Democratic leaders urged party members to support their party and gather more members during a Town Hall Meeting on South Campus April 12.
“ Republicans not only took a thumping nationally in November, but Texas Democrats had their best year in Texas in five years,” Boyd Richie, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, said.
This year straight ticket votes went from 36 percent to 41 percent, Rcihie said.
“ Voter intimidation was high against elderly African Americans and Hispanic Americans,” he said.
Richie also discussed the need for more voters.
“ It is critical we turn out the Democratic votes,” he said. “We must engage voters in every part of the state. I don’t care if it’s rural, urban, minority, Anglo, we must cover every corner of the state.”
Richie said the Democratic Party should communicate with the media and has to earn the trust of Congress.
“ Every Democrat is an organizer, and every Democrat is a recruiter,” he said. “We have a number of young Democrats we are trying to show the ins and outs.”
Texas has seen a change in attitudes, Richie said.
“ You don’t have the condescension that you’ve had in the past from the Republicans,” he said.
Richie said the overall goal of Democrats is to protect freedom of speech, preserve the separation of church and state and secure homes.
“ Democrats recognize that all Americans have a collective responsibility to our nation, our state and each other to make this dream come true,” he said.
