats are meeting in El Paso for their state convention Thursday. The party has not held substantial power in the state in more than 30 years, but members believe key issues will entice voters to support their party this election season. 

What You Need To Know

  • Texas Democrats are meeting in El Paso for their state convention

  • North Texas Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, is one of the headliners 

  • The party is looking for key issues to drive voters to the polls

North Texas Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, is one of the headliners at this year’s Texas Democratic Convention. 

“They need to know that Congressman Colin Allred is the viable alternative to Ted Cruz,” said Democratic political analyst Ed Espinoza.

Allred is running for U.S. Senate and will face Sen. Ted Cruz in the general election. The most recent polls show Cruz is ahead of Allred, but Democrats are determined to flip the seat and hold on to the presidency. 

“There’s a lot more at stake for Colin Allred in Texas than there is for Joe Biden,” said Espinoza. “Joe Biden has Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, maybe a few others. Colin Allred just has Texas.” 

The party looks to key issues to drive voters to the polls. Abortion access in Texas is limited to medical emergencies and, according to a poll from the Texas Politics Project, 45% of Texas voters say abortion laws in Texas should be made less strict. Some Democrats think this can be a good issue for them even though the poll showed only 4% see the topic as the most important issue. 

“The law is the law and people are going to have to start seeing how it’s affecting women and how abortion is health care,” said Delia Parker-Mims, the Denton County Democratic Party chair. 

Gun control advocates, such as David Hogg and former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, are slated to address convention-goers, creating a large focus on what the party calls meaningful gun reform. 

“I hope the Democratic Party is able to message better that we really just want people to be a certain age and to have background checks,” said Mims. 

The solution to gun violence depends on the Democrat addressing the issue. 

“I think we have to start right at the top and disavow the NRA,” said Kardal Coleman, the Dallas County Democratic Party chair. 

Bringing these Democratic priorities to fruition in the state Legislature may be a challenge because of a Republican majority, but experts say the party could also leverage GOP in-fighting to their advantage.