Reading today’s headlines can leave one feeling uncertain about the future of our country. From what looks to be Rosenstein’s imminent departure to a new accusation against Kavanaugh, it’s hard to recall a time when there wasn’t a threat, outrage, or damaging revelation in the daily headlines.
But today, Dems in Texas are feeling hopeful. I remember Texas Democratic governor Mark White. I voted for Ann Richards. I cheered Lloyd Bentsen’s famous line against Dan Quayle. I frequently drive the highway in Houston that bears Sen. Bentson’s name and spent time at the LBJ library during my days at UT Austin. I attend the church Barbara Jordan grew up in, and live in the congressional district she once represented. My mother was a Texas delegate for Jessie Jackson in ‘84 and my family votes in every election. Texas has a strong Democratic tradition and I am a proud Texas Democrat.
We all know Democrats haven’t held a statewide position in nearly a quarter century; but I can tell you something is different this time.
I met Beto O’Rourke a couple months ago. I try to avoid cliches when describing people, but he is “the real deal”. What’s amazing is not only the support he’s getting from across the country, but the enthusiasm people across our state genuinely have for his candidacy. He’s dispelling stereotypes and tropes about Texans (stereotypes that Texans have known were false but didn’t have a national voice to say so). These are the stereotypes that certain politicians use--such has cowboy boots and fake accents. Don’t get me wrong, we love our football and boots, and there is a distinct West Texas drawl and East Texas twang; but you’re just as likely to get Vietnamese Pho in Houston as you are BBQ.
By streaming his campaign, Beto has shown our country the “real Texas”--from the Rio Grande Valley to the Red River—the Hill Country to the Piney Woods. These places and every place in between show what millions of Texans are about. I’ve heard people remark that Beto doesn’t have a “Texas accent”, when in actuality, his cadence and speech patterns are very “Texan”. We aren’t a monolith and we certainly aren’t “deep red”. Texas is a big, diverse state, and win or lose, I’m glad Beto is working to unite us all. As he has said, “before we are Republicans or Democrats or Independents, we are Texans, we are Americans, we are human beings and it’s time we started acting that way.”
-Tomorrow is National Voter Registration Day
-The last day to register to vote in Texas is October 9
-Early voting starts October 22
Let’s GOTV.