The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You (NYC)
While we are Texas based and focused — just like our tagline says:
“Where we start Locally while thinking Globally…”
…we do keep our eyes on all elections and news!
One race we’ve been keeping our eyes on has been the manorial race in NYC. And we’re not the only ones!
One of the most fascinating elements about this race from the jump has been the clear line between the establishment Democrats and the emerging presence of grass roots progressives. If Zohran Mamdani can pull this off — progressive candidates and policies could stop being called niche…and start being taken seriously.
As Texas Dems [and also Democratic Socialists], we’re not mad at that.
Most of the progressive moves forward has either started IN Texas or WITH a Texas Democrat. You name it, and we were, in the room where it happened.
Texas and Progressiveness
(thank you for always educating and motivating us, Chairman Scudder!)
Sam Rayburn
“Light,” Rural Electrification Administration
Great Society
Head Start and Education Reform
Women’s Rights
JaneMcCallum Texas was an early ratifier of women’s voting rights, predating the 19th Amendment, due to the dedicated efforts of activists like Jane McCallum.
It’s not far fetch to believe that Texas could someday soon go back to her roots
Yes, tech companies and monopolies have taken over our state, but we, the people, are finding community and starting movements everyday. And we’re making moves forward.
Read: Lone Star vs. Silicon Valley [Why Companies are Moving to Texas in 2024]
Read: Business-Friendly Policies Drive Corporate Relocations To Texas
In 2022 when Beto O’Rourke ran for Governor, he wasn’t so far behind to be discouraged about the possibility of one day turning this actually blue state back to blue.
Instead of trying to win over folks who normally vote as a Republican (and now maga), we need to focus on getting registered non voters to vote.
In the 2022 Gubernatorial Election, 9.6 MILLION registered TEXAS voters DID NOT VOTE. That is insane. What’s more insane is 833,443 is the difference between having a Gov. Abbott vs a Gov. O’Rourke. Not even a million of those non voters were needed to usher in a blue wave.
Read: Texas voter turnout fell from 2018. It was still higher than other midterms
Hillary made folks wonder if Texas was in play for the first time since Kennedy and LBJ.
[Would you look at that. Old Jill Stein keeps showing up but where is she right now?! Exactly. Stop voting for this thief!]
Texas is moving away from the minority rulers of now inch by inch to the point last election cycle, we saw the Chairman of the National Democratic Party, the Democratic Presidential Nominee, and various Senators, Congresspeople, and Governors from around the nation come through. That’s a big deal!
Read: Kamala Harris to rally with Colin Allred in Houston days before Election Day
Our Reps (both federal and state!) are becoming nationally known!
We’re making moves — and we have to KEEP making moves
Watching Zohran’s campaign has been inspiring
He’s showing that power is really with the people. And if he pulls this off after the elite and the billionaires have thrown millions of dollars at him we might have just found our blueprint forward.
And the minority in power knows that. That’s why, state by state, they are trying to cull out your voice.
Read: How Republicans are trying to steal the midterms before they even start
Read: Election experts cautious as Abbott touts voter roll purge
Read: Texas counties struggle to process voter registrations using state’s new system
But we’re not gonna let them just walk in here and silence us. That’s not who we are. As Americans…or as Texans.
The Blue Print
Actually talk / listen to the people — not at them.
Make politics fun and funny
Be on the offense and not JUST on the defense
Speak truth to power
And the biggest take away: Have clear, succinct, and memorable plans / policies (and truthful. I feel like I should say that). So clear, that a Texan in South Dallas can rattle off a candidate from NYC’s policies.
Affordable housing
Affordable Public services / transportation
Economic policy (raising taxes on the rich — for real): Mamdani proposes to lower costs by raising the corporate tax rate to match New Jersey’s 11.5% and imposing a flat 2% tax on the wealthiest 1% of New Yorkers. He has also suggested creating a chain of city-owned grocery stores to focus on affordability.
Funding: The plans are to be funded by the increased taxes on corporations and the wealthy mentioned above. Other revenue ideas include hiring more auditors to enforce the tax code and collecting more fines.
Housing production cost: The plan to build 200,000 units of affordable housing would cost approximately $100 billion and would require the city to borrow significantly more each year, exceeding its debt limit. This would depend on receiving additional funding from the state or state legislation to enable the borrowing.
(Source: https://www.zohranfornyc.com/)
Seems simple. And yet…
Read: Zohran Mamdani Has Ambitious Plans. How Much Will They Cost?
Read: Zohran Mamdani and the Future of American Politics
And the point is, we in Texas know these key points, and they won’t effect us. Imagine if the next Dem Presidential Nominee, or hell, the next Dem Texas Governor Nominee did the same thing?
And we know it’s working, because days before early voting started, the accused SAist and known Nana killer leaned into Muslim fear and racism. SMH. What an asshole. (And definitely should never be a leader of a diverse populist every again. Do your big thing, NYC.)
So, while we work to stop the Texas Christian Nationalists take over of our great state, we are definitely keeping our eyes on NYC. And, taking notes. And get ready, fellow Texans. We’ve got big, exciting things to accomplish together in 2026!
xo,
Jalon + Joey
More
The Andrew Cuomo Campaign Is All in on MAGA Influencers
After a lengthy wait, Jeffries to endorse Mamdani
Eric Adams endorses Andrew Cuomo
Anyone But Mamdani: These Billionaires Are Spending Big To Stop Him From Becoming NYC’s Mayor
Today is Day 8 of Early Voting in Texas!
These are our recommendations:
These are our recommendations. The worst are Props 2, 3, 6, 8, 12, and 15. Please encourage everyone you know to vote NO on these. [Progressives across the board agree with these for NO]
Other Texas Voter’s Guides:
Other Elections Across the Country:
17 statewide propositions will appear on the November ballot. Here’s what Texas voters need to know.
Houston has a special election for their 18th district to finally fill Rep. Sylvester Turners seat.
We do not live in Houston but Joey Cade and I recommend these two candidates:
Mayoral Races
This is a race to watch as the Incumbent Mayor Aftab Pureval is running against JD Vance’s half-brother, Cory Bowman.
You Daily Moment of Zen
Thanks for listening to us chat!
We released a recap of the biggest news of the day, every weekday, all the news of the week on Fridays, and your weekly call to actions every Sunday (phew!), so if you haven’t yet, please like, subscribe, and restack on Substack so these chats and all our newsletters and podcasts get delivered to your mailbox! For Free!
We keep up with all the news for you, so you don’t have to. Aren’t we sweet?
Talk to y’all on Monday! 🚫🤴
Get Pod Local: Where we start Locally while thinking Globally.
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We also post these on our Youtube Channel! Not with my face, but still, it’s cute!
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Other GPL Goodies
Get Pod Local: The Podcast (Season 2!) with Joey and Jalon
Joey and Jalon sit down with Politicians, Community Leaders, and movers and shakers making a difference. And almost every episode, the Dallas Mayor catches a stray. He deserves it. It’s fine. Episodes drop every Tuesday!
Joey and Jalon sit down with Politicians, Community Leaders, and movers and shakers making a difference. And almost every episode, the Dallas Mayor catches a stray. He deserves it. It’s fine. Episodes drop every Tuesday!
GPL Presents: New Newsletter with Jalon Nichols
Every week, Jalon catches you up on what is going on out here, who is doing it, how does that impact your everyday life, and what everyone is saying about. We are based in Texas, so we have a lot of Texas news, but we cover the whole wide world. There is a LOT of stuff going on everyday, and no one can keep up with it all, but we attempt to….for you. (Clap for us).
GPL Presents: Organizers Corner w/ Joey Cade
Every Sunday night, Joey Cade, our Resident Precinct Chair, lays out our Call To Actions for the week. Because knowing what’s going on is one thing. But doing something about it is another. Let’s do both!
GPL Presents: Water Cooler with Jalon and Joey
Every morning, Jalon D’na and Joey Cade check in and talk about something we read or saw on slack. Click below to sign up for that daily newsletter!
GPL Presents: Daily Briefs with Jalon Nichols
Everyday, Jalon reads you the headlines of the day — just to keep you in the know. Think NPR at the top of each hour, with a lot of shade some jokes.
