Mission: Texas

This week, Mission: Texas sits down with two working parents who decided the "someone else will run" strategy wasn't working anymore. Katie O'Brien Duzan is taking on HD-94 in Tarrant County, and Zach Herbert — a Marine Corps veteran and trial attorney — is running for HD-112 in the Dallas area.  Both are in highly competitive state house districts that have a likelihood of flipping. Both candidates talk through their "flux capacitor moment" of deciding to run, the steep learning curve of campaign finance and call time, and how they're building family-friendly campaigns that bring their own kids into the process. They dig into fundraising disparities against well-funded incumbents, the value of door-knocking over ad spend, and why authenticity beats political polish every time.Plus: our new Good News segment covers gym gains, a Tonal million-pound milestone, a birthday, and a half-marathon commitment in the works.What we cover: Katie's and Zach's origin stories — stepping up when no one else had filed Building a campaign from scratch: checklists, core teams, and campaign schools The brutal reality of fundraising against opponents backed by PACs and billionaires Call time, Oath.vote, and rethinking how campaigns reach small donors Why door-knocking beats mailers and TV ads for reaching moderate voters Making campaigns family-friendly — kid-friendly kickoffs, "Scoops with Zach," and block walking with your kids Balancing a day job, a campaign, and parenting without losing yourself Advice for anyone who wants to get involved but doesn't know where to startFollow and support Katie and Zach: https://www.katiefor94.com/https://zach4texas.com/Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠#MissionTexas #TexasPolitics #FlipTexas #TexasDemocrats #HD94 #HD112 #TarrantCounty #DallasCounty #WorkingParents #VeteransInPolitics #RunForOffice #HowToRunForOffice #GrassrootsCampaign #TexasHouse #BlockWalking #TexasLegislature2026

This week we're joined by two newly elected members of the State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) the governing board of the state party: Liza Hameline, a longtime North Texas election judge and Irving-based organizer; and Chris Servin, a Tarrant County field organizer who is the co-chair of the statewide Hispanic Caucus. Both bring a data-driven, door-knocking ethos to the party's infrastructure. They discuss their surprise elections and what the SDEC really does within the Texas Democratic Party.  Plus: Alex's good news is filing a motion to intervene in federal court to help defend Texas's open primary law; Liza's is watching 85% of her SDEC delegation turn out as brand-new faces; and Chris's is launching the Senate District 9 Tejano Democrats chapter in Fort Worth.What we cover: Liza's path from corporate lawyer to precinct-chair recruiter after 2021 redistricting split Irving into four school districts Chris's phone-banking marathon to win the statewide Hispanic Caucus seat — and why "can I count on your support" is the most underused question in politics Chris's work on the coordinated campaign's VAN-based outreach strategy and how it identifies persuadable general-election-only voters Liza's take on what "progressive" means on the ground: down-ballot races, city council wins in Irving (District 6 and District 3), and voter registration at faith communities Chris's plans for the new Senate District 9 Tejano Democrats chapter and reaching underserved rural counties Why Dallas and Tarrant Counties are the highest-ROI turnout targets in the state Building "fun," inclusive local party infrastructure as the real 2030 strategyFollow both: @liza_hameline@chrisisservingLove what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠#texaspolitics #texasdemocrats #bluetexas #fliptexas 

We're kicking off a series of episodes with leaders within the Texas Democratic Party infrastructure, hearing what's going on within the party from the inside. Recorded coming off the Texas Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi and heading straight into the Fourth of July weekend, this first installment is about reclaiming patriotism as Democratic territory. Kate and Alex sit down with Frederick "Nic" Nickens, chair of the Texas Democratic Veterans Caucus and a leader within the Black Caucus, a 23-year Army veteran who retired as a First Sergeant and Tank Master Gunner. He makes the case that veterans, and the party that champions them, are the ones who actually define what patriotism means, and that Democrats have let the other side write that narrative for too long.Plus: the hosts celebrate 40 episodes of Mission: Texas, Alex heads to Rockwall for a July 4th cookout with his Air Force veteran law school best friend, and Nic shouts out his daughter's birthday and the Texas Democratic Veterans' 24th anniversary as an organization, all landing the same holiday weekend.What we cover: Convention recap from Corpus Christi: the mood in the room, the water concerns that never materialized, and a party lineup built for the big tent How the caucus system works inside the Texas Democratic Party, and what the State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) actually does The military oath to the Constitution, not to a party or a person, and why that distinction matters right now Why  72 of 100 veterans in Congress are Republicans  Nic's path from Army private to tank master gunner to first sergeant, and how military leadership training translates directly to political organizing Why Democrats need to define patriotism on their own terms going into 2026 and beyondGuest: Nic Nickens, Chair, Texas Democratic Veterans CaucusWebsites: txdemvets.org | txblackdems.orgAlso mentioned: Texas Black Politics, Texas in ColorLove what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

This week, Kate and Alex sit down with Zack Dunn, Democratic nominee for Texas House District 121 in San Antonio, the second of two House seats in the area that are closest to flipping. His seat is targeted by the DLCC and HDCC, two groups helping flip seats in the Texas legislature. Zack was recording while in Corpus Christi, where the convention was happening. Plus: Kate gets back into a courtroom on the defense side; Alex gets hired by Veterans for All Voters to help defend Texas election law in federal court after the Texas GOP moves to close its primaries; and Zack shares he's about to become an uncle for the first time.What we cover: Zack's path from UTSA student government to the Obama White House to the Bexar County DA's office Zack's connections to the Castros and San Antonio politics Why HD-121 hasn't elected a Democrat since 1981, and what's different this time The $5 million GOP primary in his race pitting two of the biggest donor groups against each other How the voucher fight is showing up at the doors across every part of the district Lessons for Democrats running in "unwinnable" seats Convention week in Corpus Christi and the statewide coordination effort for NovemberGuest: Zack Dunn for Texas House District 121 Website: zackdunn.com Social: @dunnfortexasLove what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

Kate's primary rival turned good friend joins the podcast. State Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez (HD-115) beat Kate in the March 2024 Democratic primary, and this episode is the full story of that race, how they built a real friendship out of it, and what it means heading into the general election season. With Texas Democrats gathering in Corpus Christi this week for the state convention, this conversation is a reminder of what it looks like when Democrats come together after a hard primary to fight for the bigger goal: flipping the state.Plus: Alex is about to become board president of a 75-year-old Dallas preschool, Cassandra's district office officially opens this month, and Kate makes summer plans. We discuss: How Cassandra went from losing her first race to becoming a state rep — and the piece of advice from a sitting appellate justice that changed how she handled the loss The "olive branch" pact she and Kate made before the primary even started — and what it actually looked like behind the scenes Inside the quorum break: what it was like meeting governors in New York and organizers in Chicago, and why she says "Texas Democrats have fight — we just need help" The DLCC's new push to target 12 Texas House seats, and why Cassandra says the resources need to come "yesterday" Why the GOP's mid-decade redistricting fight is now baked into every future legislative session Her block-walking philosophy: why door-knocking beats everything else, and how her team is using off-cycle elections to build long-term voter relationships The honor of serving alongside state-wide candidates Vikki Goodwin, James Talarico, Gina Hinojosa, and Jon Rosenthal — and what she learned watching them fight up closeFollow Cassandra: @CasForTX | cassandrafortexas.comLove what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

Alex has told this story before — how a campaign organizer showed up in Sherman, Texas of all places, and changed the trajectory of his life. This week, that organizer is finally on the mic. Scott Mackey recruited Alex as a high school senior during the 2008 Texas Democratic primary, back when the campaign had no budget, no VAN data, and was cutting turf on hand-drawn Google Maps. It's a homecoming conversation and nostalgia journey.But Scott and the hosts don't just stay in 2008. They use the Obama years as a lens for everything that's happened since — what that campaign got right about organizing and message, where the party has drifted, and what it would actually take to build that kind of coalition again in Texas and beyond.In this conversation: How Scott went from Peace Corps-bound in Guatemala to catching a flight to South Carolina the morning after New Hampshire Organizing Sherman with no data, no staff, and hand-drawn turf maps — and what that scrappy model still teaches The Obama organizing principle of "respect, empower, include" — and how far Democrats have drifted from it Why Trump's rise runs on the same playbook as Obama's, just a different feeling James Talarico's "top vs. bottom" framing and why it's connecting where traditional Democratic messaging hasn't Citizens United, dark money, and how Democrats became the party defending institutions instead of people The 2028 primary field — and why the candidate who changes everything might not be on anyone's radar yetPlus: Scott ran the 2030 census numbers — and even holding Obama's exact 2008 map, Democrats lose seven electoral votes. The old math won't cut it.Follow Scott: @scottmackeywriter on InstagramScott's novel: Love Is Not The AnswerLearn more: Veterans for All Voters — veteransforallvoters.orgSupport the show: Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

Alex has told this story before — how a campaign organizer showed up in Sherman, Texas of all places, and changed the trajectory of his life. This week, that organizer is finally on the mic. Scott Mackey recruited Alex as a high school senior during the 2008 Texas Democratic primary, back when the campaign had no budget, no VAN data, and was cutting turf on hand-drawn Google Maps. It's a homecoming conversation and nostalgia journey.But Scott and the hosts don't just stay in 2008. They use the Obama years as a lens for everything that's happened since — what that campaign got right about organizing and message, where the party has drifted, and what it would actually take to build that kind of coalition again in Texas and beyond.In this conversation: How Scott went from Peace Corps-bound in Guatemala to catching a flight to South Carolina the morning after New Hampshire Organizing Sherman with no data, no staff, and hand-drawn turf maps — and what that scrappy model still teaches The Obama organizing principle of "respect, empower, include" — and how far Democrats have drifted from it Why Trump's rise runs on the same playbook as Obama's, just a different feeling James Talarico's "top vs. bottom" framing and why it's connecting where traditional Democratic messaging hasn't Citizens United, dark money, and how Democrats became the party defending institutions instead of people The 2028 primary field — and why the candidate who changes everything might not be on anyone's radar yetPlus: Scott ran the 2030 census numbers — and even holding Obama's exact 2008 map, Democrats lose seven electoral votes. The old math won't cut it.Follow Scott: @scottmackeywriter on InstagramScott's novel: Love Is Not The AnswerLearn more: Veterans for All Voters — veteransforallvoters.orgSupport the show: Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

The primaries are over. The runoffs are done. What Texas Republicans just sent to the general election ballot may be the most corrupt and radical slate this state has ever seen. This week, Kate and Alex rank all eight GOP statewide nominees — scored on corruption and radicalism — and break down what Democrats need to know before November.Plus: Alex is back from a week off with a new look and good news to share.We discuss: The Paxton-Cornyn runoff is a postmortem on the Texas GOP establishment. Paxton won by nearly 30 points. Cook Political Report has shifted the Senate race to "Lean Republican" — real signal for the fall. The rankings, from least to most corrupt and radical:#8 Nate Sheets (Agriculture Commissioner nominee)  #7 Dawn Buckingham (Land Commissioner)  #6 Mayes Middleton (Attorney General nominee)  #5 Greg Abbott (Governor)  #4 Bo French (Railroad Commissioner nominee)  #3 Don Huffines (Comptroller nominee)  #2 Dan Patrick (Lieutenant Governor) #1 Ken Paxton (U.S. Senate nominee)How did we do? Agree or disagree? Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

The primaries are over. The runoffs are done. What Texas Republicans just sent to the general election ballot may be the most corrupt and radical slate this state has ever seen. This week, Kate and Alex rank all eight GOP statewide nominees — scored on corruption and radicalism — and break down what Democrats need to know before November.Plus: Alex is back from a week off with a new look and good news to share.We discuss:  The Paxton-Cornyn runoff is a postmortem on the Texas GOP establishment. Paxton won by nearly 30 points. Cook Political Report has shifted the Senate race to "Lean Republican" — real signal for the fall. The rankings, from least to most corrupt and radical:#8 Nate Sheets (Agriculture Commissioner) #7 Dawn Buckingham (Land Commissioner) #6 Mayes Middleton (AG nominee) #5 Greg Abbott (Governor) #4 Bo French (Railroad Commissioner nominee) #3 Don Huffines (Comptroller nominee) #2 Dan Patrick (Lieutenant Governor)#1 Ken Paxton (U.S. Senate nominee) Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

Texas State Senator Sarah Eckhardt joins Kate to break down the race for Texas Comptroller — one of the most powerful offices in state government that almost nobody's talking about. Eckhardt, the Democratic nominee, faces Don Huffines, the multimillionaire who purchased the Epstein Ranch and is promising to gut public education and "DOGE" state government. Kate and Senator Eckhardt make the case for why this race could determine the future of Texas.Plus: Senator Eckhardt heads to an LGBTQ-founded food bank in Amarillo after the interview — a community effort that's grown into a lifeline for Panhandle families struggling with the rising cost of living.We cover: Why the Texas Comptroller is the most powerful office you've never heard of — and why it matters who holds it The case against Don Huffines: the Epstein Ranch, a history of buying seats, and a plan to weaponize the comptroller's office Public education as the greatest engine of prosperity ever created — and what vouchers are really doing to Texas schools What Eckhardt would actually do as Comptroller: transparent voucher audits, economic impact reporting, raising the basic allotment, and indexing it to inflation Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation — including double-digit uninsured rates for children — and what Medicaid non-expansion is actually costing insured Texans No-bid state contracts up fourfold since 2019, TEA takeovers funneling schools to private contractors, and the normalization of corruption The "don't California my Texas" myth — and the actual numbers Amarillo staring down the world's largest data center next door while 17 of 26 Panhandle counties are maternity deserts Why 2026 could outperform 2018 — and what grassroots organizing can do that MAGA millions can't buy Last Word: if you don't do politics, politics will do youSupport Senator Eckhardt: SarahEckhardt.com | Volunteer, donate, and follow @SarahEckhardtTXSupport the show: Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

Texas State Senator Sarah Eckhardt joins Kate to break down the race for Texas Comptroller — one of the most powerful offices in state government that almost nobody's talking about. Eckhardt, the Democratic nominee, faces Don Huffines, the multimillionaire who purchased the Epstein Ranch and is promising to gut public education and "DOGE" state government. Kate and Senator Eckhardt make the case for why this race could determine the future of Texas.Plus: Senator Eckhardt heads to an LGBTQ-founded food bank in Amarillo after the interview — a community effort that's grown into a lifeline for Panhandle families struggling with the rising cost of living. We cover:  Why the Texas Comptroller is the most powerful office you've never heard of — and why it matters who holds it The case against Don Huffines: the Epstein Ranch, a history of buying seats, and a plan to weaponize the comptroller's office Public education as the greatest engine of prosperity ever created — and what vouchers are really doing to Texas schools What Eckhardt would actually do as Comptroller: transparent voucher audits, economic impact reporting, raising the basic allotment, and indexing it to inflation Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation — including double-digit uninsured rates for children — and what Medicaid non-expansion is actually costing insured Texans No-bid state contracts up fourfold since 2019, TEA takeovers funneling schools to private contractors, and the normalization of corruption The "don't California my Texas" myth — and the actual numbers Amarillo staring down the world's largest data center next door while 17 of 26 Panhandle counties are maternity deserts Why 2026 could outperform 2018 — and what grassroots organizing can do that MAGA millions can't buy Last Word: if you don't do politics, politics will do youSupport Senator Eckhardt: SarahEckhardt.com | Volunteer, donate, and follow @SarahEckhardtTXSupport the show: Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

You may have seen Angel on the news talking Texas politics. But what you may not know is that Angel Carroll spent her career fighting for criminal justice reform, ran for the Texas House, and was arrested at the Texas Capitol during the redistricting protest. Now she's suing Governor Greg Abbott for banning her from the building without due process. Kate and Alex sit down with Angel to hear the full story: what led her to that moment, what happened inside county jail, and why this lawsuit is about so much more than four women and a one-year ban.Plus: Kate spoke at a veterans event, Alex celebrates 14 years of marriage, and Angel shares a milestone birthday and a prayer she made at 16 that she never thought she'd live to see answered.We cover:  Angel's path from the foster care system to the Texas Capitol  What actually happened the night Nicole Collier was locked on the House floor The moment Angel decided she wasn't leaving and what that felt like 30 state troopers for four women: the arrest and six hours in Travis County jail Charges rejected, but the ban upheld — the constitutional case for why that's wrong The Alabama pilgrimage: Africatown, the Selma bridge, and the lynching museum Marching orders: what every Texan can do right now to fight backFollow Angel: @iangelcarroll on social media Support the show: Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

You may have seen Angel on the news talking Texas politics. But what you may not know is that Angel Carroll spent her career fighting for criminal justice reform, ran for the Texas House, and was arrested at the Texas Capitol during the redistricting protest. Now she's suing Governor Greg Abbott for banning her from the building without due process. Kate and Alex sit down with Angel to hear the full story: what led her to that moment, what happened inside county jail, and why this lawsuit is about so much more than four women and a one-year ban.Plus: Kate spoke at a veterans event, Alex celebrates 14 years of marriage, and Angel shares a milestone birthday and a prayer she made at 16 that she never thought she'd live to see answered.We cover: Angel's path from the foster care system to the Texas Capitol What actually happened the night Nicole Collier was locked on the House floor The moment Angel decided she wasn't leaving and what that felt like 30 state troopers for four women: the arrest and six hours in Travis County jail Charges rejected, but the ban upheld — the constitutional case for why that's wrong The Alabama pilgrimage: Africatown, the Selma bridge, and the lynching museum Marching orders: what every Texan can do right now to fight backFollow Angel:@iangelcarroll on social mediaSupport the show:Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

Olivia Julianna, a Gen Z activist, strategist, and content creator based in Texas. Her work has reached millions online, and she's become one of the most recognizable young Democratic voices in the country.This week, Kate and Alex sit down with Olivia to talk about building a political movement in Texas, and why community is the foundation everything else gets built on.Olivia traces her origin story from a conservative Christian household in rural Fort Bend County to going viral during the 2020 election, taking on Matt Gaetz at 19, and raising $2.3 million for abortion funds in the aftermath of Dobbs. She shares what it was like to be thrust into a national spotlight before she'd even finished her freshman year of college, and why she didn't feel the weight of it until she was standing in the Oval Office with Joe Biden four years later.Plus: Olivia is moving to Austin, Alex is crashing a teenager's D&D birthday quest, and Kate is taking her four-year-old to ACL for the very first time.*Note: this was recorded before Trump's Texas Primary endorsement announcement. Why Olivia started making TikToks in 2020, and how she reached a million views before she could even vote Getting attacked by a sitting member of Congress at 19, and turning it into $2.3 million for fifty abortion funds Being pushed out of her ministry for abortion advocacy, and how James Talarico helped her find her way back to her faith The "villager" theory of organizing: show up for your community before you need something from it Why the Democratic big tent in Texas has to be bigger than most party insiders are comfortable with Olivia's prediction on the Cornyn-Paxton runoff and what it means for Talarico in November How Texas congressional seats could determine the House majority The 18-to-29 neighbor stat: down from 51% to 25% since 2012, and what Democrats need to do about itWhere to find Olivia:All platforms: @OliviaJuliannaSubstack: oliviajulianna.coSupport the show:Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

Olivia Julianna, a Gen Z activist, strategist, and content creator based in Texas. Her work has reached millions online, and she's become one of the most recognizable young Democratic voices in the country.This week, Kate and Alex sit down with Olivia to talk about building a political movement in Texas, and why community is the foundation everything else gets built on.Olivia traces her origin story from a conservative Christian household in rural Fort Bend County to going viral during the 2020 election, taking on Matt Gaetz at 19, and raising $2.3 million for abortion funds in the aftermath of Dobbs. She shares what it was like to be thrust into a national spotlight before she'd even finished her freshman year of college, and why she didn't feel the weight of it until she was standing in the Oval Office with Joe Biden four years later.Plus: Olivia is moving to Austin, Alex is crashing a teenager's D&D birthday quest, and Kate is taking her four-year-old to ACL for the very first time.*Note: this was recorded before Trump's Texas Primary endorsement announcement.  Why Olivia started making TikToks in 2020, and how she reached a million views before she could even vote Getting attacked by a sitting member of Congress at 19, and turning it into $2.3 million for fifty abortion funds Being pushed out of her ministry for abortion advocacy, and how James Talarico helped her find her way back to her faith The "villager" theory of organizing: show up for your community before you need something from it Why the Democratic big tent in Texas has to be bigger than most party insiders are comfortable with Olivia's prediction on the Cornyn-Paxton runoff and what it means for Talarico in November How Texas congressional seats could determine the House majority The 18-to-29 neighbor stat: down from 51% to 25% since 2012, and what Democrats need to do about itWhere to find Olivia:All platforms: @OliviaJulianna Substack: oliviajulianna.coSupport the show: Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

Constitutional law attorney, voting rights expert, and former president of the Texas Civil Rights Project Mimi Marziani joins Kate and Alex to break down the Supreme Court's Callais decision — and what it means for Texas, for redistricting, and for democracy itself.Plus: Mimi's clients are refusing to be silenced, Alex's daughter turns four, and Kate announces she's hanging a shingle.What we discuss: What the Callais decision actually holds — and why Justice Thomas's concurrence may be more honest about it than the majority opinion The 25-year arc from Bush v. Gore to Crawford to Shelby County to Rucho to Callais — a slow burn with a fast finish Why the court reaching out to decide a question the parties didn't ask is virtually unprecedented, and what Citizens United has in common with it The immediate-effect ruling and why the only plausible explanation is to benefit Republicans in the 2026 midterms The Texas redistricting fight: how a 150-page federal court finding got swatted away on the shadow docket The Republican Party of Texas lawsuit seeking to restrict primary participation — and Mimi's amicus brief Tennessee's new map, the Memphis dismemberment, and what comes next Why 2030 redistricting is the stakes underneath the stakes — and why Texas is about to gain five more congressional seats What it would take for Congress to act: the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, the filibuster, and what 2029 might look like The one thing standing between Republicans and unlimited gerrymandering: losing"Republicans in Texas believe in Texas Democrats more than Texas Democrats do." — Mimi MarzianiRead Mimi's new article: Weaponized Oversight: Texas’s Escalating Campaign Against Nonprofit Advocacy & the Chilling Effect on Speech and Association, 45 Rev. Litig. (forthcoming 2026), available at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6748785.Support the show:Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

Constitutional law attorney, voting rights expert, and former president of the Texas Civil Rights Project Mimi Marziani joins Kate and Alex to break down the Supreme Court's Callais decision — and what it means for Texas, for redistricting, and for democracy itself. Plus: Mimi's clients are refusing to be silenced, Alex's daughter turns four, and Kate announces she's hanging a shingle.What we discuss:  What the Callais decision actually holds — and why Justice Thomas's concurrence may be more honest about it than the majority opinion The 25-year arc from Bush v. Gore to Crawford to Shelby County to Rucho to Callais — a slow burn with a fast finish Why the court reaching out to decide a question the parties didn't ask is virtually unprecedented, and what Citizens United has in common with it The immediate-effect ruling and why the only plausible explanation is to benefit Republicans in the 2026 midterms The Texas redistricting fight: how a 150-page federal court finding got swatted away on the shadow docket The Republican Party of Texas lawsuit seeking to restrict primary participation — and Mimi's amicus brief Tennessee's new map, the Memphis dismemberment, and what comes next Why 2030 redistricting is the stakes underneath the stakes — and why Texas is about to gain five more congressional seats What it would take for Congress to act: the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, the filibuster, and what 2029 might look like The one thing standing between Republicans and unlimited gerrymandering: losing"Republicans in Texas believe in Texas Democrats more than Texas Democrats do." — Mimi MarzianiRead Mimi's new article: Weaponized Oversight: Texas’s Escalating Campaign Against Nonprofit Advocacy & the Chilling Effect on Speech and Association, 45 Rev. Litig. (forthcoming 2026), available at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6748785.Support the show: Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

Texas's 23rd congressional district just got a whole lot more interesting. Republican Congressman Tony Gonzalez resigned amid a sex scandal, leaving 800,000 Texans without representation — and Greg Abbott refuses to call a special election. Katy Padilla-Stout, a San Antonio attorney, former teacher, child welfare advocate, and mom of four, won a four-way Democratic primary outright on just $50K. Now she's taking on "AK Guy" Brandon Herrera — a gunfluencer with Nazi-adjacent baggage who wasn't even registered to vote when he first ran — in one of the most competitive and diverse congressional districts in the country.Kate and Alex dig into what's really at stake in TX-23, why this race is winnable, and why the district has never elected an extremist — or a congresswoman. Yet.Plus: Kate got promoted in the military (views expressed here are her own). Alex launched his law firm. And Katy is spending her 41st birthday watching the Devil Wears Prada sequel with her closest friends. In this episode: The Tony Gonzalez scandal: what actually happened with his staffer, and why it's worse than you think Who is Brandon Herrera, her opponent? His YouTube channel, his Confederate ties, and his joke about veterans TX-23 geography: 800 miles of border, 26+ counties, and why you have to win both Bexar and the rural National support: Jamie Raskin's group, EMILY's List, MoveOn, and the Hispanic Caucus Gold Pack Running for Congress with four kids, including two she adopted The poll showing Katy within margin of error against Herrera despite Trump's +12 in the districtSupport Katy: Website: katyforcongress.com Socials: @katy4congress on Instagram, TikTok, and FacebookSupport the show:Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas. 🤠

If you want to flip Texas, you have to win the Rio Grande Valley. This week on Mission: Texas, we're sitting down with Julio Salinas — 26 years old, son of a migrant farm worker, former Texas House legislative director, and the candidate who just shocked the entire RGV political establishment by finishing first in a three-way primary for Texas House District 41. He's heading into a runoff against a candidate who only voted in a Democratic primary for the first time in 2024. We also get into el dedazo, the kingmaker problem in RGV politics, why immigration and the economy are two sides of the same coin in a region that runs on cross-border tourism, and what it means when your aunt gets detained by ICE on the same night you find out you won your primary.Plus: Julio reveals he took up fencing in college because of a girl, Kate shares a personal milestone in her journey toward federal criminal defense work, and Alex is heading to a very important banquet tonight.In this episode: Julio's origin story: from knocking doors at 15 to the Texas House floor Why being called a "career staffer" by a millionaire banker might be the best attack line a candidate could hope for The data infrastructure gap that has left the Valley behind — and how Julio's campaign is fixing it HD-41's 24-point Trump swing: what happened and who Democrats need to win back Why immigration IS an economic issue in South Texas — and why downtown McAllen is now empty El dedazo: the kingmaker machine Julio is running to disrupt Leaders We Deserve, Greg Casar's endorsement, and the new generation of Texas Democratic infrastructure The runoff: May 26th, early voting starts May 18thFollow & Connect: Julio Salinas: @Julio4RGV on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook | julio4rgv.com — donate if you can, this is one of the most important runoffs in the state Leaders We Deserve: leaderswedeserve.com Mission: Texas on social: @missiontexaspodcastSupport the show: Independent Texas media needs your support. Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast for just a few dollars a month, or leave us a five-star review wherever you listen. God bless Texas. 🤠