PODCAST · government
Mission: Texas
by Kate Rumsey & Alex Clark
Texas is growing faster than anywhere else — and that growth means more electoral power. As blue strongholds lose seats, the road to protecting the White House must run through the Lone Star State. If we do not flip Texas by the next census, we risk losing the White House for a generation. “Mission: Texas” dives into the strategy, people, and stories needed to flip the state. Hosted by two Texas lawyers and parents — a former candidate and a long-time organizer, both with military roots — we mix mission-driven focus with a dose of pop-culture fun. Think of us as your Democratic club while you cook, commute, or go for a walk. And don’t worry: this mission is serious, but it’s definitely not impossible.(Viewpoints expressed are those of the hosts and not of their employers or of the U.S. Department of Defense)
Episodes
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Ep. 54: The Houston Mom Suing Texas Over the Ten Commandments (Emily Roth, Microactivism)
This week Mission: Texas sits down with Emily Roth, a Houston mom suing the state and Spring Branch ISD after Ten Commandments posters went up in her kindergartner’s classroom. Emily walks through her exhaustion of the school district’s grievance process, the decision to ground her lawsuit in…
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Ep. 53 - South Asian Texans - Hate, Hope, and Their Voting Power (Chanda Parbhoo, SAAVETX)
This week Mission: Texas sits down with Chanda Parbhoo, a longtime South Asian community organizer in Dallas who built SAAVETX (the state's largest South Asian voter outreach organization) from five moms into a grassroots force with nearly 600 volunteers and over half a million voter touches...
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Ep. 52: Kendall Scudder, One Year Later (Chair of TDP)
To mark Mission: Texas's one-year anniversary, we bring back our very first guest, reelected Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder, to check in on everything that's changed since our debut episode. Kendall reflects on a grueling year and a half in the chair, reports back on the three goals...
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Ep. 51: Beto
To mark our one-year anniversary, Mission: Texas sits down with Beto O'Rourke — founder of Powered by People and the Democrat who's come closest to flipping a statewide race in a generation. Beto lays out exactly what has to happen between now and 2030 for Texas Democrats to hold the state…
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Ep. 50: What Winning Looks Like (Cora Black & Tsion Amare, Dallas County Young Dems)
This week Mission: Texas sits down with two leaders of Dallas County Young Democrats: Cora Black, community advocate, HR professional, and the club's first Black female president, and Tsion Amare, DCYD's current co-president, former Texas House staffer and 2024 candidate, and political affairs...
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Ep. 49: Flipping Rural Texas (Chelsey Hockett, congressional candidate)
This week Mission: Texas sits down with Chelsey Hockett, the Democratic nominee challenging Congressman Lance Gooden in a district that Decision Desk HQ still rates as a 12-to-14-point Republican lean — even in a good year for Democrats. Chelsey makes the case for why TX-5 isn't as out of reach…
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Ep. 48: Is West Texas Actually Red or Turning Blue? (Kyle Rable)
This week Mission: Texas heads to West Texas for the first time, sitting down with Kyle Rable — Army Reserve civil affairs officer, PhD candidate at Texas Tech, union member, and Democratic candidate for Congress in one of the reddest districts in the country (Trump +52 in 2024). Kyle traces his...
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Ep. 47: Courier Texas - How Independent Media Is Reaching Voters Fox News Can't
This week on Mission: Texas, we're joined by Katie Serrano, DFW political correspondent for Courier Texas, a digital-first, values-driven newsroom covering progressive politics across battleground states. Katie walks us through her path from a University of Arkansas journalism program to covering...
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Ep. 46: A New Way to Reach Voters (Congressional Candidate Caitlin Rourk)
This week on Mission: Texas, we sit down with Caitlin Rourk — a mom, Army National Guard officer, business leader, and Democratic candidate for Texas's 10th Congressional District. Caitlin shares her unconventional path to service (including a medical disqualification that took her nearly a…
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Ep. 45: Vikki Goodwin on Data Centers, THC, and the Fight to Unseat Dan Patrick
Texas Lieutenant Governor nominee Vikki Goodwin returns to Mission: Texas ahead of the general election to talk about her statewide campaign against Dan Patrick. Vikki breaks down why the data center boom has become the surprise unifying issue of the cycle — driving up water and electric bills,...
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Ep. 44: A Family Ticket: Justin & Matthias Early on Running for Congress and the Texas House-Together
Most families argue about politics at the dinner table. The Early family put two names on the ballot instead. Justin Early — Army veteran, cybersecurity architect, and Democrat running in Texas's 31st Congressional District — is challenging 13-term Republican incumbent John Carter. His…
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Ep. 43 - Trump is Coming To Dallas & Why Dallas County Democrats Aren't Worried
Today on Mission: Texas, we're putting Dallas County under the microscope. Our guests are Kardal Coleman, Chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party, and Yasmin Simon, the party's Vice Chair. Kardal is a Dallas native, Army veteran, licensed minister, former labor organizer, and experienced...
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Ep. 42: "How To" Run For Office (from two working parents)
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....
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Ep. 41: The Surprise Shake Up Within the Texas Democratic Party (Liza Hameline & Chris Servin)
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...
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Ep. 40: Convention, Texas Democratic Leadership, and Proud Patriots (Nic Nickens)
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...
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Ep. 39: Is San Antonio the Key to Flipping Texas? (Zack Dunn)
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...
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Ep. 38: From Political Rivals to Friends (Rep. Cassandra Hernandez)
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…
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Ep. 37 (audio): The Obama Organizer Who Showed Up in Sherman and Changed Alex's Life (Scott Mackey)
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…
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Ep. 37 (video): The Obama Organizer Who Showed Up in Sherman and Changed Alex's life (Scott Mackey)
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…
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Ep. 36 (audio only): Texas Republicans Ranked From Least to Most Corrupt and Radical
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...
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Ep. 36 (Video): Texas Republicans Ranked From Least to Most Corrupt and Radical
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...
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Ep. 35 (audio): Sarah Eckhardt on the Comptroller Race, One-Party Rule, and How the GOP Is Gutting Your Public Schools
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...
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Ep. 35 (video): Sarah Eckhardt on the Comptroller Race, One-Party Rule, and How the GOP Is Gutting Your Public Schools
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...
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Ep. 34 (Video): She's Suing Greg Abbott (Angel Carroll)
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...
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Ep. 34 (Audio): She's Suing Greg Abbott (Angel Carroll)
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...
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Ep. 33 (Video): Olivia Julianna on Faith, the Texas Primary, and the Key to Flipping 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…
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Ep. 33 (Audio): Olivia Julianna on Faith, the Texas Primary, and the Key to Flipping 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…
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Ep. 32 (Video version): SCOTUS Gutted the Voting Rights Act. What's Next? (Mimi Marziani, Esq.)
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...
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Ep. 32: SCOTUS Gutted the Voting Rights Act. What's Next? (Mimi Marziani, Esq.)
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...
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Ep. 31: The Texas Congressional Race Getting National Attention (Katy Padilla-Stout)
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...
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Ep. 30: Fighting for the RGV - Julio Salinas on Flipping South 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...
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Ep. 29: Abbott Called It Antifa. Texans Called It a Saturday. (What's Next for the No Kings Movement)
This week, we're sitting down with Shelby Evans, the lead organizer behind Austin's No Kings rally, to find out how the movement actually works, who's showing up, and what comes next. Shelby breaks down the nuts and bolts of coalition organizing — the eight-week runway, the open call for artists...
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Ep. 28: Junior Ezeonu & The Primary Upset That's Changing Texas Democrats
Junior Ezeonu just pulled off one of the most compelling primary upsets in recent Texas Democratic politics — defeating a 16-year incumbent in a safe blue seat, severely outspent, on grassroots power alone. Now he's headed to the Texas State House representing Texas House District 101, and he's…
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Ep. 27: Flipping the Highest Texas Courts—Holly Taylor & Justices Chari Kelly & Maggie Ellis
Texas is unique in that it has two separate Supreme Courts: one for civil cases (the Texas Supreme Court) and one for criminal cases (the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals). Currently, both courts are composed entirely of Republican justices. And we elect these judges here. In this episode, Kate…
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Ep. 26: Marcos Velez on the Texas Lt. Governor Runoff and Working-Class Politics
What does it take to run for Texas Lieutenant Governor as a union negotiator and not a career politician? In this episode of Mission: Texas, Kate and Alex sit down with Marcos Velez, Democratic candidate for Texas Lieutenant Governor and Assistant Director of United Steelworkers District 13…
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Ep. 25: Luke Warford and the Agave Fund
This week on Mission: Texas, we sit down with Luke Warford, founder of the Agave Fund and former Democratic nominee for Texas Railroad Commissioner, whose 2022 run turned heads nationally. Luke breaks down why 2026 may be the perfect storm for Texas Democrats, what down-ballot candidates can…
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Ep. 24: Clayton Tucker - Ag Commissioner, Food Monopolies, and Water Scarcity
In this episode of Mission: Texas, Kate and Alex sit down with Clayton Tucker, fifth-generation Texan rancher and the Democratic nominee for Texas Agriculture Commissioner — the candidate running to lower your grocery bill, protect Texas water, and bust the monopolies rigging the system. We…
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Ep. 23: What the Texas Primary Results Really Mean
In this episode of Mission: Texas, we break down the biggest takeaways from the Texas primaries with Michelle Davis, substack writer of Lone Star Left, and David De La Fuente, Dallas political strategist and podcast host of Loserville. We discuss the unexpectedly high Democratic turnout, why...
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Ep. 22: Powered By People
In this episode of Mission: Texas, we sit down with Aimee Prudhomme, the new Executive Director of Powered by People, Beto O’Rourke’s volunteer-led organizing group built to flip Texas through human-to-human voter engagement. We talk about why registration is only step one, how relational...
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Ep. 21: The Railroad Commission Isn't About Trains — It's About Your Power Bill (Jon Rosenthal)
In this episode of Mission: Texas, we sit down with Jon Rosenthal, a four-term Texas state representative, engineer, and the Democratic nominee for Railroad Commissioner, to break down one of the most powerful and least understood offices in Texas government — and why it affects every Texan’s...
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Ep. 20: A Progressive Muslim Running For Congress (Zeeshan Hafeez)
Released at the start of Ramadan and during Texas primary season, this episode of Mission: Texas features host Alex Clark in conversation with Zeeshan Hafeez, a progressive Democrat running for Congress. They discuss what it means to run as a Muslim Texan, his race against Julie Johnson and Colin...
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Ep. 19: Breaking Down the Texas Primaries (Rep. Rafael Anchia)
Texas primary season is underway, and Democrats just got a major win with the Senate District 9 special election. In this episode of Mission: Texas, we’re joined by State Rep. Rafael Anchia, a multi-decade elected official, for a clear-eyed breakdown of the Texas Democratic Primaries and what the...
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Ep. 18: Tony Box (Veteran, former AUSA) on Restoring Trust in the Texas AG' s Office
We finalize our interviews of all Attorney General candidates with Tony Box, a veteran, former FBI agent, former federal prosecutor, and Dallas-area dad. We talk about what the AG’s office is supposed to do, and how it’s been distorted by decades of partisanship. Tony shares his extraordinary...
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Ep. 17: Joe Jaworski on Reclaiming the Texas AG Office
In this episode, we’re joined by Joe Jaworski, candidate for Texas Attorney General and former Mayor of Galveston, for a wide-ranging conversation about what the Texas AG actually does — and what the office could do if Democrats take it back. We talk about: Joe's immigrant family history How…
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Ep. 16: What Do The Top Texas Donors Really Want To See?
What do Texas donors really want before they invest—and what will it take to fund a winning path for Democrats in Texas? In this episode of Mission: Texas, hosts Kate and Alex talk with leading Texas Democratic fundraisers Claire Dewar and Howard Klion about the donor mindset and the…
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Ep. 15: Progress Texas and How Media Can Help Flip Texas
On this episode of Mission: Texas, Kate and Alex sit down with Chris and Kathleen from Progress Texas—a 15-year-old progressive media organization (and podcast network) built to fight disinformation, keep attention on the long game, and help Texans stay engaged before, during, and after…
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Ep. 14: Texas Democratic Veterans on Venezuela
Richardson Area Democrats (RAD) invited Mission: Texas to moderate a special panel of Democratic veterans and military civilians running for office across North Texas for an urgent, in-depth conversation about Venezuela, war powers, and the future of American democracy. Former service members and...
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Ep. 13: Recap, Resolutions, and West Wing References
As Texas heads into a pivotal election year, Kate and Alex kick off the new year with a special recap and resolutions episode inspired by The West Wing. From precinct chairs and working-class messaging to gun safety, faith, and grassroots turnout, this episode breaks down what Texas Democrats…
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Ep. 12: Giffords, Gun Owners for Safety in Texas (Steven Kling)
A Giffords leader, Army combat veteran, Texas gun owner, and Democrat Steven Kling joins Mission Texas to dismantle one of the biggest political myths in Texas — that being a Democrat is somehow in conflict with being a gun owner. Steve Kling of Giffords Gun Owners for Safety explains why...
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Ep. 11: The Most Powerful Job in Texas: Lt. Governor (Rep. Vikki Goodwin)
In this episode of Mission: Texas, we talk with State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, a Democratic candidate for Texas Lieutenant Governor, about why this office holds outsized power in Texas politics and how that power impacts everyday Texans. We also discuss Dan Patrick's leadership (or lack thereof) and…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Texas is growing faster than anywhere else — and that growth means more electoral power. As blue strongholds lose seats, the road to protecting the White House must run through the Lone Star State. If we do not flip Texas by the next census, we risk losing the White House for a generation. “Mission: Texas” dives into the strategy, people, and stories needed to flip the state. Hosted by two Texas lawyers and parents — a former candidate and a long-time organizer, both with military roots — we mix mission-driven focus with a dose of pop-culture fun. Think of us as your Democratic club while you cook, commute, or go for a walk. And don’t worry: this mission is serious, but it’s definitely not impossible.(Viewpoints expressed are those of the hosts and not of their employers or of the U.S. Department of Defense)
HOSTED BY
Kate Rumsey & Alex Clark
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Mission: Texas have?
Mission: Texas currently has 61 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Mission: Texas about?
Texas is growing faster than anywhere else — and that growth means more electoral power. As blue strongholds lose seats, the road to protecting the White House must run through the Lone Star State. If we do not flip Texas by the next census, we risk losing the White House for a generation....
How often does Mission: Texas release new episodes?
Mission: Texas has 61 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Mission: Texas?
You can listen to Mission: Texas on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Mission: Texas?
Mission: Texas is created and hosted by Kate Rumsey & Alex Clark.
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