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: Taylor Rehmet's win, the Texas Primaries, and What's Next (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?

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 holiday fun.

In this episode, we also talk about:

 * What Progress Texas is (and why “campaigns come and go”)
 * The Daily Dispatch: a 7–10 minute weekday show designed for real life (aka “one shower long”)
 * Why digital video is exploding for them—and why most views come from non-followers
 * The difference between being good at messaging vs. investing in messaging
 * How to be a political communicator without turning into a boring lecture
 * Whether Democrats are disadvantaged by truth/accuracy—and how to make facts compelling
 * Why talking to your neighbors still matters as much as TikTok
 * Texas as a voter-suppressed state, and why “state-of-the-art circa 1980” voter registration hurts turnout
 * A practical challenge: be loud, be human, commit the “faux pas” of talking politics

Follow Mission: Texas on all socials: @MissionTexasPodcast

Support and follow Progress Texas: ProgressTexas.org (and search “Progress Texas” on your podcast app)

Ep. 15:  Progress Texas and How Media Can  Help Flip Texas

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 means for U.S. foreign policy, why congressional authorization matters, and how unchecked executive power puts service members, families, and global stability at risk — and what voters can do right now to change the trajectory. 

In this episode, we cover:

 * What led to U.S. military action in Venezuela and why it matters
 * Why Congress has a constitutional role in declaring war
 * How modern foreign policy decisions affect everyday Americans
 * The real risks to service members and their families
 * What’s at stake for global stability, democracy, and the 2026 midterms
 * How voters can take action locally to protect democratic norms

We were joined by: 

Kevin Burge - CD 24

Keenen Colbert - TX SD2

Milah Flores - CD17

Zach Herbert - TX HD112

Evan Hunt - CD3

Ernest Lineberger - CD26

William Marks - CD25

Nathan Smith - Tarrant County District Clerk 

🎧 New episodes every week.
👉 Follow @MissionTexasPodcast for Texas politics you won’t hear anywhere else.

Ep. 14: Texas Democratic Veterans on Venezuela

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 their first twelve episodes and lay out concrete resolutions for flipping Texas.

We also spark a little friendly Texas rivalry by revealing which major cities are actually showing up on the ground — and which ones need to step it up — based on the percentage of precinct chairs filled in each area. 

In true West Wing fashion, this episode is both a roadmap and a rallying cry — a reminder that “what’s next” isn’t waiting on a blue wave. It’s built by people who decide to stand up, get organized, and do the work.

Follow @missiontexaspodcast on all social media.

Ep. 13: Recap, Resolutions, and West Wing References

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, and keep Texas communities safe. 

As Texans head into the new year, this is a must-hear conversation about public safety, responsibility, and what it really takes to build a winning majority in Texas.

In this episode, we also talk about:

• What Giffords Gun Owners for Safety is and how it differs from the NRA
• What Texans really support on gun safety, including background checks and red-flag laws
• Dangerous gun bills quietly moving through the Texas Legislature
• Why schools and communities are being put at risk by current gun proposals

Follow @MissionTexasPodcast
Learn more: giffords.org/stats 

Ep. 12: Giffords, Gun Owners for Safety in Texas (Steven Kling)

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...)  We also discuss: 

 * Why centralized power in the Texas Senate blocks bipartisan solutions
 * Public education as the foundation for Texas’ future
 * Healthcare, affordability, housing, and water as core kitchen-table issues
 * What it takes to flip Texas long-term through grassroots organizing and party infrastructure

Note: This conversation was recorded before the filing deadline for candidates. Since recording, additional candidates have filed to run for Texas Lieutenant Governor.

Follow us on social media: @missiontexaspodcast and @goodwin4texas. 

Subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review to help more Texans find the show!

Ep. 11: The Most Powerful Job in Texas: Lt. Governor (Rep. Vikki Goodwin)

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 how Democrats win long-term by delivering—not performing.

In this episode, we cover:

 * The political shakeup: Colin Allred’s last-minute switch from the Senate race to TX-33 and what it signals for Democrats statewide.
 * Why Julie says she’s ready: Her record as a civil rights attorney, trailblazer, and the first LGBTQ+ member of Congress elected from Texas and the South. 
 * The importance of campaigning even in safe seats: Why she knocks doors, supports the full ticket, and expects others to do the same.
 * Women in leadership: Why she rejects the idea that women are holding seats “for” men who left and want them back.

Follow Congresswoman Julie Johnson at juliejohnson.com and on social media @juliejohnsontexas.
Follow us @MissionTexasPodcast. 

Ep. 10: Filing Day for Texas Dems & the Primary No One Expected (Julie Johnson)

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

Shows