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The Harris County Democratic Party held a press conference today to support the Democrats running against Republicans in Houston municipal runoffs. Above is a picture the party posted of the event.

Here are Houston Democracy Project runoff recommendations.  Early voting runs through December 2 and Election Day is December 9.

​The Democrats running citywide are Hollins, Miles, Hellyar, Cantu & Plummer. Those five and also Jackson Lee and Whitmire from Mayor. Sheila Jackson Lee is the better choice for Mayor.  

It is good to see city elections being made partisan. It is not that all the Democratic candidates are great. It's that the Republican candidates running for city office are either far to the right or refuse to publicly distance themselves from election-deniers.

Bipartisanship is fine so long as all involved respect democracy.       

Republicans don't see Houston elections as non-partisan.    

In the first round of voting Houston city candidates are often reluctant to say what party they support. They tell you it is a non-partisan election. But when the choice is down to a Democrat and a Republican, then they tell you.

We must remember these candidates called themselves Democrats when they felt it served themselves to do so. It is by no means a given they will be brave or take risks for us in an authoritarian moment. But we can at the least hold them to the values they assert when they want our votes.     

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. The Project will continue through 2024 at the least. 

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to naa61840@gmail.com.​
   

The Houston Democracy Project Blog is taking a Thanksgiving break.  

Here are the Houston Democracy Project's 2023 Houston Municipal election runoff recommendations.   

Here is why Houston municipal Democrats who have accepted police union endorsements must insist these unions step back from support of election deniers. There is no public safety without democracy.

Here are documents relating to the history of Thanksgiving from the National Archives.     

​Please have an excellent Thanksgiving in whatever way you do or do not celebrate.

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​The Houston Democracy Project works to create, inspire and help organize pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.

These coalitions consist of whoever shows up & must demand that our elected officials show up for us as we fight to protect democracy.     

(Above is picture of Houston I took.  Here is link to Pictures I Have Taken section of Project.) 

Here are some ways people we elect in Houston and Harris County can fight for democracy:

*Use their resources, influence and time to campaign for Democrats in every election cycle. We could use much more help from elected Democrats in safe seats and from Democrats on Houston City Council.   

*When accepting law enforcement union endorsements, insist such unions step back from support of candidates and elected officials attacking democracy. There is no public safety without democracy.  

*Speak up when democracy is under assault & help create a climate where rank & file citizens are informed and prepared to act. We merit protection from the anti-democratic right. 

*Understand that protection of freedom may require career, personal and even physical risks by public officials. If you've chosen this critical time to seek or hold office, you must meet the challenges of the moment. 

Here are the Houston Democracy Project 2023 Houston municipal election runoff recommendations: 

Mayor:

I'm voting for Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee.

It's an insult to voters that both Rep. Jackson Lee and Senator Whitmire have been in public office for decades, and don't have the ability to generate enthusiasm in the districts they represent. Neither have well-served democracy in this important respect. 

From the Houston Chronicle:

"In the precincts that fall in Texas Senate District 15, the district that Whitmire has represented for decades, the average turnout in the mayor's race was about 17% of registered voters..... In U.S. House District 18, the district that Jackson Lee has long represented, about 15% of registered voters turned out to vote in the mayoral race — lower than the turnout in Harris County as a whole this election cycle." 

I'm concerned with Senator Whitmire's open relationships with authoritarians and his intent to bring Greg Abbott's Texas DPS troops to Houston. These troops will serve as deportation squads in Houston communities and would follow Donald Trump and Greg Abbott's instructions if Trump returns to the White House and implements the Insurrection Act as has been reported is in the works. The Senator has accepted the endorsement of many law enforcement unions without asking when they will step back from support of election deniers. There is no public safety without democracy. Senator Whitmire is reckless, complacent and living in a different era regarding the top public safety challenge of the day.       

Controller:

Chris Hollins has been one of the few candidates in Houston 2023 municipal elections willing to talk about voting rights and democracy. He has talked about expanding the role on Controller to address political freedom and far-right threats. This makes sense because all elected officials take an oath to the U.S. Constitution. Our freedom must be the top concern of all elected officials.          

Houston City Council:

These are good candidates who might well show up for us if the Texas Secretary of State nullified a Democratic statewide win or a President Donald Trump ordered use of the Insurrection Act. 

At-Large #3: Richard Cantu. Mr. Cantu is a decent and thoughtful person who I believe will consider what is the right thing to do when faced with tough choices.    

At Large #4: Letitia Plummer. Councilwoman Plummer has at times wrestled with pursuing a hopeful course on the one hand, and the relentless depressing status quo inertia of Houston City Hall politics on the other hand. Hopefully she will be there for us if needed in an anti-democratic crisis. 

These candidates are better than their opponents. Both have the potential to grow and to reflect with greater focus on the anti-democratic challenges facing Texas and the nation.    

At -Large #1: Melanie Miles
At-large #2: Nick Hellyar 

Travis McGee has an extensive record of advocacy and support of democracy in District D.  I support Cynthia Reyes-Revilla in District H as the more likely forceful advocate for democracy. Voters should sit out the District G race where there is no pro-democracy choice.            

Houston Municipal runoff Election Day is Saturday, December 9. Early voting is November 27- December 5. 

Here is a broader Houston Democracy Project look at the Council runoff candidates. Here are Houston Democracy Project recommendations from the first round of voting on November 7.    

Here is Erik Manning's spreadsheet with the primary voting history of '23 Houston municipal candidates.

All elections are partisan. 

​If you found these recommendations helpful, please share them with other & please consider supporting the Project with your contribution. It takes time, effort and resources to do this work. I have full autonomy from candidates and elected officials. We must advocate for ourselves. The Project will continue through 2024 at the least. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to naa61840@gmail.com.​

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Donald Trump and Greg Abbott held a political rally at the border today, and there were many law enforcement and border enforcement troops and agents in attendance. Governor Abbott endorsed Donald Trump for President. Above is a picture from the event.

Houston Mayoral candidate John Whitmire wants to invite 200 Texas DPS troops under Greg Abbott's command to police Houston. In this political climate with our Governor backing an authoritarian for President, these troops would likely serve as deportation squads in Houston communities and            enforcers of Donald Trump's intended use of the Insurrection Act if he returns to the White House. 

(Houston municipal Democrats who have accepted law enforcement union endorsements, must ask those unions to step back from support of election deniers. There is no public safety without democracy.)   

Democratic State Rep. Armando Walle of Houston tweeted out today that the law enforcement officers were being used as props for the rally. He said Trump and Abbott were "....using all of our law enforcement state resources for a campaign event."

Maybe some of those troops felt used. Plenty were certainly fine to be there. You can hear in Rep. Walle's    comments the arguments being made in advance from elected officials to justify looking the other way at attacks on democracy.     

We must advocate for ourselves in the challenging days ahead and demand that our elected officials see  threats to our freedom for what they really are.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. The Project will continue through 2024 at the least. 

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to naa61840@gmail.com.​ 

The Houston Democracy Project had a witty and insightful blog post in mind today, but a Covid booster   yesterday left me at less than full speed today.

I do have energy though to make mention of the new book by Houston tropical disease Doctor Peter Hotez from the Baylor College of Medicine.  

The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science--A Scientist's Warning, deals with issues of democracy and authoritarianism in the context of lies about the effectiveness of vaccines. Dr. Hotez is a strong spokesperson for science and democracy.    

It is a bummer we are back fighting issues of free elections and use of vaccines that seemed sort of settled. But here we are. We'll stay the course. 

Houston voters just approved Proposition B, which directs the City of Houston to work to obtain fair representation on an important regional transportation council, by a margin 65%-35%. It was a decisive win for proper representation and expanded democracy.  

This strong ballot box victory however does not seem to impress Houston Mayoral runoff candidates Shelia Jackson Lee and John Whitmire.

From the Houston Landing:

"Houston’s two remaining candidates for mayor appear to have cooled their earlier support of local Proposition B now that it has been approved by voters and the candidates find themselves an election away from becoming the person in charge of carrying out its promise. U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and state Sen. John Whitmire both endorsed the proposition to require Houston to leave the Houston-Galveston Area Council if the regional planning body fails to offer it proportional voting power. It was approved overwhelmingly Nov. 7, but in a Wednesday forum hosted by Transportation Advocacy Group – Houston, both Jackson Lee and Whitmire said the path laid by the proposition will be difficult for the city to navigate......“As it’s presently conducted, it is not the best pathway forward, but I will not rush to judgment before I assess how we can come together and have those monies distributed to ensure we’re unified as a region,” Jackson Lee told dozens of elected officials and transportation advocates.....Whitmire joked about the proposition’s promise to make the regional council more fair to Houston and argued that during upcoming negotiations the city needs to ensure it is being fair to governments in the surrounding region, as well." 

If Rep. Jackson Lee and Senator Whitmire had these reservations about Proposition B, why did they both endorse it?     

Maybe they both envy Prop. B's ability to turn out out a strong vote.

From the Houston Chronicle:

"In the precincts that fall in Texas Senate District 15, the district that Whitmire has represented for decades, the average turnout in the mayor's race was about 17% of registered voters..... In U.S. House District 18, the district that Jackson Lee has long represented, about 15% of registered voters turned out to vote in the mayoral race — lower than the turnout in Harris County as a whole this election cycle."  

More and more, elected officials refuse to follow the directions given them in referendums and propositions. We are seeing this right now in Ohio where the state legislature is doing all it can to negate a clear 57% majority to amend the Ohio constitution to protect abortion rights.

Democracy is under siege across the country. It's exhausting to have to be at odds with the people we elect here in the most diverse city in America over the simple matter of following clear mandates from voters.

Raegardless of who is elected Mayor, it'll be up to each of us to insist that democracy prevail and Prop B is  enacted in good faith by city leaders.       

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. The Project will continue through 2024 at the least. 

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to naa61840@gmail.com.​

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Houstonians who care about democracy have a lousy choice in the District G Houston City Council runoff. 

Here is a link to a map of Houston Council districts.    

Incumbent Republican Councilwoman Mary Nan Huffman is being challenged by the malignant Tony Buzbee. 

Ms. Huffman has already made clear she is fine with election denial. And you see above she is endorsed by the anti-democratic extremists of the Texas Republican Party. The current Texas Republican Party platform rejects the legitimacy of President Biden's election. 
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Mr. Buzbee was the lawyer for abhorrent Attorney General Ken Paxton in his recent impeachment trial in the Texas Senate. He's just a really bad guy.

There is no option here for Houstonians who value living in a free society. Both candidates are dangerous extremists with deep connections to anti-democracy elements. There is no public safety without democracy and both Ms. Huffman and Mr. Buzbee are threats to public safety.

Understanding Mr. Buzbee is a terrible source of information, he recently tweeted that the women members of Houston City Council are holding a fundraiser for Ms. Huffman. While I'm certain the prospect of being seated near Mr. Buzbee for the next four years at Houston City Hall is distasteful, there is no solid reason to offer support to someone like Ms. Huffman who would attack our democracy.

Also, one of the Councilwomen part of this fundraiser is Republican Amy Peck. Ms. Peck makes herself out as moderate. But she has not stepped back at all from her fellow Republicans in Harris County, in Texas and in the nation who don't respect election results.

There is nothing wrong with bipartisanship in normal circumstances. But we are not in normal circumstances. Support for democracy is tenuous. As regretful as it to contemplate Mr. Buzbee on Council, it is not the job of people who value freedom to bail out those who do not. The asking price for support of Councilwoman Huffman should be that she makes clear her strong commitment to democracy.      

Business as usual has brought us to this point. We need to protect ourselves. We merit protection from the far right. There is plenty of reason to believe that elected officials and privileged folks will look for safe harbor in an authoritarian storm. We must demand our officials fight for us.       

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. The Project will continue through 2024 at the least. 

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to naa61840@gmail.com.​  

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The Texas Legislature has passed hateful legislation allowing police any place in Texas to detain individuals they might suspect to have crossed the border illegally. 

Above is a press release from Democratic State Rep. Armando Walle of Houston regarding the bill. Rep. Walle does not discuss in this release that his endorsed candidate for Mayor of Houston, State Senator John Whitmire, has said he'll bring 250 Texas DPS troops to police Houston. These troops will be fully commissioned to serve as deportation battalions in Houston communities. (These Greg Abbott state police  also would presumably enforce Donald Trump's intended use of the Insurrection Act to stifle protest and dissent if he returns to the White House.)    

Rep. Walle prides himself on a bipartisan approach to legislating. It does not seem based on his press release he thinks this approach was successful on legislation he says is a direct threat to the people he represents.

Below is a tweet Rep. Walle made after the bill passed about "how the tables will turn" in the Texas Legislature and how he sure hopes to be around long enough to see it happen.

There is a middle ground between hoping Republicans will do the right thing on the one hand, and just waiting around for better days ahead on the other hand.

Our local elected Democrats could engage in regular GOTV efforts, show up for the full ticket in every election cycle, sponsor consistent block walks and phone banks with campaign resources and commit themselves every effort to bolster voter turnout in the many areas of Harris County where turnout could be better. (The entire county essentially.) 

It's not just Rep. Walle who could do better in these respects. It's nearly all our City of Houston & Harris County elected Democrats. There is so much at stake in 2024. We must insist they meet the challenge.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. The Project will continue through 2024 at the least. 

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to naa61840@gmail.com.​  

Democrats running for Houston City Council who take the endorsement of the Houston Police Officers Union must ask the union to step back from backing politicians who support election-denial.

If the Houston Police Officers Union wants to support Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick or Alexandra Mealer before Election Day--Fine. It's terrible judgment. But it's a (Somewhat) free country. (The union also endorsed Ken Paxton.)  

But when Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick say Harris County is running unfair elections and should re-do elections, that's when the union can withdraw support. When Alexandra Mealer files a lawsuit she later withdraws to overturn her defeat, thats when you say I can't go further with you.  

Lawsuits challenging 2022 Harris County election results were tossed out by a Republican judge. A partisan Republican audit of the elections found little. 

There is no public safety without democracy. It is not difficult to imagine law enforcement unions working with far-right statewide officials to bypass multi-racial and Democratic voting cities and counties. 

Underlying all of this is the clear frontrunner for the Republican Presidential nomination who is using words and phrases right out of the Nazi playbook. 

The Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Donald Trump for reelection in 2020.

Here is some of what they said: 

"President Trump has shown time after time that he supports our law enforcement officers and understands the issues our members face every day. The FOP is proud to endorse a candidate who calls for law and order across our nation. He has the full and enthusiastic support of the FOP.”

Below are 2023 Houston municipal Democratic candidates who have accepted the HPOU endorsement:

Mayor: John Whitmire 
At -Large #1: Melanie Miles
At -Large #2: Nick Hellyar 
At-Large #4: Letitia Plummer
At-Large #5: Sallie Alcorn
District B: Tarsha Jackson
District C: Abbie Kamin
District D: Carolyn Evans-Shabazz
District F: Tiffany Thomas
District H: Mario Castillo
District I: Joaquin Martinez
District J: Edward Pollard 
District K: Martha Castex-Tatum      

​When political candidates make the call to determine if law enforcement unions meet the standards of their campaigns, they should consider the role such unions play in backing officials who don't support our most essential freedoms.        

Failure to do is irresponsible and puts our most basic safety and freedoms at risk. Maybe our elected officials can imagine some place of safety or even success in an authoritarian America. It is unlikely however that many of the people they claim to represent will have such good fortune.        

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to make democracy a top issue in 2023 Houston politics and to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.

Please share word of the Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question   about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to naa61840@gmail.com.

Above is a picture I took of the November 9 Houston Independent School Board Meeting. I watched the meeting from home.

The two people in the photo above are a tale of two decisions.

The woman on the right is Maria Benzon. She was speaking with her one allotted minute to the Greg Abbott-appointed democracy killing Board of Managers on Zoom from home.

On the left is Jeanette Garza Lindner who is a member of the Board of Managers. She was at home and took  part in the meeting on Zoom.    

Ms. Benzon ran for the HISD Board in 2021 and lost. She still participates in HISD issues as a concerned citizen.

Ms. Garza Lindner ran for the HISD Board in 2021 and also lost. Ms. Garza Lindner applied for the Board of Managers and was selected as the person who won the election was banished. 

People make choices. Ms. Benzon respected the voters decision and continues in her role as an involved member of the public.

Ms. Garza Lindner did not accept the outcome at the ballot box and allowed authoritarian Greg Abbott to place her on the Board of Managers at the expense of democracy.

People will have to decide how they respond to the relentless attacks on our freedoms. Ms. Benzon chooses the side of democracy. Ms Garza Lindner proceeds differently.  

Community Voices For Public Education is doing good work opposing the wrongful HISD takeover.   

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. The Project will continue through 2024 at the least. 

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to naa61840@gmail.com.​        

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