Let's Paint Texas Blue Again
While most of the country and many people in Texas are focused on the dramatic presidential race currently underway, it is very important that business, community and political leaders in Texas not lose sight of what is at stake right here at home. Our recent March democratic primary showed record turn-out – and an energized electorate.
Now is the time to build on that momentum. Now is the time to re-engage with Texas state politics – and to fulfill the opportunity to affect a truly generation-changing shift in power in our state.
Now is the time to Take Back Texas!

The ability to control the Texas Congressional agenda – drive toward progressive values again – is the immediate mission of Blue Texas. In addition, the ascendant party in 2010 will once again control the redistricting process, which will have a very significant impact on democratic representation in the US House. Recall that under the DeLay maneuver in 2004 (after the only mid-decade redistricting ever attempted in any state), the Democratic US House delegation from Texas went from a majority of 17 seats to a minority of 11. This huge swing was made possible by the fact that DeLay raised $3.4 million to spend on 22 Texas House races in 2002.

 Overview
Under one-party Republican control, Texas ranks last or near last on key quality of life issues that go to the core of what it means to live and raise a family in Texas.  On issue after issue, Texas ranks worse than even much smaller and poorer states like Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma and South Carolina.  Clearly, one-party Republican control in Texas has failed and threatens the long-term health of our state.  It will take the reemergence of mainstream Democrats in a truly competitive two-party state in order to address long and short range challenges such as healthcare availability and affordability, air quality, transportation infrastructure, insurance reform, job creation and retention.

The Failure Of One Party Rule in Texas

2008 Priorities
Texas Democratic House of Representatives
Democrats are only five seats short of a majority in the Texas State House and have enough districts in play to overcome this margin.  Even a net gain of two or three seats will likely be sufficient to remove harshly partisan Republican Speaker Tom Craddick.  Holding a majority in the Texas State House is crucial to redistricting.  National experts agree that Texas will likely gain four new congressional seats after the 2010 census.  If Republicans retain complete control of Texas government, it is likely that all four seats will be drawn to elect Republicans and that Senior Texas Democrats could lose their current districts.  Further, by electing a Democratic majority and a new Speaker, we can break the partisan log jam and finally adequately address key issues like Children’s healthcare, air quality standards, public utility rates and fair insurance reform.  A breakdown of the House races “in play” in 2008 is below.  It is very important that vulnerable incumbents be protected and that we generously fund our best challenge opportunities.