Good News For Texas Democrats

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that the Democratic Party in the state of Texas is in a lot of trouble. There isn't a single statewide post held by a Democrat and both houses of the state legislature are overwhelmingly controlled by Republicans. The state party is just a shadow of its once proud self (and that may be putting it generously). There are many parts of the state where the party just seems to have given up. Here in House District 13, the Democrats didn't even run a candidate in 2010 (even though the Republican vote was being split by a teabagger running against the incumbent).

I have believed for several years now that one of the major reasons for this is a failure of leadership in the state party. They seem to have just written off large parts of the state and focused on a urban-only approach to elections. This has not even come close to working (as the results from the last few elections have shown). The leadership has also shown a propensity for only recruiting conservative (blue dog) candidates -- as if the way to win was to imitate the Republicans.

It is time for the party to have new leadership, and it is time for the party to compete statewide -- even in heavily Republican areas. After all, you can't expect someone to vote Democratic if you don't even bother to ask them to do so. It is also time to do some serious voter registration in some neglected areas (such as West Texas and the Panhandle where many counties are starting to have emerging Hispanic majorities).

And toward that end, Texas Democrats got some good news yesterday. State chairman Boyd Richie has announced he will not run for re-election in 2012. We can only hope that an energetic and forward-thinking person will be elected to replace him (and not another party hack looking for a cushy job). Here is the e-mail sent out yesterday by chairman Boyd Richie:

Dear fellow Democrat,

I want to share with you the following statement I’ve just released.

“Every day, as both state and national Republicans wage war on working families, the vital nature of our mission becomes more obvious.

“Knowing how important our work is - it is a very real and special privilege to be Chair of the Texas Democratic Party. I’ve enjoyed wonderful experiences, met scores of remarkable people, and I’ve learned a lot.

“As a three-time candidate for Party Chair, one of the things I’ve learned is that there is always a little friction between running for the position and doing the job. And frankly, we don’t have time for that.

“Betty and I have reached the difficult but honest conclusion that, at this point in time, our Party needs a Chair who is not encumbered by also being a candidate.

“Therefore, I have two announcements today. First, I will not seek re-election. Second, and perhaps more importantly, I will dedicate the next 14 months to working with you to build the strongest, most prepared Texas Democratic Party possible

“Now more than ever, Democrats must unite, because a Republican political agenda that threatens to shut down government, schools and nursing homes is one that has turned its back on the people.

“I have faith that our Party will meet that challenge. We have work to do. Given what's at stake, we can afford to do no less.”

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Your fellow Democrat,

 

Boyd L. Richie
Chairman
Texas Democratic Party