James murphy
Executive Director

James’ political career began as a field organizer and ever since then, he’s had the privilege to work on several local and state campaigns as well as at the Texas Democratic Party.

James has had the opportunity to fight for progressive causes at many levels and is honored that his work at the TCDP has moved Travis County more progressively. He has devoted his career to creating equal opportunity for all to thrive in.

James lives in Austin, TX, with his partner and cat, Travis. In his spare time, he enjoys swimming, live music, and going to local parks.

Ryan Ackermann
Organizing Director

A service worker by heart and trade, Ryan has four political campaigns under his belt organizing communities from his hometown of Louisville, KY to here in the heart of Austin, Texas. He has a self-described pragmatic approach that put results over rhetoric, and unity over division. When he is not hustling to build a progressive future, he’ll make you a mean Paloma behind the bar or catch you by the pool as he works on his ever-elusive tan.

James sanders
FINANCE Director

JAMES IS A SEASONED POLITICAL STRATEGIST WITH NEARLY A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE LEADING AND CONSULTING ON DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGNS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HIS POLITICAL CAREER BEGAN IN 2016 WITH BATTLEGROUND TEXAS, WHERE HE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE SUCCESSFUL EFFORT TO FLIP HARRIS COUNTY FROM RED TO BLUE. SINCE THEN, JAMES HAS BUILT A DISTINGUISHED CAREER, SERVING IN PIVOTAL ROLES AT THE TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (DCCC), AND NUMEROUS HIGH-PROFILE CAMPAIGNS.

BY 2017, JAMES HAD JOINED HIS FIRST CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN AND HAS SINCE HELD NEARLY EVERY LEADERSHIP POSITION ON A CAMPAIGN—FROM FIELD TO MANAGEMENT TO FINANCE. HE HAS LENT HIS EXPERTISE TO CAMPAIGNS IN 18 STATES, EARNING A REPUTATION FOR HIS DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF CAMPAIGN INFRASTRUCTURE AND STRATEGY.

JAMES FIRST JOINED THE TRAVIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN 2020 AS COORDINATED CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR, RETURNED IN 2024 TO MANAGE THE COORDINATED CAMPAIGN, AND NOW SERVES AS THE PARTY’S FINANCE DIRECTOR. HIS ABILITY TO LEAD, ADAPT, AND DELIVER RESULTS HAS MADE HIM A CORNERSTONE OF DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZING IN TEXAS.

A PROUD HOUSTON NATIVE, JAMES HAS CALLED AUSTIN HOME SINCE 2019. OUTSIDE OF POLITICS, HE ENJOYS SPENDING TIME WITH HIS DOG, LADY BIRD, AND SOAKING UP THE OUTDOORS WITH FRIENDS.