The Democratic propositions of 2018 and 2020 were slam dunk yesses; only a hard core repturd would vote "no." Speaking of which, we should push for closed primaries. Not that it can happen in our world. Screwing up primaries has been a tradition at least since Bentsen beat Yarborough with the help of crossovers.
Amusing that 78% don't want property taxes. The reptilican base would scream bloody murder at the prospect of a 20% sales tax. And the only viable alternative would be a state income tax.
I can't conceive of Democrats crossing over, whether to vote for a favored candidate or to gum up the works. I'd be OK with barring r's or mushy middle "independents"from voting in our primaries.
I always vote in the Republican primary against the worst of the worst, Then I vote straight Democratic party ticket in the general. I always feel happy if there is a Democrat to vote for, never mind worrying about which one.
PS If every Democrat in Texas voted in Republican primaries, we would not have so many extremist faux Christians in the legislature. The strategies and tactics being used by Texas Democrats up to now have not been working, and it's time to kick the old ways to the curb. Christopher Armitage has a piece on Substack about asymmetric warfare that is full of good ideas for local and state Democrats in red states to take back control. Texas is the laboratory for Republican fascist tactics, so everything he discusses has been done here.
You're in a small minority, but if a substantial number do cross over, it might be useful. You'll have to put up with the dour clerks on that side of the voting place, and who's on the Democratic line on the November ballot might be the AIPAC favorite (probably not in the bottom of the ballot races). Overall, I still prefer closed primaries, though that might be a preference more suited for civilized times. Thanks for that Armitage piece, BTW.
As I was reading the various propositions, it was so obvious the Dem ones are not only way too long, but also worded as if a Harvard grad wrote them. For goodness sake, start speaking to people in language they can understand regarding issues and ideas they care about instead of proving you can use commas correctly.
Think billboards or bumper sticker copy. That’s what will engage voters. Too much will switch off their attention. That’s the world we live in—it must be recognized.
Simon Rosenberg's organization is encouraging city and county governments to pass resolutions that reaffirm committment to consitutional democratic principles. The resolutions conform with the oath sworn by state and local officials to defend the Constitution literally everywhere in the US, including Texas. So far, some have been passed in NM, MA, CA, and 63 are pending in 20 states. These resolutions generally state that those bodies swore an oath to defend the Constitution, and condemn various unconsitutional actions by the Trump administration. So, this is an idea that can be modified for ballot resolutions. For example, should Texas be required to provide a public reason for detaining and imprisoning a person (habeas corpus)? Should Texas have the power to force Christian beliefs, ideology, or practices on non-Christians using the power of the state (Establishment clause)? Should all citizens born or naturalized in the United States be considered citizens (14th Amendment)? Tt's definitely a good time to throw in a few about taxing the rich, overturning Citizens' United, and guaranteeing a woman's right to reproductive autonomy and health care. The usual Democratic Party platform planks are not going to be helpful as ballot resolutions, now that the federal government has been taken over by murderous, ignorant, traitorous lunatics.
I served on both temporary & permanent Resolution Committees for the 2024 Texas Democratic Convention. Many Often “similar” resolutions that were passed at lower levels get merged together before being passed on to the temp comm, where some times more mergers happened and then we voted on which resolutions were sent forward to the permanent committee to be edited and then voted on again to goto the final ones presented to the convention body. It is complicated and took a lot work
My committee man reply back to me. Now whether he does anything that’s a different story, but I shared your article. I asked my committee man to please consider creating a good one. I also asked him to share with my committee women. But I plan to email her soon. ☺️
When you say ballot, you do mean just the primary? Good question. I have written resolutions at county conventions that went to the State Convention. Very hard to trace down though as to what happened to them since I could not attend. If you know more about that I would love to hear it.
Of course that is true. I just meant that I was given instructions as to how to find what happened to resolutions and I never could find anything per those instructions.
Dollars to donuts TCDP will say not ONE word on this ......so FTW"voters will have to learn by osmosis
"That's why we're announcing No Kings Day on Saturday, October 18, the next nationwide day of protest and defiance."
but by all means work on signaling on a primary ballot.....
*here in the great metropolitan area that is the FW in DFW we don't have a functioning press....FWST has 36,000 subscribers, so if the party is not out there contacting voters they simply get no info
the energy best be focused on a fairly ineffectual state party......there are alot of things they could do to assist the local parties, like i mentioned before. Signalling or what others might be call 'messaging' is not directed at voters, so we a are beaten before the pols open. Also we have only 1 news outlet that might even mention the word 'resolution' in a news segment, and then only once....and since we, and by we i mean TCDP, other wise don't signal or message or talk or speak or even wave to 350,000 Democrats year after year , who the heck is going read a resolution at a primary poll? Well less than vote and that's not many.
but signalling as a strategy? find me 2 non-voters in TC.....ur construct, not mine, who know from signaling or even the party platform or even who their candidate might be
I for one, pretty sophisticated, have no idea who is my SS candidate, HR candidate , congressional candidates are................
well come to think of it, may be some local signaling might be in order, just of a different type than u have in mind.
I’m not only a precinct chair, and on the Harris County Resolution Committee, but also serve on the Texas state Resolution Committee, even though not a member of the executive committee. I voted no on your poll because of my years of experience with resolutions.
It sounds like the state Democratic Party of Texas is actively trying to prevent resistance to the Republicans. The grassroots are active, sending ideas up the chain to leadership, where they get stomped out. Has the oil billionaires club in Texas also taken control of the Democratic Party, causing them to lie down and refuse to fight as our democracy is crushed in front of our eyes? This complicity with authoritarians runs all the way to the top of the national Democratic party. For example, check out the amount of money Chuck Schumer gets from AIPAC, causing him to not speak out against genocide in Palestine. He and Jeffries are spending more energy right now opposing Zamdami, the Democrat who won the primary for mayor of NYC, because he's a progressive, than they are resisting the Trump regime. This is the same party that ran off David Hogg from DNP leadership because he wants to primary elite captured Democrats, with the excuse that "Democrats shouldn't run against Democrats." None of this is acceptable. It's not a coincidence that David Hogg, who campaigns constantly on change at the top of the party, is from Florida, the other state oppressed by an extremist authoritarian Republican state government. Maybe Texas grassroots Democrats should be forming a coalition with pro-democracy activists in Florida, because I don't think anyone else in the US understands how fascist the state governments really are in our two states. Texans must vote for home grown Texan pro-democracy candidates, and take back the Democratic Party from corporate elites and outside money.
It sounds like the state Democratic Party of Texas is actively trying to prevent resistance to the Republicans. The grassroots are active, sending ideas up the chain to leadership, where they get stomped out. Has the oil billionaires club in Texas also taken control of the Democratic Party, causing them to lie down and refuse to fight as our democracy is crushed in front of our eyes? This complicity with authoritarians runs all the way to the top of the national Democratic party. For example, check out the amount of money Chuck Schumer gets from AIPAC, causing him to not speak out against genocide in Palestine. He and Jeffries are spending more energy right now opposing Zamdami, the Democrat who won the primary for mayor of NYC, because he's a progressive, than they are resisting the Trump regime. This is the same party that ran off David Hogg from DNP leadership because he wants to primary elite captured Democrats, with the excuse that "Democrats shouldn't run against Democrats." None of this is acceptable. It's not a coincidence that David Hogg, who campaigns constantly on change at the top of the party, is from Florida, the other state oppressed by an extremist authoritarian Republican state government. Maybe Texas grassroots Democrats should be forming a coalition with pro-democracy activists in Florida, because I don't think anyone else in the US understands how fascist the state governments really are in our two states. . Texans must vote for home grown Texan pro-democracy candidates, and take back the Democratic Party from corporate elites and outside money.
The Democratic propositions of 2018 and 2020 were slam dunk yesses; only a hard core repturd would vote "no." Speaking of which, we should push for closed primaries. Not that it can happen in our world. Screwing up primaries has been a tradition at least since Bentsen beat Yarborough with the help of crossovers.
Amusing that 78% don't want property taxes. The reptilican base would scream bloody murder at the prospect of a 20% sales tax. And the only viable alternative would be a state income tax.
Republicans had closed primaries on their legislative agenda for the 89th Session, didn't they.
Didn't pass.
I wasn't aware of that. Maybe they were too busy with screwing over the residents of this state to get around to passing such a law, but nothing came up in https://legiscan.com/gaits/search?state=TX&keyword=closed+primary. I did find this:
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/texas-gop-republican-party-closed-primary-elections/
I can't conceive of Democrats crossing over, whether to vote for a favored candidate or to gum up the works. I'd be OK with barring r's or mushy middle "independents"from voting in our primaries.
I always vote in the Republican primary against the worst of the worst, Then I vote straight Democratic party ticket in the general. I always feel happy if there is a Democrat to vote for, never mind worrying about which one.
PS If every Democrat in Texas voted in Republican primaries, we would not have so many extremist faux Christians in the legislature. The strategies and tactics being used by Texas Democrats up to now have not been working, and it's time to kick the old ways to the curb. Christopher Armitage has a piece on Substack about asymmetric warfare that is full of good ideas for local and state Democrats in red states to take back control. Texas is the laboratory for Republican fascist tactics, so everything he discusses has been done here.
https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/the-red-state-resistance-blueprint
You're in a small minority, but if a substantial number do cross over, it might be useful. You'll have to put up with the dour clerks on that side of the voting place, and who's on the Democratic line on the November ballot might be the AIPAC favorite (probably not in the bottom of the ballot races). Overall, I still prefer closed primaries, though that might be a preference more suited for civilized times. Thanks for that Armitage piece, BTW.
As I was reading the various propositions, it was so obvious the Dem ones are not only way too long, but also worded as if a Harvard grad wrote them. For goodness sake, start speaking to people in language they can understand regarding issues and ideas they care about instead of proving you can use commas correctly.
*5-6 propositions
* Two short sentences, tops
Think billboards or bumper sticker copy. That’s what will engage voters. Too much will switch off their attention. That’s the world we live in—it must be recognized.
Simon Rosenberg's organization is encouraging city and county governments to pass resolutions that reaffirm committment to consitutional democratic principles. The resolutions conform with the oath sworn by state and local officials to defend the Constitution literally everywhere in the US, including Texas. So far, some have been passed in NM, MA, CA, and 63 are pending in 20 states. These resolutions generally state that those bodies swore an oath to defend the Constitution, and condemn various unconsitutional actions by the Trump administration. So, this is an idea that can be modified for ballot resolutions. For example, should Texas be required to provide a public reason for detaining and imprisoning a person (habeas corpus)? Should Texas have the power to force Christian beliefs, ideology, or practices on non-Christians using the power of the state (Establishment clause)? Should all citizens born or naturalized in the United States be considered citizens (14th Amendment)? Tt's definitely a good time to throw in a few about taxing the rich, overturning Citizens' United, and guaranteeing a woman's right to reproductive autonomy and health care. The usual Democratic Party platform planks are not going to be helpful as ballot resolutions, now that the federal government has been taken over by murderous, ignorant, traitorous lunatics.
I served on both temporary & permanent Resolution Committees for the 2024 Texas Democratic Convention. Many Often “similar” resolutions that were passed at lower levels get merged together before being passed on to the temp comm, where some times more mergers happened and then we voted on which resolutions were sent forward to the permanent committee to be edited and then voted on again to goto the final ones presented to the convention body. It is complicated and took a lot work
Thanks for the insight. Is that a different process than what we would see go on primary ballots?
Michelle, question: can only County chairs and Precinct Chairs ask our SDEC to make good resolutions for the ballot? Or can any constituents ask?
I’m not sure they’ll answer to just anyone.
My committee man reply back to me. Now whether he does anything that’s a different story, but I shared your article. I asked my committee man to please consider creating a good one. I also asked him to share with my committee women. But I plan to email her soon. ☺️
When you say ballot, you do mean just the primary? Good question. I have written resolutions at county conventions that went to the State Convention. Very hard to trace down though as to what happened to them since I could not attend. If you know more about that I would love to hear it.
Often “similar” resolutions that were passed at lower levels get merged together before being
Of course that is true. I just meant that I was given instructions as to how to find what happened to resolutions and I never could find anything per those instructions.
I agree, Michelle. Nice write-up about them with data ;)
Posted!!!
I will send something out and have everyone in CD 6 send something to our SDEC members.
Dollars to donuts TCDP will say not ONE word on this ......so FTW"voters will have to learn by osmosis
"That's why we're announcing No Kings Day on Saturday, October 18, the next nationwide day of protest and defiance."
but by all means work on signaling on a primary ballot.....
*here in the great metropolitan area that is the FW in DFW we don't have a functioning press....FWST has 36,000 subscribers, so if the party is not out there contacting voters they simply get no info
the energy best be focused on a fairly ineffectual state party......there are alot of things they could do to assist the local parties, like i mentioned before. Signalling or what others might be call 'messaging' is not directed at voters, so we a are beaten before the pols open. Also we have only 1 news outlet that might even mention the word 'resolution' in a news segment, and then only once....and since we, and by we i mean TCDP, other wise don't signal or message or talk or speak or even wave to 350,000 Democrats year after year , who the heck is going read a resolution at a primary poll? Well less than vote and that's not many.
but signalling as a strategy? find me 2 non-voters in TC.....ur construct, not mine, who know from signaling or even the party platform or even who their candidate might be
I for one, pretty sophisticated, have no idea who is my SS candidate, HR candidate , congressional candidates are................
well come to think of it, may be some local signaling might be in order, just of a different type than u have in mind.
I’m not only a precinct chair, and on the Harris County Resolution Committee, but also serve on the Texas state Resolution Committee, even though not a member of the executive committee. I voted no on your poll because of my years of experience with resolutions.
It sounds like the state Democratic Party of Texas is actively trying to prevent resistance to the Republicans. The grassroots are active, sending ideas up the chain to leadership, where they get stomped out. Has the oil billionaires club in Texas also taken control of the Democratic Party, causing them to lie down and refuse to fight as our democracy is crushed in front of our eyes? This complicity with authoritarians runs all the way to the top of the national Democratic party. For example, check out the amount of money Chuck Schumer gets from AIPAC, causing him to not speak out against genocide in Palestine. He and Jeffries are spending more energy right now opposing Zamdami, the Democrat who won the primary for mayor of NYC, because he's a progressive, than they are resisting the Trump regime. This is the same party that ran off David Hogg from DNP leadership because he wants to primary elite captured Democrats, with the excuse that "Democrats shouldn't run against Democrats." None of this is acceptable. It's not a coincidence that David Hogg, who campaigns constantly on change at the top of the party, is from Florida, the other state oppressed by an extremist authoritarian Republican state government. Maybe Texas grassroots Democrats should be forming a coalition with pro-democracy activists in Florida, because I don't think anyone else in the US understands how fascist the state governments really are in our two states. Texans must vote for home grown Texan pro-democracy candidates, and take back the Democratic Party from corporate elites and outside money.
It sounds like the state Democratic Party of Texas is actively trying to prevent resistance to the Republicans. The grassroots are active, sending ideas up the chain to leadership, where they get stomped out. Has the oil billionaires club in Texas also taken control of the Democratic Party, causing them to lie down and refuse to fight as our democracy is crushed in front of our eyes? This complicity with authoritarians runs all the way to the top of the national Democratic party. For example, check out the amount of money Chuck Schumer gets from AIPAC, causing him to not speak out against genocide in Palestine. He and Jeffries are spending more energy right now opposing Zamdami, the Democrat who won the primary for mayor of NYC, because he's a progressive, than they are resisting the Trump regime. This is the same party that ran off David Hogg from DNP leadership because he wants to primary elite captured Democrats, with the excuse that "Democrats shouldn't run against Democrats." None of this is acceptable. It's not a coincidence that David Hogg, who campaigns constantly on change at the top of the party, is from Florida, the other state oppressed by an extremist authoritarian Republican state government. Maybe Texas grassroots Democrats should be forming a coalition with pro-democracy activists in Florida, because I don't think anyone else in the US understands how fascist the state governments really are in our two states. . Texans must vote for home grown Texan pro-democracy candidates, and take back the Democratic Party from corporate elites and outside money.