Skip to main content

Texas Democratic Party

The latest Texas Democratic Party news from The Texas Tribune.

Meet the three Democrats competing to oust Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

By James Barragán Jan. 26, 2022

Mike Collier, Carla Brailey and Michelle Beckley are facing off for the Democratic nomination in the lieutenant governor race. Financially, the three candidates are outmatched by Dan Patrick’s $25 million war chest. Full Story

Credit: Social media
As critical race theory and mask mandate debates heat up, Texas GOP takes aim at local school board and municipal races

By Patrick Svitek Dec. 7, 2021

The Republican Party of Texas announced Monday it had launched a new Local Government Committee to work with county parties on backing candidates for nonpartisan local offices. Full Story

Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune
After Texas Democrats’ woeful performance last year, the 2022 race to chair the party is already heating up

By Patrick Svitek Updated: Dec. 5, 2021

Current state party leader Gilberto Hinojosa has indicated he isn’t going anywhere. But that hasn’t stopped open discussion about leadership of the party with several months until convention delegates vote on the position. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
Longtime Houston Democrat Garnet Coleman to retire from Texas Legislature

By Cassandra Pollock Nov. 18, 2021

The lawmaker has represented parts of central and southeast Houston in state House District 147 since 1991. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
Texas Democrats rely on voters of color to be competitive. So why are their top statewide candidates mostly white?

By James Barragán Updated: Nov. 18, 2021

The GOP slate for statewide office includes two high-profile Latinos and two Black candidates who have previously held state or federal office. Republicans are making a play to be more competitive with voters of color as the state’s electorate grows more diverse. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
With special session’s end looming, Texas Democrats and Republicans mull their next moves

By Patrick Svitek and Cassandra Pollock Aug. 4, 2021

Abbott has promised to call a second special session to pass the GOP’s priority voting bill, but the exact timing is uncertain. And House Democrats have not yet revealed what they have planned after the session ends this week. Full Story

Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune
Texas House Democrats spar with congressional Republicans over their protest of state voting bills

By Farah Eltohamy July 29, 2021

Three Texas House Democrats testified before a congressional committee on their efforts to thwart voting restrictions — and were met with heat from their Republican counterparts. Full Story

Credit: REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
State Rep. John Turner says he won't seek reelection to Texas House

By Cassandra Pollock June 28, 2021

Turner has represented House District 114 since 2019 after he flipped the previously GOP-held seat during the 2018 elections. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune
Texas House Democrats and legislative staffers take Gov. Greg Abbott to court for defunding Legislature

By Cassandra Pollock Updated: June 25, 2021

The governor had vowed to veto the Legislature’s funding in the final hours of the regular legislative session in May after House Democrats broke quorum and left the chamber to prevent passage of a controversial elections bill. Full Story

Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune
Texas Democrats blame lack of in-person campaigning, inefficient voter outreach for 2020 disappointment

By Shawn Mulcahy Feb. 22, 2021

Despite an underwhelming performance in the most recent election cycle, Texas Democrats continued to paint an ambitious picture of a “sustainably blue” state in the next 10 years. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune
Top two staffers at Texas Democratic Party to step down

By Patrick Svitek Jan. 21, 2021

The party's executive director, Manny Garcia, and deputy executive director, Cliff Walker, are leaving their posts at the end of the month. Their exits come two months after an election in which Texas Democrats underperformed expectations throughout the ballot. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
What went wrong with Texas Democrats' 2020 plans? State party leaders intend to find out.

By Patrick Svitek Updated: Dec. 8, 2020

The state party chair plans to do a "deep dive" after executive committee members asked for answers about the outcome of the November election and demanded reforms. Full Story

Credit: Alyssa Banata for The Texas Tribune
Analysis: Texas Republicans and Allen West, their nettlesome party animal

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 11, 2020

Republican officeholders couldn't have had a better election in Texas this year, but they've still got noisy and loud critics — inside their own political party. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune
“It’s not purple. It’s not blue. It’s conservative.” Watch what happened in the Texas elections

By Alana Rocha, Todd Wiseman and Justin Dehn Nov. 6, 2020

The Republican party dominated races up and down the ballot, dashing Democrats' high hopes. Our analysis sheds light on what happened. Full Story

Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune
Harris County Democrats' headquarters vandalized

By Texas Tribune Staff Updated: Nov. 2, 2020

The local party said its locks were filled with super glue, preventing officials from accessing their office. Also, federal officials are sending election monitors to Harris and Waller counties. And Texas is on pace to set a record for voter turnout Tuesday. Full Story

Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune
Analysis: The 2020 election and Texas’ incremental blues

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 23, 2020

Democrats have their eyes on winning back the Texas House majority they lost in 2002. That wouldn't give them the power to pass legislation, but it would give them the power to stop legislation they don't like. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
In Texas, Republicans fight voting by mail expansion while encouraging their voters to use it

By Alexa Ura and Abby Livingston Sept. 4, 2020

What was once a lightly used and largely uncontroversial voting option in Texas, one even Republicans relied on, is now the crux of the latest fight over who gets to vote and, equally as crucial in a pandemic, who has access to safe voting. Full Story

Credit: Charlie Pearce for The Texas Tribune
As the Democratic National Convention begins, some Texas Democrats wish their state had a bigger role

By Patrick Svitek and Alex Samuels Aug. 17, 2020

Some party leaders have pushed for convention organizers to give more prominent slots to Texans in the convention lineup, eager to show it is a battleground in November. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
Timing of Supreme Court justice’s retirement allows Gov. Greg. Abbott, not voters, to pick his two-year replacement

By Reese Oxner July 22, 2020

Aug. 21 is the deadline for vacancies that trigger a November election to fill open seats. If Green’s replacement is not on this year’s ballot, the next general election will be in November 2022. Abbott will appoint someone to fill the rest of the term. Full Story

Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune
MJ Hegar defeats Royce West in Democratic runoff for U.S. Senate

By Patrick Svitek Updated: July 15, 2020

Hegar declared victory late Tuesday, but West did not concede until Wednesday morning. Full Story

Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson and Eddie Gaspar for The Texas Tribune