HOUSTON DEMOCRACY PROJECT
  • Houston Democracy Project Blog
  • Houston Democracy Project
  • Pictures I Have Taken
Houston Democracy Project Blog

Where Do You Have Leverage With Houston Municipal Candidates?--Use That Rank & File Power

7/19/2023

0 Comments

 
The August 12 endorsement meeting of the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus is an important deal in Houston municipal politics.  

The endorsement of the Caucus is very helpful in a low turnout race where just a few votes can make the difference between getting into a runoff or not. The Caucus mails out an endorsement card many voters take into the polling place. 

I'm a Houston LGBTQ Political Caucus member who'll be voting in the endorsement meeting. I'm happy to hear from any candidate about how they will make protection and expansion of democracy an issue in 2023 & how they'll be an active part of the 2024 campaign in Harris County.

​Where do you have a vote or a voice? 

​The Houston Democracy Project is very much about the power and leverage of rank & file Houstonians.

It's not about candidates. It's about each of us living in a free society or at the least moving us towards the free society we imagine for ourselves and the people in  our lives.  

Each of us has power in a low turnout race where just a few votes can make the difference between getting into a runoff or not.

​ThInk about where you have leverage with candidates:


Your vote. 

Your ability to make a donation or to volunteer for a candidate.

​Your ability to go to a meeting where the candidate is speaking and asking them if they'll stand up to people trying to take our basic rights. 

Any membership you have in club or organization that endorses candidates. Use that membership to press elected officials and candidates.

Your willingness to challenge people with some measure of local power or who may acquire some measure of local political power. You freedom is more important than an awkward moment or a stressful brief interaction.  

​Whatever influence you know you have in whatever fashion.


Locally we've lost our elected school board in what was just 60 years ago a Jim Crow city & Harris County Republicans are in the Texas court system trying to undo 21 Democratic elections victories from 2022.

​Statewide we have a Texas government that pushes migrants into the Rio Grande River and denies them water in this crazy heat.

​Nationally we have the real prospect of a second Donald Trump term.

It's not a big ask to ask our local candidates to address these facts.

​Here are some things you can ask:


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?

​Another thing you can do is share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort.

​We can't wait for elected officials in Houston to take up for us. They won't do so unless we demand that they do. 
Please Donate
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    I'm Neil Aquino.

    I'm a rank & file Houstonian. I’ve volunteered extensively for Democratic candidates and causes, and served as staff for multiple 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 eight years now with one clear message: In addition to voting, we must show up physically and non-conventionally for the fights over democracy. Events have proven this assertion correct. 
    ​
    I'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show every Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later on Egberto's YouTube channel.​
    ​

    I am the 2024 Barbara Cigainero Volunteer of the Year Award recipient the Houston LGBTQIA+ Political Caucus. I have a political science degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati and ran a Cincinnati City Council office.  

    I read a lot of books and follow baseball closely. 

    Please Contribute

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture
  • Houston Democracy Project Blog
  • Houston Democracy Project
  • Pictures I Have Taken