Last week Rick Perry, responding to the release of the second batch of interim redistricting maps, had the gall to blame the San Antonio judges for the massive legal costs and unfathomable delays in our 2012 elections.

Just another “oops” moment for our Governor. If the Republican-controlled Legislature had done its job right last summer, we would be voting today and Travis County would not be sliced and diced in a flagrant attempt to silence the voices of our Democratic majority.

Barring a last-minute ruling by the D.C. federal court on Voting Rights Act violations, we are stuck with what we’ve got for a May 29 primary. And what we’ve got is five Congressional districts that do not reflect the will of our Democratic majority.

From the special session last summer to what appears to be the end now, the road has been bumpy for voters struggling to comprehend and keep up. In a nutshell, as redistricting pertains to Travis County, here’s what happened: Read More »

And so much more! We’re not sure how he does it, but Nicholas Chu seems to be in several places at once.

In addition to actively participating in three Democratic clubs (Capital Area Asian-American Democrats, Capital Area Progressive Democrats and Central Austin Democrats), Chu is coordinating Thursday’s  TCDP Primary Candidate Forum. Oh, and he’s putting in full days as Travis County’s newest prosecutor at the County Attorney’s Office.

All of this since graduating from Baylor University School of Law last spring. Originally from Grapevine, where his parents own a Chinese restaurant, Chu is happy to be back in Austin — he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas and served as President of the University Democrats.

QUESTION: First, thanks for coordinating our Candidate Forum, which must be a little bit like herding cats! How did you get roped into doing it? Read More »

As Travis County Democrats continue to fight for fair representation during the ongoing redistricting dispute, we have been fortunate to have strong voices looking out for us in the San Antonio and Washington, D.C., court cases.

One of those eloquent voices belongs to State Representative Eddie Rodriguez. Now serving his fifth term in HD 51, he also serves as Vice Chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC) — a plaintiff against the State’s redistricting plan to whittle Travis County into five Congressional districts.

We are once again in a redistricting holding period, after last week’s failed negotiations in San Antonio. A tentative May 29 primary date was set by the three-judge panel, but that date could be pushed later if the judges decide to wait until the D.C. federal court rules on pre-clearance next month.

After the frustrating and often heated arguments in San Antonio, Rodriguez shared his thoughts on the ongoing struggle. Read More »

We didn’t see it coming, so blind-sided is the right word for how most of us felt on Tuesday, January 31, when it was revealed that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure was cutting funds for Planned Parenthood.

Komen CEO Nancy Brinker blamed a bogus Congressional investigation into Planned Parenthood, but the decision reeked of anti-abortion politics. The reaction to the assault on women’s health care was swift, due in no small part to online protests. Donations and support poured in, and within a few days, Komen had backed down, apologized for the mess and restored funding.

In Austin, Planned Parenthood-Texas Capital Region marched calmly through the bad news, the heartbreak, the protests and the eventual happy ending. Sarah Wheat, Interim Co-CEO, rode that emotional roller-coaster and lived to tell us about it.

QUESTION: What was it like inside the Austin office of Planned Parenthood that eventful week? Were you as surprised as the rest of us? Read More »

Keeping up with Texas’ ongoing redistricting battles has been a challenge for all of us — and especially for Travis County Attorney David Escamilla, who has been monitoring the courts in San Antonio and Washington, D.C., for months now.

Escamilla has been looking out for the redistricting interests of Travis County, which have been under attack by Republican legislators. Last week the D.C. federal court, which is considering whether the Texas maps violate the Voting Rights Act, surprised participants after closing arguments by saying it would not issue a ruling for at least a month.

The focus shifted back to the San Antonio court to draw new interim maps in an attempt to salvage a primary sometime before summer. Last Thursday, the San Antonio court ordered interim map briefings by Feb. 10 and another status conference for Feb. 15. No election schedule was announced.

On Monday afternoon (Feb. 6), the court-set  deadline for a settlement, the Attorney General’s Office released proposed new maps in the hope of saving the April 3 primary, but no deal has been finalized. The new Congressional map would once again split Travis County into five districts, none of them anchored in Austin.

“Every day is something new,” Escamilla said. “The AG is proposing maps, but it’s not a settlement by a majority. We’re going to have to wait until Feb. 15^th to see what happens.” Read More »

In his three short decades of life, Ramey Ko has dashed like a racehorse to the front of Democratic politics and Asian American causes. The Carrollton, Texas, native zipped through Yale to earn a degree in history and then galloped through the University of Chicago Law School. Since 2010, he has served as an Associate Municipal Judge, a position appointed by the Austin City Council.

An electric spark of energy and intellect, Ko is active in about a dozen progressive groups, but he is perhaps most focused on the Capital Area Asian American Democrats, of which he is president. Nationally he works with Asian Pacific Americans for Progress and is one of only 20 people in the country appointed by President Obama to serve on the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. And yes, he has met with the President in that capacity.

The young judge’s road to Asian American advocacy had a few right-hand turns along the way, but he has now firmly established himself in the Democratic Party. If you don’t know Ko, you’re not paying attention. Read More »

A longtime leader of the Stonewall Democrats, both nationally and locally, Rich Bailey has been fighting for LGBT rights his entire adult life.

He grew up a military brat, bouncing around Europe in his youth, and followed his father into the Navy after graduating from high school. But in 1982, his military stint ended abruptly when he felt the full force of official discrimination.

“They asked, I told, so I got kicked out of the Navy,” Bailey says.

Winding up in Austin, Bailey became active with the Austin Lesbian/Gay Political Caucus, worked on several Democratic campaigns, was elected to the Texas State Democratic Executive Committee representing Senate District 14, became chief of staff for Mayor Will Wynn and now works in government relations for the City of Austin. He remains a force in the Stonewall Democrats, but has decided to make some changes.

QUESTION: You are stepping down as president of Stonewall Democrats Austin next month, and in December, you ended your tenure as Secretary of the National Stonewall Democrats PAC. Why? Read More »

Everybody said it! Sunday night’s Johnson Richards Bentsen Dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel was the best TCDP event ever! And we raised nearly $300,000 ($287,450 to be exact)! Honoree Ben Barnes and U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi drew a remarkable crowd and generous donations.

From the VIP reception to the dinner to the after-party and the after after-party, venues were packed and filled with enthusiasm. In typical Austin style, the revelers turned out in everything from diamonds to denim, from black ties to motorcycle jackets.

Cappy McGarr, a top Democratic donor and humorous Texas toastmaster, had to shout above the joyous crowd in the ballroom to begin the evening’s program. After Pastor Anthony Mays’ invocation, we watched a beautiful tribute video to Governor Barnes that included praise from Vice President Joe Biden. Read More »

If you find yourself lamenting the youthful following of presidential contender Ron Paul, take heart that young Democrats who support smart, good-government candidates such as President Obama are alive and thriving on the University of Texas campus.

UT’s University Democrats, comprised of progressive and engaged young voters, stand in stark contrast to UT’s Republican student group, which has made national news more than once because of its leaders’ shockingly racist comments.

Recently elected UDems President Huey Fischer is proof positive that the future of the Democratic Party is in good hands. Only 19 and a sophomore government major, the Rockport native boasts the enthusiasm of youth along with the political IQ and instincts of someone decades older.

With Republicans young and old spewing so much negativity these days, we thought it was time for a conversation with UT’s own President Fischer!

QUESTION: Last month you were in the news condemning the president of the UT College Republicans for her racist Tweet about President Obama. Unfortunately, her predecessor also made inappropriate comments about Obama. What’s your take on all this?

FISCHER: My initial take was that they made really stupid mistakes and should have corrected them right away. When Lauren Pierce, the first one, made that assassination joke, I thought we could move on from that because I never assumed she meant it, and she apologized.

QUESTION: But then came Cassie Wright’s “My president is black, he snorts a lot of crack!” only a month later. Kind of shocking.

FISCHER: Right. Cassie would not apologize for what was blatantly a racist comment. I knew when she started defending herself that we had to take a stand, and we did it with other groups on campus. We would have called her out even if it had been a Republican president, because racism isn’t a Republican or Democratic issue. As the president of the Black Student Alliance said, this takes us backward instead of moving us forward. It really does harm the political dialogue. Read More »

When Democrats gather at the Four Seasons Hotel on January 15^th for our exciting Johnson Bentsen Richards Dinner, we will honor the extraordinary contributions of Ben Barnes. His work on behalf of the Democratic Party and the State of Texas are truly legendary, and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will be there to say so.

Born Benny Frank Barnes in 1938, he began his meteoric political career when he pulled off an upset victory for State Representative at the age of 21. A few years later, he was chosen Speaker of the House and within a few more years was elected to the powerful post of Lieutenant Governor.

Since leaving office, Barnes has been a successful businessman and devoted civic leader. Founder of the Ben Barnes Group, a business consulting and lobbying firm, he brings interest groups and companies together with high-placed Democratic elected officials. And always, he uses his business success to help Democrats — as a donor, a mentor and an advisor. Read More »