Momentum Building: McLennan County Democrats Head Into Fall
McLennan County Democrats are building real momentum this August, and the numbers tell the story: volunteers have already signed out more than 1,800 postcards in just over a week for the MCDP Postcard Campaign, with plans to reach thousands of Democratic voters across the county before Election Day.
New Faces on the Ballot
Three candidates deserve your attention as fall approaches. Amy Martinez-Salas is running for Texas State Senate District 22 on strong public schools and real advocacy for rural communities, the only candidate in the race putting working families first. Casey Shepard is running for Texas's 17th Congressional District with a clear message: we cannot meet this moment with politics as usual, focusing on civil liberties, democracy and representation for communities too often overlooked. And James Talarico, an eighth-generation Texan and former teacher, is running for U.S. Senate to take power back for working people and fight corruption in Austin and Washington.
These races matter locally, too. Pete Sessions, McLennan County's current congressman, voted against the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and has backed efforts to restrict ballot access, restrictions that fall hardest on Black, Latino and rural voters right here in our district. Casey Shepard is running to make sure every McLennan County voice is heard, not silenced.
The Stakes Beyond the Ballot
The stakes go beyond any single race. Texas hospitals are facing billions of dollars in potential losses from Medicaid cuts, and new research shows more of the state's youngest kids are becoming uninsured. That hits McLennan County directly, from rural hospitals to pediatric care. Nationally, Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda, including family separation and attacks on DACA, threatens to tear apart the immigrant families, neighbors and business owners who make our community strong. Democrats support humane immigration policies that keep families together.
This week also brings two moments worth marking. Wednesday, Aug. 26 is Women's Equality Day, the anniversary of the 19th Amendment and a reminder that the fight for full equality, equal pay, reproductive freedom and equal representation, is still ongoing. And Monday, Sept. 7 is Labor Day, a chance to honor the teachers, nurses, tradespeople and small business owners who keep McLennan County running and deserve fair wages and a real voice on the job.
Finally, save the date for Saturday, Sept. 19, when the Texas Democratic Women of Central Texas host the biennial Richards-Jackson Dinner at the historic Hotel 1928 in Waco. Named for Ann Richards and Mae Jackson, the evening raises funds for this year's Democratic candidates and features keynote speaker Angel Carroll, a Texas policy advocate and equity-centered leader. Tickets are moving quickly.
From postcards to the ballot box, McLennan County Democrats are showing up this fall. Whether that means writing a postcard, learning about a new candidate or buying a ticket to the Richards-Jackson Dinner, there's a place for you in this work. The choices ahead are too important to sit out.
