Clerk Hudspeth Prepares For Election Day Come What May-Houston Democracy Project Notes, 10/3

​Here are Houston Democracy Project Blog Notes & Observations for October 3rd. Election Day is in 33 days on November 5th & Early Voting begins in 18 days on October 21st. 

* Above on the left is Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth. She spoke last night at the monthly meeting of the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus. Clerk Hudspeth is responsible for counting the votes at election time.

Republicans are anxious about how Texans will vote next month. Texas Republicans have extreme right-wing views and agendas they want to impose on all of us. There is every prospect there will be interference from the state in the Harris County election count. This is why some Texas Democrats have asked the federal Department of Justice to oversee the state's conduct of the 2024 election. The State of Texas already has passed a law giving them the ability to overturn Harris County results.                   

Clerk Hudspeth spoke last night in a general fashion about security measures being taken for Election Day, November 5th. It's wrong that that a good public official has to take such precautions for just doing her job. It is happening because of the climate of election-denial and violence constructed the right.   

Clerk Hudspeth will be ready for November 5th. Each of us must also be ready. Ready to vote and ready after Election Day for whatever is on the way.    

Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.
    
* Above on the right are some of the e-mails I've received from Democratic Houston City Councilmember Mario Castillo about his fundraiser which is this evening. I posted recently that given clear threats of authoritarianism and mass deportations, Councilmember Castillo should donate some of the money he raises to help elect people in 2024. This would help assure there will still be a democracy when he is next up for election in 2027.  

It just happens to be Councilmember Castillo sending me these e-mails at the moment. He's not a bad guy. It's all the same for any Democratic member of Houston City Council. Donald Trump is now talking about deporting people here legally in addition to mass forced deportations of undocumented persons. Next it'll be people who are the wrong color. Then it'll be whoever the right says are the wrong people for whatever reason. Our elected officials here in the most diverse city in America can decide to act with urgency or not.   

​Business as usual. Fundraisers as usual. It's taken us to the brink of this nightmare. If Councilmember Castillo sent me an e-mail saying I'm raising money to help win in '24 even though I'm not on the ballot, I'd send a contribution. It can be done. Harris County Judges Erika Ramirez and Hillary Unger and Justice of the Peace Steve Duble are knocking doors in 2024 even though they are not up for election until 2026.       

* The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest will mark Week 400 of being at the corner of Memorial & Detering this Tuesday, October 8, 11:30 AM-1 PM, 5300 Memorial Dr. It's important that people see others like themselves willing to stand openly and confidently for democracy. Please join us.        

Here is a fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
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