Black Democrats, in East Texas and those in rural counties and communities, all across Texas, are being politically oppressed and discriminated against far too often. The Texas Coalition of Black Democrats needs more Democratic lawyers and donors to help us fight back, if Democrats are ever going to win statewide races again.

East Texas used to be home to white yellow dog Democrats. That is no longer the case. Black Democrats are now the only true yellow dog Democrats left in East Texas and that may not last much longer if they are not helped, defended, and protected by local, state, and national Democrats.

Democratic county party chairs in East Texas, West Texas, and in all our rural counties must be the frontline of defense and protection for Black Democratic voters and Black Democratic candidates whether they are running in a partisan primary, a general election, a local race for a county office, Mayor, City Council Member, School Board Trustee, Community College Trustee or a special district director. Teammates must defend and vote for each other.

The largest sources of elected Black, Hispanic, Asian, women, LGBTQ+, disabled, Muslim, and Jewish Democrats, in Texas, are Precinct Chairs and local elected officials. This is why both groups should be automatic delegates to Texas Democratic Party (TDP) State Conventions. We need their energy, active support, knowledge, and input to win.

We need to hear directly from our Precinct Chairs and local elected Democrats to learn about their experiences and to hear their advice for winning, in their counties and communities; especially in the rural areas of our state.

Democrats need an active Precinct Chair in every precinct in Texas, with voters, before the end of 2021. We need all our Precinct Chairs reaching out to Democratic and Independent voters, in their precinct, on a regular and consistent basis.

We also need them registering at least ten (10) new voters a month, in their precinct, and checking on registered voters in their precinct who have not voted in the past two (2) elections or those who only voted once in the last three (3) elections. All these contacts and data points need to be shared with both the local county party and TDP.

For Democrats, winning statewide really begins at the grassroots combined with doing better in East and West Texas and in rural communities, across the state.

It may be surprising to some but there is, in fact, a large Black Democratic population in rural and suburban Texas because of the growth we are experiencing. Texas now has the largest Black population in America, likely four (4) million or more Black Texans. Ninety (90%) to Ninety-five (95%) percent of those old enough to vote are likely Democrats.

If that population had been registered and motivated to turn out and vote, it would have helped win Texas for Biden. Imagine what could happen in 2022 and 2024, if Black Democratic voter registration and engagement is a top priority from here to the voter registration deadline in 2022. I know you can see what I am talking about-Victory!

Democrats can and will, once again, win Texas with a combination of the right strategy, maxed out Black and progressive voter registration, and motivated, excited voter turnout.