Texas Democrats conclude convention without adopting platform

Texas Democrats concluded their convention in Dallas late Saturday afternoon without adopting a platform after there wasn’t a quorum. “Texans should look forward to seeing the official, finalized party platform in the very near future, and we hope they will contrast it with the horrific trash the Republicans put out,” said Ike Hajinazarian, the party’s deputy communication director. Attendees at the convention engaged in a lengthy voting process to elect a Democratic chair, which extended the day’s work. Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa was ultimately re-elected to the leadership role. After party leadership was announced, many filed out of the room where the meeting was being held. Work continued for awhile longer, before a point of order was called over a lack of quorum and the convention concluded.

To Democratic nominee for county judge Deborah Peoples, Tarrant County could be the key to a statewide flip to blue. “When we flip Tarrant County, we flip Texas,” Peoples said with vigor to a crowd Saturday at the third day of state Democratic convention programming, drawing cheers. Peoples joined Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra and Fort Bend County Judge KP George for a panel on the importance of flipping Texas counties blue, moderated by Harris County Democratic chair Odus Evbagharu. Peoples, a former AT&T vice president and former Tarrant County Democratic chair, swiftly took her primary in March with 82.64% of the vote. She’ll face off against Southlake attorney Tim O’Hare in November in a race to replace 15-year county judge Glen Whitley, who did not seek re-election. O’Hare previously served as Tarrant County’s GOP chair and beat former Fort Worth mayor Betsy Price in his primary with 56.95% of the vote. Voices at the county level are important because of the chance Democrats had to improve lives across the state, Peoples said. “Just imagine what will happen when the 254 counties in Texas when we elect Democrats,” Peoples said. Peoples told the crowd local government impacts everything from the water constituents drink to the taxes they pay. She said everyone needed to become a superhero and “fight the evil that has infested Texas” by voting blue.