Fellow Democrats,

You’ve probably received your yellow voter registration card by now, and that means you have received official notice of your Congressional district. Our long-awaited Democratic Primary is May 29^th, but the all-important Early Voting is now through May 25^th.

I’m sure you know how hard Travis County was hit by redistricting. Instead of three districts, with Congressman Lloyd Doggett’s CD 25 anchored in Austin, we have five districts, with Doggett now running in the new CD 35 that stretches between Austin and San Antonio. The other four districts favor Republicans and stretch far away from our Capital City. Read More »

Fellow Democrats,

Today is the last day for early voting in our Austin city elections, and turnout has been dangerously low. If that sounds alarmist, it is meant to be!

As you know, our city elections are non-partisan, but you also know that it is a big advantage to be a Democrat when running for City Council or Mayor. The Travis County Democratic Party does not officially endorse candidates in municipal elections, but we do strongly encourage all Democrats to go vote!

If we turn out only 3 percent of Austin’s registered voters for this election, we leave ourselves vulnerable to those who seek to shift us to the right. Read More »

Fellow Democrats,

It’s a testament to the enduring spunk of Bettie Naylor that we were so surprised by her recent passing at the age of 84. Hers was a life filled with purpose and meaning, of love and laughter. She fought for the rights of everyone for decades with a spine of steel and a smile on her face.

Although I was deeply saddened by the news of her death, I am privileged to have known her and happy that the TCDP was able to honor her last year at our  Trio of Stars Brunch. I’m sure we will toast Bettie once again on May 19^th when we host our 2012 Trio of Stars Brunch, this time honoring Wilhelmina Delco (profiled in today’s “On the Record with Diane Holloway”), Celia Israel (who led us in a moment of silence for Naylor at our County Convention) and tireless campaigner Carrin Patman.

On Saturday,  I hope you will join Bettie’s children, grandchildren, her beloved partner Libby Sykora and scores of friends and extended family at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church (1201 Lavaca) for a celebration of her life. I’m anticipating an inspirational service followed by lots of happy storytelling, so please plan to come. Read More »

Fellow Democrats,

Thanks to everyone who attended, volunteered and in any way contributed to making Saturday’s TCDP Convention such a big success. We had a great turnout and a great time taking care of important business. Read all about it in today’s Convention report in “On the Record with Diane Holloway.”

While Republicans continue their unprecedented assault on women, Democrats continue to support women’s rights, including equal pay and reproductive health care. In Travis County, we Democrats support women’s rights, and we also take pride in honoring some of the best and brightest among us with our Trio of Stars Brunch.

On May 19, we will have the privilege of paying tribute to the Hon. Wilhelmina Delco, Celia Israel and Carrin Patman. Previous honorees have been Willie Mae Kirk, Emma Barrientos, Ellen Richards, Bertha Means, Linda Chavez-Thompson and Bettie Naylor. I have known and admired all of these women and look forward to saluting the service of our 2012 honorees next month. Read More »

Fellow Democrats,

Coming to the Austin Convention Center this Saturday, it’s the 2012 Travis County Democratic Party Convention! I will gavel the meeting to order at 10 a.m., so please join me for this election-year event.

The Convention Center has two convenient parking garages: 601 E. 5^th Street and 201 E. 2^nd Street. Both charge about $7 for the day.

If you haven’t taken the opportunity to register online as a delegate, I urge you to do so now. Besides avoiding potentially long check-in lines, online registrants can buy our great new 2012 TCDP t-shirts for $18 instead of $20. Metered street parking is available with a three-hour maximum.

The new shirt is available for the first time at the Convention, and you know you want one. It’s going to be a collector’s item with the message “Divided Not Conquered,” referring to the Republican redistricting assault that slashed Travis County into five Congressional districts. So sign up ahead of time and get a discount on your new TCDP shirt! Read More »

Fellow Democrats,

With temperatures already soaring into the 90s, it makes sense to start talking about the 2012 Mark Strama Campaign Academy! This is an election-year opportunity that has been hugely successful ever since it launched in the summer of 2004, and I know it will be a success once again.

This year’s Campaign Academy will take place from June 4 through July 6, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. If you are a college or high school student — or know a high school or college student who should be part of this Academy — please check here for more information and the registration form. Read More »

The goal is to reduce long lines and waiting, and we’ll accomplish that goal if all of you register here to become delegates to our April 21st Travis County Democratic Party Convention. It takes just a few minutes, and you can become official in the comfort of your home.

Since we are conducting our precinct caucuses at our county convention on April 21st, we can have this on-line sign in process and all you have to do is sign next to your name when you get to the convention center. It’s quick and simple so sign up here now!

We expect our 2012 process at the Austin Convention Center to be smoother, quicker and all-around better. Read More »

Fellow Democrats,

Get out your buttons and party hats, because we’re entering the presidential election-year convention season.

First up is our own TCDP Convention on April 21^st at the Austin Convention Center. We will do things differently this time as a result of the delayed primary. In the past, we held our precinct conventions after the polls closed on election night — the so-called “Texas Two-Step” — and then we attended our county convention a month later.

But this time, with the March 6 primary now moved to May 29^th, we will have our Precinct and County Conventions at the same time. It isn’t as complicated as it may sound, and we will have plenty of information for you before April 21^st. Important business, from resolutions to delegate selection for the State Convention, takes place during the day. As always, the TCDP Convention is open to everyone, but we hope all of our loyal Democratic voters will register to become delegates. Be sure to check the TCDP web site soon for the online registration form. Read More »

Fellow Democrats,

If Rick Perry and his Republican allies hadn’t forced unfair redistricting maps on Texas, we would have had a primary on March 6, and our TCDP Convention would be this Saturday, March 24, at Palmer Auditorium. Not any more.

We all know what happened to that schedule. The Primary is now set for May 29 (check out the final list of our Democratic candidates, in ballot order, here), and we are moving ahead with plans for our delayed County Convention on April 21^st. Because of the date change, we had to relocate from Palmer to the Austin Convention Center, and that move will cost us nearly $10,000 more.

I hope you will consider donating to help us with this expense, so that we can keep our coffers healthy for the Coordinated Campaign. Remember our slogan: When you give we win! It’s so true. Thanks to our successful Johnson Bentsen Richards Dinner in January, we will be ready to rev up the Coordinated campaign this summer. But first, we have to foot a much bigger bill for our Convention. So I hope you will help us out now — as you always do! Read More »

Fellow Democrats,

Good news to start this newsletter: Monday the Department of Justice denied pre-clearance to Texas’ discriminatory Voter ID Law!

This most likely means that Attorney General Abbott’s attempts to disenfranchise Texas voters will not happen before the May 29 primary, which is good news for us.  Abbott is continuing to file his endless lawsuits trying to make an end-run around the United States Department of Justice, so it’s not over yet.

You can tell that spring break is here by the sweet smell of Mountain Laurel blooming throughout Travis County.  That, and the throngs of SXSW revelers roaming Austin sidewalks.  I hope you are able to break away from your routine long enough to take advantage of this international festival and see a movie or hear live music from around the world.

We are closing our office at 1 p.m. every day this week, as we are located right in the middle of the SXSW festivities on East 6^th Street —  but you can reach us by phone and email during normal hours.  Maybe next year we should have a band play on our roof.

Our friends at the Texas Tribune had their own big event on Sunday. Be sure to check out our special review of  “Game Change,” a movie about the disastrous choice of Sarah Palin as John McCain’s 2008 running mate, in today’s “On the Record with Diane Holloway.” Read More »