I gave to his campaign even though I live in AZ. I was sure, absolutely certain he would win. I did the same for Kamala Harris. Politics will break your heart. Good for you to keep trying.
Fantastic write up with a deeply personal look at grassroots organizing. I don't live in Texas but watched the race with interest and support for Allred. I am afraid the politics you describe is rampant throughout the Democratic Party, though. I maintain that Kamala Harris was a wonderful candidate and if Progressive and Moderate Democrats could have stopped internal infighting over fringe issues, she would have won.
Olivia, thank you for sharing your personal perspective and the details of being a campaign staffer.
I worked the campaign phones for both Beto O' Rourke and Colin Allred. Now Abbott has blocked Democrats from beimg legislative committee chairs. Abbott has sold out to Trump and constituents will suffer.
You are forever an inspiration, my friend. I’m so terribly sorry you faced such hardship when we should’ve had a coalition behind Colin or WHOEVER our candidate was! I saw your work first hand - no one worked harder whether in El Paso, Chicago, or on the ground here in Texas. YOU will always have my support.
Thank you for this great essay.When a political party is out of power for too long, it turns inward upon itself. Instead of pragmatically assessing the overall strengths and weaknesses of the party as a whole, individuals turn on each other. It is a natural tendency, but it cannot be allowed to go on for too long as it will become a habit.
Unfortunately, this out of power situation can eventually lead to talented people like Olivia drifting away, along with a loss of vision. Then, the party is just a bunch of hacks drawing salaries and playing at politics - that is office politics.
It is hard to rebuild. Texas Democrats need leadership right now and they absolutely do not have it. When GW was running for president, I joined my local Democratic club. It had really good enthusiastic people. However, we were very disappointed in our state party. The County chair told us there was nothing we could do - Bush was going to win. The defeatist and passive response was a shock. No support from the County, no support from the State, no support from the DNC.
As to Allred, we were up against huge, huge masses of money on the R side. The R's have a structural advantage. They have Republican apparatus all through the state. We do not. All we have are listless hacks just going through the motions. National Republicans and right wing media focused on defending Texas. They knew Ted was a weak candidate, but Texas has 40 electoral college votes. They realized if they lost Texas, they could not win the electoral college. So they got to work. Republicans' main goal in Texas is to keep it Red. Beto scared them by coming as close as he did.
And there is the problem. Democrats are not thinking. We have been content to play our little inside games with each other while Republicans just ran away with it all. If we take Texas, Republicans will lose. We can no longer concede Texas and put our hopes in the "Blue Wall". The blue wall crumbled with Hillary, but we just kept going with that losing strategy.
I sincerely believe we me must invest in and nurture the enthusiasm of every Democrat and every potential Democrat in Texas. And when I say potential Democrat, I'm talking about Republicans. If you know Texans like I know Texans, you know they prize our independence. Texas Republicans see that their party is running things into the ground here. They are ready to rebel. Let's be there to welcome them to the good guys side.
I’ve been following you for a while and appreciate your dedication to what is right and honorable. Every election cycle I have voted for Democrats who I felt could do good work and move the needle like Beto and Allred. I’ve hated to see what seemed like indifference from the national party — especially when it came to supporting Texas candidates through organizing and financing. It has seemed like we could have made some progress 20 years ago if they had invested time and money instead of pouring it all into races in states that were already pretty solidly blue.
In spite of everything, I’m still hopeful that we can effect change and defeat the evangelical white supremacists. What’s going on now is proof that for the most part, Republicans will not do anything to risk not be re-elected and desperately attempt to hold on to power even though it could mean destroying our country.
Good article. Democrats should stick together no matter what and choose short, important messages. They should learn from the Republican propaganda machine because Republicans do it best. And use social media constantly.
This was a great read. Thank you for sharing! My father was involved in politics in Texas, and it is absolutely bonkers what goes on behind the scenes. I sincerely hope Democrats can figure out how to stop behaving in an elitist way and learn to be more open-minded and willing to try something different than the same old tired tactics. But let's also not forget the power of the Texas Daddies Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks. Abbott no longer runs Texas, and he hasn't for awhile.
Brilliantly written. For all the talk about democrats carrying the torch for "the common man" we have devolved into "well, at least we're not Republicans". At almost 68 my wife and I are seriously considering somehow working in the Texas Democratic Party to affect change.
I gave to his campaign even though I live in AZ. I was sure, absolutely certain he would win. I did the same for Kamala Harris. Politics will break your heart. Good for you to keep trying.
This isn’t just Texas. Thank you for sharing. You (and Collin) are amazing and inspiring!
Great story, Juliana. Stick with this, we need you. So glad you stuck it out. Colin is a great candidate, you were right.
Fantastic write up with a deeply personal look at grassroots organizing. I don't live in Texas but watched the race with interest and support for Allred. I am afraid the politics you describe is rampant throughout the Democratic Party, though. I maintain that Kamala Harris was a wonderful candidate and if Progressive and Moderate Democrats could have stopped internal infighting over fringe issues, she would have won.
Olivia, thank you for sharing your personal perspective and the details of being a campaign staffer.
I worked the campaign phones for both Beto O' Rourke and Colin Allred. Now Abbott has blocked Democrats from beimg legislative committee chairs. Abbott has sold out to Trump and constituents will suffer.
You are an inspiration my dear! Your strength, courage, integrity, intelligence and open mind will take you far.
This article isn’t just applicable to Texas Democrats’ inner workings.
You are forever an inspiration, my friend. I’m so terribly sorry you faced such hardship when we should’ve had a coalition behind Colin or WHOEVER our candidate was! I saw your work first hand - no one worked harder whether in El Paso, Chicago, or on the ground here in Texas. YOU will always have my support.
Thank you for this great essay.When a political party is out of power for too long, it turns inward upon itself. Instead of pragmatically assessing the overall strengths and weaknesses of the party as a whole, individuals turn on each other. It is a natural tendency, but it cannot be allowed to go on for too long as it will become a habit.
Unfortunately, this out of power situation can eventually lead to talented people like Olivia drifting away, along with a loss of vision. Then, the party is just a bunch of hacks drawing salaries and playing at politics - that is office politics.
It is hard to rebuild. Texas Democrats need leadership right now and they absolutely do not have it. When GW was running for president, I joined my local Democratic club. It had really good enthusiastic people. However, we were very disappointed in our state party. The County chair told us there was nothing we could do - Bush was going to win. The defeatist and passive response was a shock. No support from the County, no support from the State, no support from the DNC.
As to Allred, we were up against huge, huge masses of money on the R side. The R's have a structural advantage. They have Republican apparatus all through the state. We do not. All we have are listless hacks just going through the motions. National Republicans and right wing media focused on defending Texas. They knew Ted was a weak candidate, but Texas has 40 electoral college votes. They realized if they lost Texas, they could not win the electoral college. So they got to work. Republicans' main goal in Texas is to keep it Red. Beto scared them by coming as close as he did.
And there is the problem. Democrats are not thinking. We have been content to play our little inside games with each other while Republicans just ran away with it all. If we take Texas, Republicans will lose. We can no longer concede Texas and put our hopes in the "Blue Wall". The blue wall crumbled with Hillary, but we just kept going with that losing strategy.
I sincerely believe we me must invest in and nurture the enthusiasm of every Democrat and every potential Democrat in Texas. And when I say potential Democrat, I'm talking about Republicans. If you know Texans like I know Texans, you know they prize our independence. Texas Republicans see that their party is running things into the ground here. They are ready to rebel. Let's be there to welcome them to the good guys side.
I was also heartbroken when he lost!
I’ve been following you for a while and appreciate your dedication to what is right and honorable. Every election cycle I have voted for Democrats who I felt could do good work and move the needle like Beto and Allred. I’ve hated to see what seemed like indifference from the national party — especially when it came to supporting Texas candidates through organizing and financing. It has seemed like we could have made some progress 20 years ago if they had invested time and money instead of pouring it all into races in states that were already pretty solidly blue.
In spite of everything, I’m still hopeful that we can effect change and defeat the evangelical white supremacists. What’s going on now is proof that for the most part, Republicans will not do anything to risk not be re-elected and desperately attempt to hold on to power even though it could mean destroying our country.
Good article. Democrats should stick together no matter what and choose short, important messages. They should learn from the Republican propaganda machine because Republicans do it best. And use social media constantly.
This reminds me of politics in florida too!!
Texas is full of idiots that’s why
This was a great read. Thank you for sharing! My father was involved in politics in Texas, and it is absolutely bonkers what goes on behind the scenes. I sincerely hope Democrats can figure out how to stop behaving in an elitist way and learn to be more open-minded and willing to try something different than the same old tired tactics. But let's also not forget the power of the Texas Daddies Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks. Abbott no longer runs Texas, and he hasn't for awhile.
Brilliantly written. For all the talk about democrats carrying the torch for "the common man" we have devolved into "well, at least we're not Republicans". At almost 68 my wife and I are seriously considering somehow working in the Texas Democratic Party to affect change.
You should consider becoming precinct chairs or precinct captains! And get involved with your chapter of the SDEC and county party!!!