The State of Texas and Texas Republicans are stripping Houston and Harris County of political representation.
The state has removed Houston’s elected School Board in what just 60 years ago was a Jim Crow city and is engaging in ceaseless effort to overturn our elections.
They are negating our laws and ordinances and handing political control of our multi-racial community to people with completely different values.
They are seizing our resources, including our schools and the real estate they sit on. We are losing control of our flood control district and being cheated out of federal funds for recovery from Hurricane Harvey.
The right defines our people as criminals and law enforcement unions bypass municipal authority to be accountable only to the state.
We are told we are not competent to make our own laws, regulations or policies, or to run our governments how we think best.
Let’s fight back. Let’s insist that candidates seeking to lead Houston be part of the fight.
(I took these pictures of Houston. Please check out the Pictures I Have Taken section of the Project.)
The state has removed Houston’s elected School Board in what just 60 years ago was a Jim Crow city and is engaging in ceaseless effort to overturn our elections.
They are negating our laws and ordinances and handing political control of our multi-racial community to people with completely different values.
They are seizing our resources, including our schools and the real estate they sit on. We are losing control of our flood control district and being cheated out of federal funds for recovery from Hurricane Harvey.
The right defines our people as criminals and law enforcement unions bypass municipal authority to be accountable only to the state.
We are told we are not competent to make our own laws, regulations or policies, or to run our governments how we think best.
Let’s fight back. Let’s insist that candidates seeking to lead Houston be part of the fight.
(I took these pictures of Houston. Please check out the Pictures I Have Taken section of the Project.)
This is the Houston Democracy Project
Democracy is under assault nationwide, statewide and locally.
Locally, defeated Republicans have filed 21 lawsuits, now moving through a state court, to undo 2022 Harris County Democratic election wins. These cases are headed to the hyper-partisan Texas Supreme Court. In Houston, the far-right Texas state government has taken control of our schools.
Candidates for Houston municipal office in 2023 must fully join the fight, speaking and acting. There is too much on the line in the most diverse city in America for office seekers to keep hiding behind the tired and failed fiction that city elections are non-partisan. Republicans don’t treat these races as non-partisan. Neither should we.
Candidates must step away from the consultant-driven view that Houston city elections are inherently low turnout, special-interest funded affairs where issues are obscured and police union endorsements are seen as a holy grail.
Discussing democracy in 2023 Houston elections is the right thing to do and a vote winner. This was so for President Biden in 2020 & Democrats nationally in 2022. President Biden and Vice President Harris have made democracy a center point of the 2024 re-election campaign. U.S Representative Colin Allred is focusing on Ted Cruz’s support of the January 6 insurrection in his 2024 race for U.S. Senate.
A shift in how these races are run will only happen if Houstonians take the lead. It is moderate and mainstream to insist freedom be protected. Without democracy, there is no public safety. It is extremist to look the other way. Our candidates and officials must meet the challenges of the day, and by signing up to serve as our elected leaders have a responsibility to do so.
2023 Houston municipal elections represent an opportunity to make a change in the culture and focus of city elections.
This is why I have started the Houston Democracy Project.
Democracy is under assault nationwide, statewide and locally.
Locally, defeated Republicans have filed 21 lawsuits, now moving through a state court, to undo 2022 Harris County Democratic election wins. These cases are headed to the hyper-partisan Texas Supreme Court. In Houston, the far-right Texas state government has taken control of our schools.
Candidates for Houston municipal office in 2023 must fully join the fight, speaking and acting. There is too much on the line in the most diverse city in America for office seekers to keep hiding behind the tired and failed fiction that city elections are non-partisan. Republicans don’t treat these races as non-partisan. Neither should we.
Candidates must step away from the consultant-driven view that Houston city elections are inherently low turnout, special-interest funded affairs where issues are obscured and police union endorsements are seen as a holy grail.
Discussing democracy in 2023 Houston elections is the right thing to do and a vote winner. This was so for President Biden in 2020 & Democrats nationally in 2022. President Biden and Vice President Harris have made democracy a center point of the 2024 re-election campaign. U.S Representative Colin Allred is focusing on Ted Cruz’s support of the January 6 insurrection in his 2024 race for U.S. Senate.
A shift in how these races are run will only happen if Houstonians take the lead. It is moderate and mainstream to insist freedom be protected. Without democracy, there is no public safety. It is extremist to look the other way. Our candidates and officials must meet the challenges of the day, and by signing up to serve as our elected leaders have a responsibility to do so.
2023 Houston municipal elections represent an opportunity to make a change in the culture and focus of city elections.
This is why I have started the Houston Democracy Project.
Who Am I?
I'm Neil Aquino
I’m a rank & file Democrat, activist and Houstonian who wants to live in a free society. I’ve volunteered extensively for Democratic candidates and causes, and served as paid staff for multiple Democratic campaigns. My work for Democratic campaigns has involved communications and strategy.
I’m an organizer of the Weekly John Cornyn Houston Office Protest. The Cornyn Protest team has been outside Senator Cornyn’s office each Tuesday for well over six years now with one clear message: In addition to voting, we must show up physically and non-conventionally for the fights over democracy ahead.
I’m a member of the Southwest Democrats, Tejano Democrats and the Houston LGBTQIA Caucus. I have a political science degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati and ran a Cincinnati City Council office.
I'm Neil Aquino
I’m a rank & file Democrat, activist and Houstonian who wants to live in a free society. I’ve volunteered extensively for Democratic candidates and causes, and served as paid staff for multiple Democratic campaigns. My work for Democratic campaigns has involved communications and strategy.
I’m an organizer of the Weekly John Cornyn Houston Office Protest. The Cornyn Protest team has been outside Senator Cornyn’s office each Tuesday for well over six years now with one clear message: In addition to voting, we must show up physically and non-conventionally for the fights over democracy ahead.
I’m a member of the Southwest Democrats, Tejano Democrats and the Houston LGBTQIA Caucus. I have a political science degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati and ran a Cincinnati City Council office.
What are the goals of the Houston Democracy Project?
To make protection and promotion of democracy a leading issue in 2023 Houston city elections.
To create a culture where rank-and-file Democrats, active Democrats and Democratic clubs and organizations ask more of candidates and incumbents. We must empower and protect ourselves, and insist the people we support have our backs.
For Houston municipal Democratic incumbents and candidates to commit to actively supporting the Harris County Democratic slate in 2024.
For people in power to listen to and engage in discussion about doing things differently without reflexively reducing the substance to an ideological clash or deflect it as merely a gratuitous attack on the local political establishment.
To ask municipal candidates what effort and resources they will commit to increase turnout in 2023 as part of creating the habit of voting in Houston in every election.
To have candidates willing to challenge police unions. This is not about the police department. It is about police unions backing Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick and Alexandra Mealer even after and as they attack our election results. There is no public safety without democracy and no public safety when police unions support election deniers.
To always acknowledge that democracy in Houston and Texas has left some less free than others.
In sum: To create a democracy movement in Houston. We must have the imagination and capacity to act on behalf of freedom without waiting and hoping politicians will do so without our push.
To make protection and promotion of democracy a leading issue in 2023 Houston city elections.
To create a culture where rank-and-file Democrats, active Democrats and Democratic clubs and organizations ask more of candidates and incumbents. We must empower and protect ourselves, and insist the people we support have our backs.
For Houston municipal Democratic incumbents and candidates to commit to actively supporting the Harris County Democratic slate in 2024.
For people in power to listen to and engage in discussion about doing things differently without reflexively reducing the substance to an ideological clash or deflect it as merely a gratuitous attack on the local political establishment.
To ask municipal candidates what effort and resources they will commit to increase turnout in 2023 as part of creating the habit of voting in Houston in every election.
To have candidates willing to challenge police unions. This is not about the police department. It is about police unions backing Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick and Alexandra Mealer even after and as they attack our election results. There is no public safety without democracy and no public safety when police unions support election deniers.
To always acknowledge that democracy in Houston and Texas has left some less free than others.
In sum: To create a democracy movement in Houston. We must have the imagination and capacity to act on behalf of freedom without waiting and hoping politicians will do so without our push.
How will this be achieved?
With this website & updates on the Houston Democracy Project Blog about attacks on democracy in Houston, Harris County and Texas.
By talking to Democratic club and organization leaders, active Democrats, party leaders and municipal candidates.
With letters and follow-up to Houston municipal candidates and incumbents, asking they commit to taking up democracy as a major campaign focus. This will involve candidates for Mayor, Controller, City Council and the Board of the Houston Community College system.
By working consistently to publicize this initiative.
By asking you to be part of the effort. Your ideas and suggestions are always welcome.
With this website & updates on the Houston Democracy Project Blog about attacks on democracy in Houston, Harris County and Texas.
By talking to Democratic club and organization leaders, active Democrats, party leaders and municipal candidates.
With letters and follow-up to Houston municipal candidates and incumbents, asking they commit to taking up democracy as a major campaign focus. This will involve candidates for Mayor, Controller, City Council and the Board of the Houston Community College system.
By working consistently to publicize this initiative.
By asking you to be part of the effort. Your ideas and suggestions are always welcome.
What you can ask of 2023 Houston municipal candidates?
Will you make democracy a top issue in your campaign? Will you discuss the issue on your campaign literature and website?
Will you speak up on the loss of our elected school board and continuing efforts to reverse Democratic wins in Harris County in 2022?
What are you doing to increase turnout and involvement in Houston City elections?
Can I count on you to help elect Democrats in Harris County in 2024?
Will you use campaign funds and your influence to help develop and train non-white organizers in Houston? Progressive organizers? Will you use your resources to strengthen pro-democracy forces in Houston?
Will you insist police unions and any group you seek the endorsement of will always support free and fair elections in Texas?
If you are a Democrat, will you openly identify as a Democrat on campaign materials and in public appearances?
Will you make democracy a top issue in your campaign? Will you discuss the issue on your campaign literature and website?
Will you speak up on the loss of our elected school board and continuing efforts to reverse Democratic wins in Harris County in 2022?
What are you doing to increase turnout and involvement in Houston City elections?
Can I count on you to help elect Democrats in Harris County in 2024?
Will you use campaign funds and your influence to help develop and train non-white organizers in Houston? Progressive organizers? Will you use your resources to strengthen pro-democracy forces in Houston?
Will you insist police unions and any group you seek the endorsement of will always support free and fair elections in Texas?
If you are a Democrat, will you openly identify as a Democrat on campaign materials and in public appearances?
How Can You Take Part?
By imagining Houston municipal politics in a new way.
By demanding accountability from people who seek your vote.
By asking organizations you are part of to speak up for democracy even when it involves tough conversations.
By sharing word of the Houston Democracy Project with others and sharing this website with others.
By realizing your voice and vote matter. Many 2023 races have multiple competitors. Candidates need every vote they can to get into the runoff. Let’s use that leverage.
By offering your ideas. Your input is always welcome. E-mail me at naa61840@gmail.com with your questions and ideas.
By supporting this project financially.
By imagining Houston municipal politics in a new way.
By demanding accountability from people who seek your vote.
By asking organizations you are part of to speak up for democracy even when it involves tough conversations.
By sharing word of the Houston Democracy Project with others and sharing this website with others.
By realizing your voice and vote matter. Many 2023 races have multiple competitors. Candidates need every vote they can to get into the runoff. Let’s use that leverage.
By offering your ideas. Your input is always welcome. E-mail me at naa61840@gmail.com with your questions and ideas.
By supporting this project financially.
Please donate.
The Houston Democracy Project takes time, effort and money. The project is possible because of skills and experience I have acquired over many years. It’s important and fair that people doing the work for democracy be compensated. Anti-democracy forces have near unlimited funding. I’m asking for contributions to be able to stick with this effort through Election Day and into the runoffs. I plan to adapt the Houston Democracy Project for the 2024 Harris County Democratic primary and general election and I look forward to working with democracy advocates across all Houston and Harris County communities. Thank you.
The Houston Democracy Project takes time, effort and money. The project is possible because of skills and experience I have acquired over many years. It’s important and fair that people doing the work for democracy be compensated. Anti-democracy forces have near unlimited funding. I’m asking for contributions to be able to stick with this effort through Election Day and into the runoffs. I plan to adapt the Houston Democracy Project for the 2024 Harris County Democratic primary and general election and I look forward to working with democracy advocates across all Houston and Harris County communities. Thank you.
