A New Texas Democratic Party

Planning new long term strategies that include everyone

In 2023, I attended a conference panel with the top Democratic Party Chairs that blew my mind. They were all friends and had visions for the democratic party that I had never seen in Texas. I have been asked several times what I hope the TDP changes in the future and how new leadership can help. The truth is we need a lot of help in Texas. The list is long. But here’s a start:

Set expectations upfront

Lavora Barnes, the Michigan Democratic Party Chair, said she keeps a list framed on the wall with a list of what the MDP does. That way, if people have questions, she just points to it. When I drive around Texas, I often hear people complaining about what the Texas Democratic Party does and doesn’t do. I often tell people, listen, that’s not what the party does. They can’t do all the things sometimes; our party counts on our partners to do those things. I think the party needs to make sure they communicate clearly to everyone what they do and do not do. It’s unfair to assume they are responsible for everything and they get a lot of unfair grief. There are a lot of good people who work there who deserve better. And we do need to cut them some slack.

What does the Texas Democratic Party do?

They should be in charge of setting up the infrastructure for the Democratic Party in Texas. They need to get out of the policy weeds and get more into the infrastructure weeds.

Look at this video by the Wisconsin Democratic Party. It gives you a really good idea of what the party does.

What’s the structure anyway?

Then there’s the infrastructure of the party. No one knows who is who at the TDP, or how to get a hold of them. It really frustrating to many Texas Democrats and Leaders. We need a visual picture like what the Michigan democratic party has: https://michigandems.com/structure/

Texas is a huge state. We really need to be broken down by regional hubs e.g., West Texas, East Texas, Rio Grande Valley, Hill Country, Houston Metro, DFW Metro, etc.). Each hub needs a Regional Director to work colaboratively with the County chairs in their region.

Democratic Directory

We need a Democratic Directory like the one we built at Mothers Against Greg Abbott. https://mothersagainstgregabbott.com/directory/

Basic Civics Info

Let’s face it Texans haven’t had any civics ed in Texas in over 30 years. So we should add some simple basics on the website about how people can find information and where they can volunteer.

Training

We need professional trainers and partners that will write, implement, and promote trainings across all the Texas Regions. We will need training programs on the following but not limited to:

• How to use NGP/VAN

• How to use Mobilized

• How to best utilize email marketing

• How to be a precinct chair

• Data how to run reports, analyze it and put information into action

• Social Media Training

• How to me a messaging machine at a local level

• Fundraising

• Voter Protection and voting rights

• So you want to Run for Office

• What do Democrats and candidates need to know about Marketing and Branding

• Field organizing, Block Captain,

• Leadership

• Special Speakers Series

Websites

To limit the impact of turnover of County chairs and programmers, it would be a good idea if the Party handled all the web pages by developing an infrastructure like:

texasdemocrats.org

travis.texasdemocrats.org

bexar.texasDemocrats.org

All web pages should be in WordPress and. you can give each county access and a chance to make their page unique. This will save the county parties a lot of time and money.

Fundraising and Financial Support

• Develop localized, grassroots fundraising campaigns to build buy-in and give Texas Democrats a sense of ownership in the campaign.

• Encourage small donations through transparent messaging on how donations directly impact efforts to turn Texas blue.

• Partner with national Democratic organizations to secure consistent funding but retain control over how resources are spent to stay connected to Texas priorities.

• Let donors and potential donors know about concrete plans for actionilble items.

Engagement with Youth and New Voters

• Create a Youth Engagement Program that includes partnerships with high schools, colleges, and young adult organizations.

• Develop programs that make voting feel more accessible and exciting, such as registration drives, voter education workshops, and a Youth Advisory Council to keep the party connected to young voters’ concerns.

• Target new Texans—residents moving to Texas from other states—to register and vote by engaging them through welcoming and informative digital and community events.

Issue-Based Coalitions and Alliances

• Form issue-based coalitions that bring together advocates, local organizations, and activists on key issues like healthcare, education, and voting rights.

• Partner with progressive organizations and advocacy groups to broaden the party's reach and amplify shared goals, especially in areas like women’s rights, climate policy, and workers' rights.

• Invite grassroots organizations under the umbrella and make them part of the team.

• The TDP Team needs to be more inclusive of everyone. Including our organization.

Community-Focused Events and Mobilization

• Organize highly visible community events to build name recognition and trust with voters, including town halls, community service events, and block parties.

• Host Democratic “Family Days” where people can come out to enjoy community resources and activities, meet candidates, and connect with neighbors in a positive, inviting setting.

• Launch a "Texans for Democracy” statewide tour, where party leaders, candidates, and advocates travel to each region to discuss issues important to local communities, building name recognition and deepening trust.

• Show up to all the Local festivals and fairs.

Accountability and Transparency

• Share progress with supporters and voters openly and regularly. Host monthly “State of the Party” updates on social media to discuss accomplishments, challenges, and plans.

• Foster a culture of listening and responsiveness by encouraging feedback loops where Texans can submit concerns and ideas.

• Conduct a biannual audit of progress to assess outreach efforts, voter engagement, and voter turnout.

• Start out the Democratic Conventions with business policy and vote on everything and end with the fun speakers and get people energized.

Leaders show up

• TDP Leaders all need to do Call time. They all need to help candidates and knock on doors. There has to be skin in this game.

• Incumbent Elected’s need to work on increasing their district voter turnout rate. Just because they are elected and may not have an opponent doesn’t mean they get to rest and not do anything. We don’t have that luxury in Texas. Every single elected office leader needs to make sure they continue to engage with the community.

Precision Targeting: Winning Requires Knowing Where to Focus

A well-established data team allows campaigns to go beyond guesswork by identifying the voters and areas most likely to make the difference. Data tells us:

• Who to mobilize: Understanding voter demographics, behavior, and likelihood to support Democratic candidates allows targeted efforts.

• Where to invest resources: Data pinpoints neighborhoods or regions with untapped voter potential, ensuring money and time are spent effectively.

• How to engage: Personalized outreach based on voter preferences ensures messages resonate.

Continuous Data Collection Builds a Winning Machine

Data isn't just a one-time resource; it evolves. A dedicated, full-time team ensures that:

• Data remains current: Voter rolls change constantly due to moves, deaths, or new registrations. Keeping this data accurate is vital.

• Insights grow over time: Collecting data from every election cycle builds a historical understanding of trends, allowing the party to adapt to changing dynamics.

Real-Time Responsiveness and Issue Identification

A well-funded data team can monitor shifts in voter attitudes and behaviors as they happen. This allows campaigns to:

• Adjust strategy on the fly: Detect emerging issues or changes in sentiment to refine messaging.

• Respond to GOP tactics: Stay ahead of opposition strategies by understanding how and where they’re influencing voters.

Efficient Resource Allocation

Campaign resources—money, time, volunteers—are always limited. Data helps campaigns:

• Identify swing districts: Focus on regions where the party is close to flipping seats.

• Maximize voter turnout: Ensure efforts are concentrated on Democratic-leaning voters who need a push to turn out.

• Avoid waste: Stop spending resources in areas where returns are unlikely.

Voter Registration and Turnout Require Deep Data

Texas, with its unique voter demographics and challenges, is a state where:

• Voter registration campaigns can be more effective when targeted at under-registered groups, such as young voters and communities of color.

• Turnout efforts need to prioritize low-propensity voters who can be motivated with tailored outreach.

Data Drives Long-Term Growth

A full-time, well-funded data team doesn’t just win the next election—it builds the foundation for winning future ones. Data-driven strategy:

• Develops the electorate over time: By consistently engaging with new voters and tracking their responses, the party can grow its base.

• Creates institutional memory: Insights don’t vanish with a single election cycle. A professional data team ensures lessons learned are retained and refined.

What 3 Full-Time Data Specialists Can Do

1. Data Scientist:

   • Analyze voter data to identify trends, key areas of focus, and at-risk districts.

   • Create predictive models to forecast voter turnout and support.

2. Data Manager:

   • Maintain up-to-date voter rolls and volunteer databases.

   • Oversee integration of data from voter files, canvassing apps, and surveys.

3. Field Data Coordinator:

   • Collect real-time information from the ground during voter registration drives and outreach campaigns.

   • Work with field organizers to ensure data accuracy and usefulness.

Investing in Data as a Long-Term Strategy

Data is king because elections are won by understanding people. A strategic emphasis on data collection and analysis creates an infrastructure that:

• Improves election outcomes now.

• Builds a smarter, more efficient Democratic Party in the future.

• Gives us the tools to outpace GOP efforts and turn Texas blue.

Call to Action

Fully funding and establishing a 3-person data team is not just an operational necessity—it’s a game-changer. It’s time to make data gathering, analysis, and utilization the heart of every campaign strategy in Texas.

These are some of my proposed changes and ideas. I for one am tired of seeing Democrats lose elections. But when we work together I strongly believe we can turn this ship around.

Nancy