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 learn from the Senate primary, and how the Agave Fund is building the infrastructure that actually wins elections.

In this episode:

• Luke's origin story: from the Obama campaign to Texas Railroad Commissioner to the Agave Fund

• The four conditions that make 2026 a potential perfect storm for Texas Democrats

• What down-ballot candidates are doing right in 2026 compared to 2018

• The attention economy, viral campaigning, and what Zohran Mamdani's rise tells us about modern politics

• What the Agave Fund is doing to solve the campaign manager shortage

• The SD-9 special election as a blueprint for statewide contrast messaging

Follow Luke and the Agave Fund:

agavefund.org | @LukeWarfordTX on X | Texas Public Opinion Research on Substack

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Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast

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Ep. 25: Luke Warford and the Agave Fund 

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 discuss how just four corporations control the entire U.S. meat supply, why AI data centers are draining Texas water and driving up utility bills, and what the Ag Commissioner can actually do about it. We also get into the immigration workforce reality, the 254-county strategy debate, and why the long game to flip Texas starts local.

*We recorded this episode right before the primaries, in which Republican nominee Sid Miller lost to Nate Sheets.

In this episode:

 * Why monopolies — not tariffs — are the real driver of food inflation
 * How 4 corporations control the entire U.S. meat supply
 * What the Texas Ag Commissioner can actually do to bust monopolies
 * AI data centers, Texas water rights, and bipartisan pushback
 * The 254-county strategy debate and the long game to 2030
 * Jim Hightower's legacy and how Clayton got "voluntold" to run

📲 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook @missiontexaspodcast for weekly clips and highlights from every episode. 

💛 Love what we're doing? Support independent Texas media on Patreon and help us keep the long game going, because this isn't about one cycle. It's about building a movement. 

📩 Contact: missiontexaspodcast@gmail.com

Ep. 24: Clayton Tucker - Ag Commissioner, Food Monopolies, and Water Scarcity

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 younger candidates are gaining traction across Texas, and what races revealed about where Texas Democrats may be headed next. The conversation covers the rise of James Talarico, the debate over competing strategies to flip Texas, surprise down-ballot results, and what the runoff elections may signal for the future.

We also examine whether Democrats should focus more on persuading independents and crossover voters, how messaging is changing, and why local organizing — from precinct chairs to multilingual outreach — remains essential if Texas is going to become competitive statewide.

In this episode:

 * Why Democratic primary turnout surged beyond expectations
 * What younger candidates are signaling about party momentum
 * Surprise results in Dallas, Tarrant, and congressional races
 * Competing theories for flipping Texas
 * What runoffs may tell us about where Texas goes next


📲 Follow us on social: @missiontexaspodcast
❤️ Support independent Texas political media on Patreon

📩 Contact: missiontexaspodcast@gmail.com

Ep. 23: What the Texas Primary Results Really Mean

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 organizing boosts turnout, and what it looks like to build long-term power across the whole state — not just the big cities. Aimee also shares her personal story of leaving corporate America for this work, and why community and action are the antidote to despair.

In this episode:

 * The target focus: 18–29 voters, vote-by-mail eligible seniors, and a new faith program with predominantly Black churches
 * Their “Reach” network: ~46,000 voters today and a goal of 100,000 by the midterms
 * Why “registered” isn’t the same as “engaged” — and how trust drives turnout
 * A practical pep talk for volunteering + how to get started with Powered by People

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts 📲 Follow us on socials: @MissionTexasPodcast 📧 Email: MissionTexasPodcast@gmail.com ❤️ Support the show on Patreon

Ep. 22: Powered By People

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 actually does — and why it has nothing to do with trains
 * How oil and gas industry money and conflicts of interest shape regulation in Texas
 * Why Texans are still paying higher electric bills after Winter Storm Uri
 * How Texas’ isolated grid prioritizes corporate profit over reliability and safety
 * What it will take to flip Texas, including the volunteer-driven organizing model that flipped a red seat in 2018
 * The historic importance of down ballot races in flipping the state

📧 Contact us: missiontexaspodcast@gmail.com
📲 Follow us on social media: @missiontexaspodcast

👉 Support Mission: Texas on Patreon

Ep. 21: The Railroad Commission Isn’t About Trains — It’s About Your Power Bill (Jon Rosenthal)

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: Julie Johnson was on the podcast in December.  Mission: Texas also reached out to Colin Allred’s campaign to invite him onto the podcast but have not received a response.  

In this episode, Alex and Zeeshan discuss:

 * Political “othering” and its impact on Muslim American communities
 * How post-9/11 politics continue to shape representation and participation
 * Outside political spending and influence in primaries, including AIPAC
 * Comparisons to a new generation of movement-driven progressive candidates, including figures like Zohran Mamdani
 * Grassroots organizing versus establishment power
 * Building coalitions to win Texas long-term

📩 Email us at missiontexaspodcast@gmail.com, follow us on all socials @missiontexaspodcast, and support the show on Patreon to help us keep building independent liberal media in Texas.

Ep. 20: A Progressive Muslim Running For Congress (Zeeshan Hafeez)

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 people running for office in this primary season, including Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico. 

We discuss:

 * Why the SD-9 win mattered — and why it wasn’t a fluke
 * What worked: candidate fit, working-class messaging, and turnout
 * How primary dynamics shape the general election
 * Which statewide and down-ballot races Democrats should be watching
 * Why public education, local organizing, and voting still matter most
 * And yes, the Texas Senate race. 

This episode is a practical guide to understanding where Texas Democrats are right now and what this moment could mean as early voting begins.

Follow us on on all social media platforms: @missiontexaspodcast. 

Email us: missiontexaspodcast@gmail.com

Subscribe and share our podcast with a friend! 

Ep. 19: Breaking Down the Texas Primaries (Rep. Rafael Anchia) 

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 officer, FBI agent, and white-collar prosecutor, and explains why that experience uniquely prepares him to lead the state’s top law-enforcement office.

We dig into:

 * How the Texas AG became a nationalized, hyper-political office
 * Why Texans deserve an AG who is a check on corruption, not a culture-war weapon
 * The real, everyday responsibilities of the AG — from consumer protection to child support enforcement
 * Why enforcement has collapsed as thousands of federal prosecutors leave DOJ
 * How leadership, trust, and mission matter more than ideology
 * What it will take to flip Texas statewide, rebuild voter trust, and prepare for 2030 redistricting

This is a conversation about service over spectacle, policy over politics, and what it actually takes to govern a state as big — and as important — as Texas.

👉 Subscribe for weekly conversations on how to flip Texas
👉 Follow @MissionTexasPodcast on all platforms
👉 Share this episode with one person who cares about Texas in 2030
📩 Email us: missiontexaspodcast@gmail.com

#MissionTexas #TexasPolitics #TXAG #TexasAttorneyGeneral #VeteransInPolitics #VotingRights #Redistricting #ConsumerProtection #TexasDemocrats #Election2026 #Election2030

Ep. 18: Tony Box (Veteran, former AUSA) on Restoring Trust in the Texas AG' s 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 power really works in Texas government — and how the AG can be an independent check
 * Jaworski’s case for a new “Division of Affordability” at the AG’s office to protect Texans as ratepayers, consumers, parents, and policyholders
 * The reality of running statewide as a working person — and what needs to change
 * The 2030 redistricting “big moment,” young voters, and one under-enforced law that could register hundreds of thousands of new voters through Texas high schools

If you care about the future of Texas politics — and the 2030/2032 map that could decide the country — this is the episode.

👉 Subscribe for weekly conversations on how to flip Texas
👉 Follow @MissionTexasPodcast on all socials
👉 Share this episode with one friend who cares about flipping Texas
📩 Email us: missiontexaspodcast@gmail.com

#MissionTexas #TexasPolitics #TXAG #KenPaxton #VotingRights #Redistricting #TexasDemocrats #Election2026 #Election2030 #CivicEngagement #PublicEducation #ConsumerProtection

Ep. 17: Joe Jaworski on Reclaiming the Texas AG Office

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 shiny” statewide races aren’t enough
 * The demand for results, ROI, and accountability
 * Building real infrastructure: precinct chairs, county parties, and year-round organizing
 * Why candidates can’t keep “building the plane while flying it”
 * Where time and money make the biggest impact

Follow us on all socials @MissionTexasPodcast

Ep. 16: What Do The Top Texas Donors Really Want To See?

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)

Kate Rumsey

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