Our Party's Success

Putting Change Into Action 

When first elected Chair, Boyd Richie promised to work with all willing Democrats to move our Party forward. Boyd put change into action by enhancing our fundraising, improving our technology, invigorating our communications, and expanding our outreach to help put our Party in position to lead Texas -- now and in the future. Boyd Richie's kept his promise. 

Raising Funds 

With Boyd Richie as Chair the TDP has reached historic levels in fundraising. Since 2006 the Party has gained the confidence of both large and small donors raising over 7.5 million dollars. The Majority Builders program furnishes a consistent flow of small donations into the Party. On-line fundraising has been a huge success and now supplies a major portion of the Party's funding. In 2008 alone the TDP raised millions of dollars from thousands of donors with the average contribution being $78. 

Improving Technology 

Through the Texas Voter Activation Network (VAN) the TDP provides our candidates and local Parties with one of the most sophisticated voter contact tools available. Texas VAN contains voting history, addresses, phone numbers, and demographic information on over 11 million voters furnishing Democratic campaigns on-line access to the voter identification, targeting and voter communication information necessary for effective persuasion and GOTV efforts. With over 4,000 accounts in use over the last two years VAN participation has increased by 90% and in-kind contributions through VAN have helped rank the TDP among the 20 top candidate donor entities in Texas. 

The TDP has conducted and recorded dozens of webinars on subjects ranging from financial compliance to conducting conventions to the uses of new media techniques and many other topics. Hundreds of local Parties and candidates have benefited from these presentations and the webinars are still on the TDP website available at the touch of a button. 

Invigorating Communications 

The TDP Communications effort is demanding accountability from failed Republican politicians. The “top ten” series cataloged Rick Perry’s ten worst foul ups, the top ten KBH goofs, and the top ten Republican agency scandals.and the Texas press took notice. Whether it’s Jerry Patterson’s efforts to give away the Christmas Mountains or Susan Combs inability to accurately count our money, the TDP is on top of it. TDP Communications put out over 160 releases and statements in the 2008 election cycle and over 180 so far this year, answering Republican misstatements, articulating Democratic positions and pointing out failed Republican policies in both English and Spanish. 

Expanding Outreach 

The TDP has conducted numerous town hall meetings and trainings throughout the state helping prepare Democratic activists to elect our candidates. We now have hundreds of Regional Trainers certified and ready to educate campaigns in Voter and Organizational Outreach, effective techniques of obtaining Fundraising, Targeting methodology and all the uses of the Voter Activation Network (VAN). 

The TDP has listened to local Democrats. Responding to concerns about the 2008 delegate selection method Chairman Richie created the Advisory Committee on the Primary/Caucus System. Chaired by Senator Royce West and Co-Chaired by Representative Jessica Farrar this Committee held 11 public hearings and four working sessions around the state. They heard and received testimony from hundreds of Democrats and formulated numerous recommendations to work in coordination with the report of the DNC Fairness Commission. 

The TDP brought in the best professional state and national talent to train our candidates then brought in that same level of talent to train a new generation of Texas Democratic campaign professionals to help elect our candidates at all levels for decades to come. 

Gaining National Attention and Winning Elections 

The Democratic National Committee held its fall meeting in Austin and, with Organizing For America has established an ongoing presence. We're beginning to attract national support to Texas and keep Texas support at home. 

In 2008 the TDP put almost 1.9 million dollars into GOTV programs in all parts of the state motivating Democratic voters and helping win elections. Democrats improved our numbers in the State House for the third consecutive cycle and added a new Democrat, Senator Wendy Davis, to the State Senate. The House map drawn by Tom DeLay and Tom Craddick to elect 100 Republicans barely elected 76 and we were within 20 votes in one district of a 75/75 tie. 

The TDP conducted the largest primary in Texas history in 2008 and had a million Democrats attend our Precinct Conventions. We closed the gap on Republicans in the legislature, cut their statewide margins and supported strong local efforts that turned Harris County sky blue and Dallas deep navy and we're ready to build on that success. Our TDP is actively working with local Parties in all areas of the state and assisting with targeting, goal setting and putting action plans in place to make sure that 2010 is an election that Texas Democrats will long remember and that Texas Republicans would like to forget. 

Working together we can make it happen. Working together we can move Texas forward.