Texas is considered one of the biggest battleground states in the country. During their runs for office, numerous presidential candidates even visited the state multiple times to speak with Texans. The city of Houston was also one of the finalists to host the Democratic convention as well.
Thus with the convention kicking off today, many Texans have voiced concerns over the lack of Texas leaders being featured in the extensive four-day lineup. After Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa reportedly spent days lobbying organizers, there will finally be state representation at the convention.
In the primetime lineup for Tuesday night, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and state Rep. Victoria Neave, both from Dallas, will be among 17 “rising stars” of the party that will speak in the keynote address.
“We are proud to have Allred and Neave as keynote speakers in this convention,” Hinojosa said in a statement. “Still, there are several more speaking slots that should have been awarded to our remarkable list of Texas leaders.”
Several prominent Texans will also be featured on Thursday night. On behalf of the Texas Democratic Party, there will be a Democratic National Convention Pre-Show, in which Democratic U.S. Senatorial candidate MJ Hegar will moderate a roundtable discussion including Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro and former U.S. Congressman Beto O’Rourke — both former Democratic candidates for president.
“Does the DNC and National Democratic Party get how important Texas is? The short answer is no,” O’Rourke in an interview Sunday night. “They’re not going to ride to our rescue, there’s no cavalry coming to help us at the end of the day. Texans have to win Texas… I think we’re going to surprise the country.”
Photo: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
Sarah brings more than seven years of experience as a multimedia journalist to Texas Signal, where she serves as our Podcast and Video Producer, managing the company's three podcasts, including SignalCast, TexMix Podcast and Three Righteous Mamas, and assisting with copy-editing and social media as well. Sarah is also the Editor-at-Large at Brown Girl Magazine, and an avid artist, TV/film enthusiast and cook. Sarah graduated from The University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Journalism, and received a Master's degree in Mass Communication from the University of Houston.
