Texas Democratic Party

The Texas Democratic Party is the group that represents the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Texas. It is one of the two main political groups in the state, with its main office located in Austin, Texas.

Many important leaders from Texas, including President Lyndon B. Johnson, were members of this party. For many years, Texas Democrats were the most powerful group in the state. However, since the 1990s, the Republican Party of Texas has become stronger, and Texas has not elected any Democratic leaders to major state jobs since 1994.

Today, Texas Democrats support ideas like better schools, protecting the environment, and fair wages. They are especially popular among Black Texans, Latino Texans, young people, and those living in cities. However, some Latino Texans have started to support the Republican Party in recent elections.

History

Before Texas became a state, the Democratic Party already had some influence in the area. A group called the "Texas Association" acted like an early version of the party. These were successful merchants, doctors, and lawyers who often came from Tennessee and were friends with Andrew Jackson.

In 1845, Texas joined the United States. By 1848, the Texas Democratic Party started using a convention system to choose their candidates. Before the Civil War, national issues shaped the party's views. After the war, the party split over issues related to freedmen. Republicans briefly took control of Texas politics, but by 1872, Democrats regained power and dominated for many years.

In the 1920s, Texas voted against a Democratic president for the first time. The 1950s were difficult years with disagreements inside the party. Things settled in the 1960s, especially after Lyndon B. Johnson, a Texas Democrat, became president. However, by the 1990s, Republicans became stronger in Texas.

In 2018, Democrat Beto O'Rourke came close to winning a Senate race, showing that Democrats might be gaining ground in Texas. Today, Texas Democrats focus on improving healthcare and raising the minimum wage.

Activities

The Texas Democratic Party works to help more people who share its ideas get elected to government jobs in Texas. It gives help and advice to candidates, talks about important issues, and shares news with people through its website and social media.

The party also collects money to pay for its work, like paying staff, making posters, and helping candidates learn how to talk to voters. Every two years, the party holds meetings where people choose leaders and decide who will represent the party in elections. In 2012, delegates chose Gilberto Hinojosa to be the party's chair.

In December 2023, the Texas Democratic Party was the first state to ask for a pause in fighting in Gaza.

Current elected officials

The Texas Democratic Party has members in many important jobs in Texas. As of February 2026, they hold 13 out of 38 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Some of these representatives include Lizzie Fletcher, Al Green, Veronica Escobar, and Joaquin Castro.

In Texas state government, Democrats hold many seats too. In the Texas Senate, there are 12 Democrats, including Carol Alvarado and Judith Zaffirini. In the Texas House of Representatives, there are 62 Democrats, such as Christian Manuel, Ron Reynolds, and Gina Hinojosa.

Some important leaders in the Texas Democratic Party include:

• Senate Minority Leader: Carol Alvarado
• Speaker Pro Tempore of the House: Joe Moody
• House Minority Leader and Caucus Chair: Gene Wu

The current chair of the Texas Democratic Party is Kendall Scudder.