How Texas Democrats Are Leading The Resistance (While Some Are Selling Out)

Unmasking the heroes and turncoats in Texas Democrats' battle against authoritarianism.

Elon Musk’s mural in downtown Brownsville was vandalized with the term “Deny, Defend, Depose” last week, as reported by Valley Central News.

This week in the Texas Legislature, the Senate Finance Committee will finally wrap up their budget hearings on Thursday. I thought I would give you a recap when they’re over, but I can sum it up to one sentence. The Texas state government underfunds and understaffs essential programs while pouring billions into a political stunt on the border, the voucher scheme, and tax cuts for the business class. Don’t expect this week’s hearings to show us anything different.

The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs will meet this afternoon when they are expected to hear invited testimony only from key agencies. This will be one committee hearing I’ll be paying close attention to because, if you didn’t already know, Texas is running out of clean water.

Tomorrow, the Senate Committee on Local Government will discuss two of Paul Bettencourt’s (R-SD07) bills, each increasing the local tax exemption. Republicans are reactionary, and they do the same thing every session. Increase the homestead exemption and buy down homeowner’s property taxes while failing to fund public schools. In turn, Texas property owners see their tax bills increase yearly while the GOP claims they’ve given the “biggest tax break in history.” But then, when taxes go up again, they react by pushing the same legislation that caused it to rise in the first place. It’s a never-ending cycle.

Then, on Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice will meet to discuss four of Joan Huffman’s (R-SD17) bills regarding “bail reform.” These bills are part of the GOP’s so-called “bail reform” agenda, but let’s call it what it really is: an unconstitutional swipe at the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.”

Sure, no one wants dangerous people roaming the streets while awaiting trial, but that’s precisely why judges exist, to assess each case individually and decide on bail based on the circumstances. Huffman’s bills propose blanket policies that deny bail for entire categories of offenses, ignoring due process and reducing judges to rubber stamps for the state. This isn’t reform. It’s a political ploy disguised as public safety. In reality, it undermines one of the fundamental protections in our legal system.

And what about the Texas House?

They are due to gavel back tomorrow afternoon, but we still don’t have the committee assignments. According to the Texas Constitution, the Legislature can’t pass any bills until March 14, so there is still plenty of time. Regardless, the Brainworm Brigade will likely find something to cry about this week and give us more fuel to make fun of them.

Meanwhile, Texas Democrats have been on the frontline fighting fascism.

Last week, several organizations protested at the office of US Senator John Cornyn. In Dallas:

And San Antonio:

If you didn’t already know, there have been weekly protests at Cornyn’s office in Houston for over a year. They were back at it last week:

This is the kind of energy we need. We need to put pressure on our Republican US Senators, urging them to stand up against the coup that’s taking place right now. Moreover, we need to start putting pressure on our Republican Congresspeople, too.

During the Biden administration, Indivisible groups around Texas fizzled out. Currently, only three Indivisible Texas groups remain. I’m hopeful we’ll see a resurgence of Indivisible in Texas because we need people in the streets to resist Elon’s takeover and Trump’s reckless actions. 

If you’re looking to get involved:

• The Houston Democracy Project leads the weekly Houston protest at Cornyn’s office.

• The Bexar County Democratic Party led the San Antonio protest.

• Multiple organizations, including Stonewall Democrats and Texas Democratic Women, spearheaded the one in Dallas.

• Sign up for Mobilize to look for events near you.

I wanted to give a special shoutout to my County Party, the Tarrant County Democratic Party. On TMZ, Executive Director Candace Sublett and Public Relations and Voter Outreach Coordinator Marisela Aramino outlined the consequences of mass deportations on the North Texas economy.

Check out the TMZ clip.

I’m very proud of them for making it onto a national platform to talk about the realities of Trump’s ethnic cleansing efforts and the consequences we would face here in North Texas.

We’ve all seen Jasmine Crockett (D-TX30) at the forefront of the fight in DC.

We love her for it. Congresspeople like Jasmine Crockett and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) are the future of the Democratic Party. The entire (blue) nation has been cheering for these women on the frontlines, aggressively fighting back against the Trump agenda.

But they aren’t the only ones. Perhaps you saw last week when a random henchman (unsure of who he worked for) blocked Congress from accessing the Department of Education. It was a shocking scene:

Some Texas Congressional members present included Greg Casar (D-TX35) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX16). Each spoke to the press before they attempted to gain access to the building.

Greg Casar:

Veronica Escobar:

Another Congressman who deserves praise is Congressman Al Green (D-TX09), who became the first member of the 119th Congress to introduce articles of impeachment against Trump.

While there has been much discussion in recent years about some of our most senior members of Congress and debates on “How old is too old?” Congressman Green has always been consistent in his support of civil rights. He’s been in Congress for over twenty years, and every time he gives a speech, he starts with, “And still I rise.” Even if our nation collectively decides there is a “too old,” 78-year-old Al Green isn’t there yet, and he still fights as viciously as members half his age. I love him.

Check him out:

While many of our Democrats are reliable and remain at the forefront of the fight against fascism, one South Texas Democrat seems to be taking a different path and pandering to it.

State Representative Richard Raymond (D-HD42) has a long history of siding with Republicans on key issues.

Yesterday morning, he once again publicly sided with the forces undermining democracy and civil rights. He became the first sitting Democrat to give a sit-down interview to Michael Quinn Sullivan (MQS) and the Texas Scorecard.

The Texas Scorecard, once known as Empower Texas, is the media arm of Tim Dunn and Ferris Wilks and is funded by the same people who fund the Brainworm Brigade.

The Texas Scorecard is undeniably fascist media. It’s a propaganda machine designed to spread right-wing extremism, promote policies that harm working families, and sow division across the state.

Some of their most prominent work includes a hit piece against Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu (D-HD137), accusing him of being a “Chinese Communist spy” because of his ethnicity. They have spread countless lies about undocumented immigrants, using racist slurs each time, and were behind much of the rumors surrounding the now-debunked Colony Ridge.

By granting them legitimacy, Raymond is not just “reaching across the aisle,” he’s emboldening the very people who seek to erode civil rights, gut public education, and push anti-democratic measures. Dunn, Wilks, and their network have funded politicians and policies prioritizing corporate interests over Texans’ well-being for years. Raymond’s decision to align himself with them sends a clear message: he’s willing to cater to extremist narratives to maintain relevance, even if it means betraying the communities he was elected to serve.

In a time when Democrats are battling fascism at every level, we can’t afford members of our own party to give cover to those forces. Raymond should be called out for this betrayal.

Early in the interview, Raymond seemed proud of being labeled the “most conservative Democrat” in the Texas House. He suggested that scoring high on conservative report cards was a badge of honor and dismissed progressive values as lacking “common sense.” Because taking away liberty and the rights of specific groups is “common sense?”

Raymond echoed Republican talking points when discussing the GOP’s gains in South Texas, attributing Trump’s success to Democrats not connecting with the region’s “family values.” Which is total bullshit. We’re losing South Texas because too many “conservative Democrats” align themselves with Republican corruption and don’t give voters a choice between lousy policy from them and bad policy from the right.

One of the most disturbing moments came when Raymond discussed the anti-transgender sports ban passed last session. He dismissed the concerns of LGBTQ+ advocates, saying, “If you were born a boy, you can’t compete against girls,” as though this were a simple matter of fairness.

There are zero transgender athletes in Texas sports and only 40 in all of America. Targeting one small demographic like this is pure bigotry.

Raymond appeared to sympathize with former Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa’s criticism of the party’s focus on “social issues,” such as LGBTQ+ rights. This is another crazy statement since the TDP didn’t focus on anything, let alone social issues.

Raymond repeatedly stressed his willingness to work with Republicans, citing his friendly relationships with past GOP governors and legislators. While bipartisanship can be valuable, Raymond seemed to conflate compromise with appeasement, offering no critique of the extremist direction the Republican Party has taken under figures like Trump and Greg Abbott.

Raymond’s interview was, at best, a troubling display of political opportunism and, at worst, a signal that he is willing to pander to far-right interests to maintain his seat. His comments on trans rights, his embrace of conservative narratives about South Texas, and his dismissal of progressive policies raise serious questions about his loyalty to the Democratic Party’s core values.

This is precisely the kind of rhetoric that the Texas Scorecard and its backers want to amplify. By providing them with this content, Raymond is helping to normalize far-right disinformation and attack progressive causes. He’s playing right into the hands of Tim Dunn and Ferris Wilks, who have spent years funding extremists to dismantle public education, healthcare, and social safety nets.

South Texas deserves better than a representative who legitimizes fascist propaganda.

The fight against fascism requires unwavering commitment from all of us—elected officials, activists, and everyday citizens.

We’re facing a movement that thrives on fear, division, and the erosion of democratic institutions. This isn’t just political theater; it’s an existential threat to civil rights, social justice, and the rule of law.

In such moments, we need leaders who understand that resistance to fascism is non-negotiable. We need Democrats who won’t compromise with hate or give legitimacy to platforms designed to spread disinformation and bigotry. The fight against fascism isn’t just about opposing Republicans; it’s about building a coalition that protects the vulnerable, strengthens democracy, and champions human dignity.

We’ve seen inspiring examples of this fight, from weekly protests at Cornyn’s office to Congresspeople like Jasmine Crockett and Greg Casar pushing back on Trumpism in DC. These leaders and the grassroots activists standing beside them are the future of our party and our movement.

But that future is only possible if we stay vigilant. We cannot allow Democrats like Richard Raymond to provide cover for fascist narratives. We must call out these betrayals, support those on the frontlines, and continue organizing and resisting at every level.

• March 14: The last day Legislators can file bills.

• June 2: The 89th Legislative Session ends.

• Click here to find out what Legislative districts you’re in.

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