Democrats hope to build party from bottom up

[TexasTowelie]

HOUSTON — Texas Democrats have the longest losing streak in the nation, having lost every race for statewide office since 1994, but with Republicans stressing greater conservatism and fresh faces running as Democrats, they hope to turn that around.

That was the dominant message at last week's convention in Houston, where delegates elected their first Hispanic chairman, Gilberto Hinojosa. He has led a county party, served as a judge and worked on the Democratic National Committee, giving him a broad perspective on the party and its problems in Texas.

"Demographically, we have more people who fall within our natural base than the Republicans," Hinojosa said Saturday, explaining how non-Hispanic whites make up less than 50 percent of the population. "The problem is that we have not concentrated on our base. We have not developed effective strategies to be able to get that base out."

Democratic leaders, though, have been promising to unite minorities and progressive whites for 30 years in order to win in Texas. But over those same years, Republicans have only gained in strength, dominating the Texas House with a 102-48 supermajority that allowed them to pass laws even if Democrats didn't show up. They also hold a majority in the state Senate, board of education and Congress.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/texas/democrats-hope-to-build-party-from-bottom-up-2397147.html

[AnotherMcIntosh]

1. Worked for the DNC? Oh great.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. He has some experience in winning elections. That's more than can be said for

the people who ran against him.

[patrice]

2. YYYYEEEEeeeeeeeee!!! HHHHhhhhAAAaaaaaaaa!!!

~

[Gothmog]

3. I have met Hinojosa and I like him

Judge Hinojosa came to Fort Bend County for two separate events for two different clubs. I got to talk to him and I like him. Judge Hinojosa has some good ideas and wants to take the party a different way. Juanita Jean/Susan Bankston has been a strong critic of the TDP leadership and she is a strong supporter of Judge Hinojosa. Susan's speech to second Judge Hinojosa's nomination on Saturday was very funny and effective.

Boyd Richie has focused on wining independents in East Texas for years which was a waste of time and money. The party is just recently begun to focus on building the base and concentrating on registering voters in the communities that may support us. To be competitive, the party needs to work on races that we can win by building up a base. I personally like the ideas of Judge Hinojosa but then again, I have had a chance to meet and talk to him. I will be happy to see the party focus its efforts in areas where we can win and I hope that the party stops wasting time and money on East Texas

[TBF]

4. I don't know anything about him

but if he can get workers registered that's where we need to be. Demographically we've had strong growth in the Hispanic sector in this state. I don't know what your experience was in 2008, but here in Brazoria the labor that we did have went strong for Hillary. I assume they voted for Obama in the general but who knows ...

[dr5645kr]

5. Spam deleted by cyberswede (MIR Team)