Who Can Fix the Texas Democratic Party?

Why this Chair race matters more than you think.

As we watch the systematic dismantling of democracy unfold in Washington, the stakes for Texas have never been higher. The far-right’s grip on power tightens, voting rights remain under siege, and the erosion of civil liberties accelerates with every passing day. While national politics dominate headlines, the battle for the future of Texas is just as critical.

The next chair of the Texas Democratic Party (TDP) won’t just inherit a political organization. They’ll inherit a fight for the very soul of the state. With Republicans hell-bent on consolidating their control, the job of pushing Texas toward a bluer, more progressive future will require bold leadership, relentless organizing, and a vision strong enough to meet the moment.

The latest TDP Chair forum happened last week in Houston. You can see it below (it starts at about 17 minutes in).

Who are the candidates:

So, what does a State Chair do anyway?

The Texas Democratic Party Chair is responsible for overseeing the State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) and acting as its presiding officer. They set the party’s political strategy, shaping messaging and election efforts to strengthen Democratic influence in the state. Fundraising and managing financial resources to support candidates, voter outreach, and party operations are key parts of the role.

The chair also appoints committees, collaborates with local Democratic organizations, and ensures party rules are followed, including overseeing removal proceedings when necessary. They handle vacancies and guide the appointment of replacements for party positions. Financial oversight is another central duty, requiring the chair to provide an annual budget for SDEC approval and conduct audits to maintain transparency.

So, here should be the checklist for this election:

• Experience in fundraising

• Experience in organizing.

• A record of strong political strategy.

• A commitment to candidate recruiting.

• Someone who embraces digital and media strategy.

The new Texas Democratic Party Chair will have to rebuild trust.

Recently, I learned that the TDP is one of America’s few decentralized state parties. Given our long history of floundering, this makes a lot of sense. I have no clue if it’s been like that for ten years or forever, but as it turns out, in many other states, their State Party maintains tight control over messaging, organizing, and even candidate support. In Texas, County Parties have complete independence in how they operate.

Well, duh. That makes total sense.

Texas Democrats lack this top-down discipline, which is why people always say they suck at messaging. There’s complete inconsistency across the board. This is also why we haven’t seen the TDP heavily involved in local races.

County Chairs have had a lot of autonomy, and maybe they like it that way. Each county chair is their own boss and can decide how much they engage in voter outreach, candidate recruitment, and grassroots organizing. This can be good in strong, well-organized counties but disastrous in places where the local party is weak or inactive.

A more centralized state party would mean coordinated messaging, an investment in electoral infrastructure, and year-round organizing. But will County Parties get on board? Therein lies the levels of trust that have to be built.

So, who’s the right leader for Texas?

This is a tough one for me because a few of the candidates running are people I call friends, and several are subscribers to Lone Star Left. I won’t be endorsing this race, partly because the SDEC members actually cast the votes, not the general public, and partly because my goal isn’t to play favorites. Instead, I’ll be brutally honest about what I’m seeing, what’s working, and what’s deeply concerning.

This election isn’t just about who holds the title of Texas Democratic Party Chair. It’s about whether this party can finally get its act together and start winning real, meaningful battles in Texas.

Sometimes, people thank me for my work trying to turn Texas blue, but the truth is, it’s selfish. Texas is home. It’s where my roots are, where I’m raising my family, and where I know things can be so much better than they are under the people currently running this state. I want my kids to be safe in fully funded schools, not struggling under underpaid teachers and crumbling infrastructure. I want my daughters to have the same (if not more) opportunities than I had, without politicians trying to dictate their futures. And I want my sons to grow up in a world where compassion is valued over cruelty, where society isn’t showing them that power means domination, and where they know they have a responsibility to fight for justice. I want access to affordable healthcare, clean water, and a government that serves its people.

So, yeah, my fight to turn Texas blue is selfish because the things that will improve my life (and your life) will only happen when Republicans no longer control this state. That’s why this race for Texas Democratic Party Chair matters so much. It isn’t just about who gets the job. It’s about whether Texas Democrats will finally build the infrastructure and leadership necessary to win or whether we will keep making the same mistakes repeatedly.

Are you ready for some brutal honesty?

In November, 63% of the Democratic vote came from the top ten most populated counties, many of which didn’t reach a 60% turnout. Some didn’t even see a 50% voter turnout in a presidential election year.

If you look at the top 20 most populated counties, that’s where 77% of the Democratic vote came from.

Texas is one of the most urbanized states in America. 84% of the Texas population resides in urban areas.

Because of these facts, I believe that any candidate stating that the Texas Democratic Party needs “a bigger focus on rural areas” has a fundamental misunderstanding of where the fight for Texas will be won.

This isn’t to say rural voters should be ignored, far from it. Democrats must invest in rural organizing to cut into Republican margins and build long-term infrastructure. But the reality is that urban and suburban turnout is the key to flipping Texas.

The numbers don’t lie. Texas Democrats aren’t losing because they haven’t won over a mythical rural voter who’s waiting to be persuaded. They’re losing because turnout in the biggest Democratic strongholds, where most of the state’s population lives, has been abysmal.

If Democrats don’t maximize urban and suburban turnout, they can spend all the money in the world on rural outreach and still never win statewide. The next TDP Chair needs to understand that.

Experience matters.

Running for office is hard work. It takes dedication, passion, and a willingness to put yourself out there in ways most people never will. However, losing one election (or even multiple) does not automatically qualify someone to take on one of the biggest political jobs in Texas.

The Texas Democratic Party Chair isn’t just another political role. It’s a massive leadership position that requires deep experience in organizing, fundraising, and coalition-building at every level of the game.

This isn’t a job for someone still learning how politics works. It requires someone who understands party infrastructure, knows how to build effective voter mobilization strategies, and can fundraise on a serious scale. It requires someone who can manage relationships with county chairs, donors, candidates, and grassroots organizers while keeping the party focused on long-term success.

Losing an election gives candidates valuable insight into how campaigns work, but it doesn’t automatically mean they know how to run a state party or overhaul a system that has been failing for decades. Experience in organizing, fundraising, strategy, and leadership should be non-negotiable. The next TDP Chair must be ready to step in on day one and clearly understand how to move the party forward.

If Texas Democrats are serious about winning, they must choose a leader with more than just experience running for office. They need someone who knows how to build a winning operation and has the track record to prove it.

On paper, who checks all of the boxes?

Alphabetically:

• Delia Parker-Mims

• Lillie Schechter

• Kendall Scudder

• Patsy Woods Martin

Of course, just because these four candidates check the right boxes on paper doesn’t mean they’re free from controversy, political baggage, or tough questions. No one running for a position this big comes without complications, alliances, and past decisions that deserve scrutiny. That’s just the reality of politics. Over the next month and a half, we’ll see how this race unfolds, what strategies emerge, and whether any candidates can prove they’re ready for the enormous job ahead.

The SDEC will vote on March 29, selecting an interim chair until 2026. This means that whoever wins this interim race will have 18 months to prove they can turn things around or risk being replaced when the whole party gets a vote.

The bottom line.

Texas Democrats don’t have time to waste on another two years of weak strategy, bad messaging, and losing winnable elections. This race for chair isn’t just about who gets to hold the title. It’s about whether this party is finally ready to do what it takes to win. Whoever steps into this role will face a mountain of challenges, from rebuilding trust with activists and donors to organizing a party that has struggled for years to find its footing.

So, as the SDEC members decide, they need to ask the hard questions, ignore the usual political niceties, and pick someone who is prepared for the fight ahead. If Democrats don’t get this right, Texas will continue to slip further into authoritarian rule, and we simply can’t afford that.

• 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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