Mission: Texas

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 electric bill, safety, and environment. In this episode, we cover: What the Texas Railroad Commission ac...

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 Allred, and the role of outside political spending, including AIPAC, in shaping primary contests. Note...

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 SD-9 result tells us about the road ahead.  Rep. Anchia has served with many of the peopl...

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 personal story, from surviving a gunshot wound at 16, to serving as a tank commander , JAG...

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 power really works in Texas government — and how the AG can be an independent check Jaworski’s case for a...

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 infrastructure needed to win long-term. In this episode: What Texas donors want to see before they give Why “big s...

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 campaigns.  And we even play “Obsessed,” a game from our friends at "Pod Bless Texas," for a little holid...

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 current candidates from Congress to the Texas House and Senate break down what’s happening, what it me...

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 must do to actually win.  Channeling Sam, Toby, CJ, Josh, and President Bartlet, the hosts revisit t...

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 common-sense gun safety laws protect the Second Amendment, preserve public trust in responsible gun ownership,...

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 how the past Democratic candidate, Mike Collier, is now running as an "independent." (right...)...

Kate and Alex sit down with Congresswoman Julie Johnson on Texas’s filing deadline day — the moment when the political map was shifting in real time. As Jasmine Crockett entered the Senate race, Colin Allred abandoned his Senate candidacy and jumped into TX-33, instantly becoming Julie's primary challenger.  Julie talks candidly about why women are not benchwarmers, why this race matters, and...

Texas is one of the most deeply churched states in America— 67% of adults here identify as Christian. So understanding how to navigate the entrenched evangelical culture that shapes so much of Texas politics is at the heart of today’s episode. Kate and Alex sit down with Brian Recker —writer, creator, and former evangelical pastor—whose book Hell Bent is reshaping the national conversation about t...

This Thanksgiving, we’re serving up a special episode of Mission: Texas with former State Rep. John Turner , the Texas Democrat who flipped a long-held Republican House seat in 2018. Whether you’re on a holiday road trip, cooking dinner, or running in a Turkey Trot, this is your political pep talk for 2026 and beyond. John shares how he went from a successful law career at a law firm to deciding a...

Note: This episode was recorded before the recent court decision on redistricting . State Rep. Mihaela Plesa (HD 70 – Collin County) joins Mission: Texas to break down how gerrymandering, mid-decade redistricting, and low turnout are keeping Texas red—and what it really takes to win in a suburban swing district north of Dallas. Mihaela shares her journey as the daughter of immigrants and a bilingu...

On a Friday night, three parents sit down to talk about the future of Texas politics — and the one county that could change everything. Allison Campolo , Chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party, joins Mission: Texas to explain why Tarrant — the last major urban county in Texas still voting Republican — might be the key to finally flipping the state. The episode opens on a hopeful note: how Ta...

Are Texas Democrats waiting for another superhero candidate — or finally ready to assemble a winning team? But what we do know - Thanos is coming, and Texas Democrats need to act fast.  In this episode of Mission: Texas , Kate and Alex sit down with strategist and former deputy  executive director of the Texas Democratic Party, Cliff Walker , the self-titled Nick Fury of Texas politics....

What if every vote came with a price tag? 💸 Political fundraiser Alex Andrade joins Mission: Texas to break down the shocking math behind campaign money — from Beto O’Rourke’s $77 million race to why Democrats might be spending big in all the wrong places. Hosts Kate Rumsey and Alex Clark unpack how much a single vote really costs, why fundraising talent is so scarce in Texas, and how smarter inv...

This week on Mission: Texas , we sit down with Texas State Senator Nathan Johnson — now a candidate for Attorney General — to talk about flipping Texas, rebuilding hope, and why the long game matters. We cover what really drove the 2018 wins, how Democrats can re-energize discouraged activists, and the practical math of turning anger and hope into actual turnout. Senator Johnson breaks down statew...

On the same day Taylor Swift drops The Life of a Showgirl, we’re bringing you The Life of a Candidate. In this ladies-only episode of Mission: Texas , host Kate Rumsey sits down with Kristian Carranza , a San Antonio organizer and candidate for Texas House District 118, to talk about the real backstage life of running for office — the heartbreak, the hope, and the hustle. Kristian opens up about l...

Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder joins Mission: Texas hosts Kate Rumsey and Alex Clark to talk about rebuilding the Texas Democratic Party from the ground up and what it will take to flip Texas by 2032 . Scudder shares his plan for strengthening grassroots infrastructure, filling precinct and county chair vacancies, launching Spanish-language communications, investing in data and voter...

In this episode of Mission: Texas, we dive into the seismic electoral shifts set to change the political landscape by 2032. With new congressional seats projected for Texas and Florida, the balance of power in the Electoral College is tipping. Discover why winning traditional blue states might not be enough and how this shift demands new strategies for securing the White House. Strap in for a deep...