An Open Letter To James Talarico And Joaquin Castro
Texas Democrats are ready. We just need you to lead together, not at odds.
Texas Democrats, grassroots organizers, county chairs, precinct leaders, teachers, union members, parents, renters, and voters from every corner of this state are united in what we want to see in 2026. And that’s a unified progressive ticket that can finally flip this state.
And we believe that begins with both of you.
We are calling on one of you to run for Governor of Texas and the other to run for United States Senate.
We’re not here to play kingmaker or pit progressives against each other. That’s the last thing Texas Democrats need. What we do need is clarity, coordination, and a shared commitment to bold leadership in both races. The stakes are high, the opportunity is real, and if we don’t run smart, we will lose again.
We trust you two, among the most principled and respected voices in Texas politics, to have that conversation, to make that choice between yourselves, and to move forward together, not in competition, but in coalition. To hit every county together, with a coordinated economic populist message, and the full progressive bench behind you. Because when you do that, the game completely changes. (Even the polls against Abbott change.)
We don’t need another centrist campaign backed by DC consultants. We need a movement that speaks for working people. The two of you, working together, could lead this movement.
Texas Democrats are not the problem. We are not the donor class. We are not the corporate cowards who vote for war budgets and abandon trans kids. We are not the ones who call ourselves Democrats but govern like Republicans. Y’all know that.
For the first time in decades, we have the talent, the polling, and the momentum to flip this state, if we don’t waste it on overlapping campaigns or last-minute infighting.
We have four major statewide races in 2026. This is our chance. However, if we don’t coordinate, if we cram too many leaders into one race, we’ll miss the best opportunity we’ve had in a generation.
The two of you, running together at the top of the ticket, can electrify the base, inspire new voters, and unify a movement that’s been begging for bold, moral, progressive leadership.
Run in tandem. Present yourselves not as lone candidates but as Texas Democrats, a clear alternative to the broken, corporate Democratic establishment in Washington.
Bring the energy of 2018. Add the clarity of right now. Give us something to organize for, not just vote against.
We stand ready to organize. We’ll knock on the doors. We’ll raise the money. We’ll spread the message. But we need your partnership and your leadership, together, not at odds.
Please hear the call of the base. Talk to each other. Choose your races. And let’s take back Texas.
With urgency, solidarity, and hope,
Michelle Davis - Editor, Lone Star Left
Nancy Thompson - Executive Director, Mothers Against Greg Abbott
JT Beebe - Texas Progressive Caucus Executive Committee
Wesley Lawrence - President of Stonewall Democrats of El Paso, SDEC23 Committee
Chloe Wilkinson - Secretary, Texas Young Democrats
Anthony Rios - Membership Director, Texas Young Dems, and Co-Lead, Houston Progressive Caucus
Kyle Rable - Lubbock County Democratic Party Secretary, Candidate for TX CD19
Rebecca Shukla - Co-Leader of Swing TX Left
Cassandra Morris, Corresponding Secretary, Dallas County East Dems
Darrell Evans - Executive Director of DFW Progressives, 2024 Democratic Nominee for Texas HD89
Lauren Tenny - Texas Progressive Caucus Advisory Member
Judy Kay Craft - Texas Progressive Caucus Advisory Member, Finance Chair, Texas Democrats w/ Disabilities Caucus, Member, Texas Democratic Party Resolutions Committee
Fabiola Escalon - Grassroots Organizer, Mothers for Democracy RGV chapter Leader 2022-2024
Gion Thomas- CEO, P.O.P., Organizer, and former candidate for CD-38
Ginny Laughlin - President of Richardson Area Democrats
Audrey Nath - VDVR, Houston Progressive Caucus
Kerrigan Sanders - DNC Rural Representative
Chuck Crews - Harris County Precinct Chair, 2022 &2024 Democratic Nominee for HD-128
Julio Salinas - SDEC Committee - Hispanic Caucus/Texas Young Democrats
Nate Clark - SDEC04 Committee
Jasmine Khadem Gonzalez - SDEC07 Committee
Kimberleigh Gonzalez - SDEC19 Committee
Stephan Zaparolli - SDEC31 Committee
Jen Ramos - SDEC35 Committee
Rhett Dobberstein - SDEC36 Committee
April Dobberstein - SDEC36 Committee
Jeremy Sutka - Collin County Democratic Party Chair
Adrienne Martin - Hood County Democratic Party Chair
Terry Garner - Navarro County Democratic Party Chair
Michael Fladmark - Henderson County Democratic Party Chair
Bart Ewald - Leon County Democratic Party Chair
Eva C. Guzman - Precinct Chair, Recruitment & Training Committee Co-Chair, Bexar County Democratic Party
Egberto Willies - Precinct Chair
Susan Cummings - Precinct Chair
Tristian DeLeon - Precinct Chair
Eddie Pequeno - Precinct Chair
Rhonda Lopez - Precinct Chair
D Laurie Flores - Precinct Chair
Crispina Powell - Precinct Chair
Barry Alpart - Precinct Chair
Jamie Garza - Currie- Precinct Chair
Suzanne Miller - Precinct Chair
Karin Johnson - Precinct Chair
PLUS dozens more community organizers, county activists, and party volunteers
November 4: Constitutional/TX18/SD09 Election
Click here to find out what Legislative districts you’re in.
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How do I put my name on that signature!? Ginny Laughlin, President of Richardson Area Democrats and Precinct Chair in Collin County!
Wonderfully written, Michelle. Representatives Castro and Talrico, we need you both, together as a team! Thank you!!