Fayette County TX Democratic Party Newsletter
March 2024
UPCOMING EVENTS - and there are quite a few, so bear with me…
Democratic Neighbors Luncheon - March 21, 11:30
Join us for our monthly luncheon (self pay), meet like minded folks, on Thursday, March 21st, 11:30 am at La Marina Mexican Restaurant, 1502 State Hwy 71, LaGrange. Remembrance Luminarias will be available for sale for a $5/donation each in aid of the American Cancer Association, Relay for Life during lunch (See announcement below for more detail) For further information about the luncheon, please email us at: fayettetxdemocrats@gmail.com or call 979-484-7925
Help Us Try Something New - March 27th at noon
In 2020, Democrats in Georgia leaned heavily into “relational organizing” to get people registered and out to the polls. It’s fun, easy, and effective, so we’re teaming up with a robust Austin organization, the Blue Action Democrats, to give it a try.
The ”Blue Action Network” begins with an app on your phone. Get started with a special-for-us online training session. Either zoom in from home or join some of us in a group zoom-together for a bit of comradery and access to technical help.
When: Wednesday, March 27th at noon.
RSVP to schenkerbecky.tx@gmail.com. Zoom link or in an-person-zoom-together- location provided after you rsvp. Call or text with questions to 210-823-1270.
If you can’t make our county-specific training, there are many other trainings available to get you started. Learn more at https://www.texasblueaction.com/2-million
Coalition of Democratic Alliances - 2nd Annual FUNraiser - March 28, 6pm
Where: Watterson Hall, Red Rock, Texas
I’m not missing this event, BBQ, Live Music, Silent Auctions, AND….wait for it Guest Speaker, Rep James Talarico!! and more. Entry $25 (includes dinner, alcoholic beverages sold separately). I already have my tickets. Why not put together an FCDP group to attend? Last year’s event was so much fun! Call me 812-391-6518. You can pre-buy tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coda-2ndannual-funraiser-tickets-786425388507? They ask that you RSVP so they can plan food & drink. Email at coalitionofdemocraticallies@gmail.com or call 409-201-1679 leave a message.
American Cancer Society “Relay for Life” Update
https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=relay_learn
Watch for Further Details & Updates on “Relay for Life of La Grange” Facebook page
Put these important dates on your calendar
March 28 – BAKE SALE (buy for Easter!) - In front of La Petite, 9am to sell out
April 9th – Drive Thru Dinner, St Paul Lutheran Church in La Grange 4:30 to 6:30.
April 20th – Relay Event (Not at Leopard Stadium, check the Facebook page for details, probably the location will be the La Grange town Square) In remembrance of all those who have suffered and may have sadly passed from this terrible disease, The Luminaria Ceremony is a signature element of every Relay For Life event. At nightfall, these homemade paper lanterns, decorated with the names of loved ones, are lit in honor and in memory of a life touched by cancer. This a lovely way to remember our friends and relatives, which I will be using to honor my very good friend who passed away suddenly in October after a 15 day illness from previously un-diagnosed Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. I think of her daily, donating in this way would make her smile. Pick up at Democratic Neighbors Luncheon, Thursday, March 21st, 11:30. $5 donation per bag.
Democrats, can we put a relay team together to raise cancer research funds? Volunteers are needed and individuals can donate as well! Let’s do this! Send us an email to sign-up at fayettetxdemocrats@gmail.com
Runoff Primary Election - Tuesday, May 28
Mark your calendar! The Runoff Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. This is the day after Memorial Day so it will be easy to remember. So if you voted in the Primary on March 5th, get out there and complete the job!
Regarding the Runoff Election, only voters who voted a Democratic ballot at the Primary will be allowed to vote in the Democratic Runoff Election on May 28th.
FCDP County Convention
Join fellow Democrats at your local Convention! Precinct & Fayette County / Congressional District 10 Conventions will be held at:
When: 3/23/2024 - 10am-noon (check-in 9:45)
Where: La Grange City Hall, Council Room (155 W Colorado)
For more info and to Pre-Register/RSVP: TexasDemocraticConvention.com
Items of business will include:
Election of State Delegates to the Texas Democratic Convention (who will be responsible electing National Delegates to the Democratic National Convention, Presidential Electors, & State Democratic Exec. Cmty. (SDEC) members).
Submission of and voting on resolutions, platform planks, and party rules changes, which will be sent to the Texas Democratic Convention if passed.
Please indicate your interest in being a State Delegate to the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso, June 6 – 8, 2024, when pre-registering for our local convention.
PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS
No Democratic candidates ran for Fayette County offices in the Primary Election, in spite of persistent efforts to locate them. But we are always optimistic, right!!
You can find the Fayette County results for both the Democratic and Republican Primary elections here.
Over the past few months we were fortunate to host several Democratic candidates at our Neighbors Luncheons. Both Democratic Party, US Representative candidates came to speak and answer our questions. Congratulations to Theresa Boisseau who won that Primary bid, 72% (State) & 58.6% (FayCo), against fellow Democrat Keith McPhail, 28% (State) & 41.4% (FayCo). Theresa will face US Rep Michael McCaul in November. Congratulations to Dr Raquel Saenz-Ortiz, who ran for State Board of Education, winning her election with 77.6% (State) & 75% (FayCo) of the vote. Maggie Ellis, who ran for Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District, Place 2, performed very well at 40.52% (State) & 56.98% (FayCo). Lacking 50% of the statewide total vote, she will now run against the second place winner, Edward Smith, 31.48% (State) & 21.74% (Fayco) in the runoff. We’ll see them on the Democratic ballot on May 28th. Good Luck to all!
We celebrate all the candidates for their election achievements and wish them success!! May the best Dems win!
Please take a moment to have a look at theses websites to learn more about these awesome Democratic candidates:
Dr. Raquel Saenz Ortiz - https://drsofortexas.com/ and https://ballotpedia.org/Raquel_Saenz_Ortiz
Maggie Ellis - https://www.maggieforjustice.com/ and https://ballotpedia.org/Maggie_Ellis
Edward Smith - https://www.smithforjustice.com/ and https://ballotpedia.org/Edward_Smith_(Texas)
Fayette County Democrats, thank you so much for your all your efforts to get out and vote in the Primary Election. But our voter turnout was low, (507) vs the Republican turnout of (5,786) voters. The mention of low turnout is not meant to chastise, but to educate. Primary Elections are historically low voter turnout events, but keep the comparison in mind.
Congratulations to these 2024 Texas Democratic Statewide Nominees!
Democrats need to show up like never before in November to keep Trump et. al, “Nowhere near the Oval Office!” (as Liz Cheney says). Vote for Biden/Harris, Fire the heck out of “Cancun Cruz” by electing Colin Allred https://colinallred.com/ And VOTE BLUE UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT!
AND LASTLY, (whew and whew!) and proudly, CONGRATS to President Biden on his State of the Union Address and for picking up all 244 Texas National Delegates slots to the August 19-22 Democratic National Convention in Chicago!
FCDP NEEDS YOU
The Fayette County Democratic Party has an opening for a Treasurer coming up soon. The Treasurer plays an important role working with the County Chair tracking the county party's financial activities. The county party's laptop will be provided for the Treasurer's use. Experience using Quicken would be an advantage for monitoring and controlling expenditures. The current Treasurer estimates a time commitment of up to 2 hours per month. If you are interested in filling this important need in our party organization, please step forward and contact us via our email address: fayettetxdemocrats@gmail.com or call and leave a message at 979-484-7925 and we’ll call you back.
GET READY FOR NOVEMBER!
ORDER YOUR Biden/Harris Yard Signs, contact the Biden/Harris Merch Team, at https://shop.joebiden.com
These are American-made, union-printed signs that you can be proud of!
YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED
Letters from an American by Heather Cox Richardson - Always good, daily political analysis with historical perspective from a well-respected historian and educator. heathercoxrichardson@substack.com
Civil Discourse by Joyce Vance - Former US Attorney, with daily insights and analysis about Trump and Republican legal wranglings. joycevance@substack.com
For you politics nerds interested in exploring the divide in rural America, check out the website for Rural Urban Bridge Initiative https://ruralurbanbridge.org Be sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom for their website map and check out their new podcast “Two Worlds, One Country!”
COMMUNITY CORNER
Want to Learn Spanish? / Free Classes / Smithville Public Library
Beginners - Mondays 1-3pm & 3-5pm / Fridays 10-12pm & 3-5pm
Intermediate - Thursdays 1-3pm / Advanced 3-5pm
Call: 512-575-0018
Send comments, questions, or concerns to: fayettetxdemocrats@gmail.com
Visit our website at: https://www.fayettetxdemocrats.org/
Sigue la lucha y hasta luego! - Annette Holdeman, Editor
I believe they are using the Reach app, not one specifically tied to a Blue Action app. If you are available to attend, on 3/27 at noon there will be a zoom training given by their Trainer.
Oh also re the Blue Action app - are they using Reach, or do they have one of their own?