Today, progressive organizations that led the largest collective voter turnout programs in Texas’ historic midterm offered in-depth analysis on the midterm election results and shared plans to build on this year’s progress into 2020. The groups detailed their impact on election results, lessons learned on the ground and what they will do in the next two years to continue growing the Texas electorate.
The following are quotes from the call:
Yvonne Gutierrez, executive director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes: “This election was our chance to fight back against the relentless attacks on reproductive health and rights, and we feel energized by the results. Record voter turnout, coupled with our endorsed candidates’ wins, gives us momentum looking toward the 2020 election. We know we face an uphill battle in the Texas legislature where anti-choice politicians have spent the last decade dismantling access to reproductive health care, including abortion, but we’ve elected more women’s health champions, and we look forward to working with them in January.”
Derrick Osobase, political director of District 6 of CWA: “We’ve never believed Texas is a conservative state. We’ve always know that Texas is a state where the majority of working class people and people of color don’t vote because politicians don’t deliver for them in their everyday lives. We’re building the infrastructure to connect with these voters and organize around their issues. The victories in Texas demonstrate that when we focus on issues, like paid sick leave, health care, good paying jobs and working class values, people of color and workers vote for progressive policies and candidates.”
Jose P. Garza, executive director of the Workers Defense Action Fund: “Hundreds of thousands of working families, people of color, women, and young people in cities across our state voted to send a clear and historic message that Texas is changing. We will no longer be ignored, and when it comes to the issues we care about, like earned paid sick days, good safe jobs, immigration reform, and quality accessible healthcare, we will hold politicians accountable.”
Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network: “The only way to find the voters that have for too long been under represented in the Texas electorate, like young voters and people of color, is to meet them where they are, in their communities and on their campuses, and engage them on the issues they care about.”
Brianna Brown, deputy director of the Texas Organizing Project: “We continue to learn in election cycle, after election cycle that our people will vote if there’s a real connection between their lives and the ballot box. Big, progressive policy agendas, linked to voting are part the prescription for challenging a system designed to leave our people, Black and Brown, women and millennials, un-courted and in the margins of power. Make no mistake about it, behind the Texas blue wave are our people. By our very existence, we prove our strength. The powers that be cannot hold back the tide. We are stepping into our power. A new world is rising, and it looks like us.”
