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 “one-in-three” shot was enough to run; what makes 2018 similar to 2026; and how suburban, rural, faith, and gun-owning voters all fit into a winning Democratic coalition. 

John also makes the case for something we don’t talk about enough: reclaiming patriotism inside the Democratic Party and showing voters that Democratic values are deeply rooted in faith, service, rule of law, and love of country. He argues Democrats should be running brand-building ads between elections, not just during them, so Republican stereotypes stop sticking when the campaign season arrives.

🎧 Hosted by Kate Rumsey & Alex Clark

👉 Follow us: @missiontexaspodcast on social media

Ep. 8: Thankful for Democratic Wins in Texas (fmr Rep. John Turner)

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 bilingual kid in Collin County, to small business owner, to unpaid Capitol intern at 32, to Vice Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus who flipped a gerrymandered district, won by just 800 votes, and made a runoff by only 29 votes. She explains why the Texas House, school boards, and city councils are the real front lines, and why Texas Democrats need to stop running one-size-fits-all campaigns and start running “soul campaigns” rooted in their own communities.

In this episode with Rep. Mihaela Plesa, we cover:

 * How redistricting and gerrymandering in Collin County created HD 70—and why there should be more competitive districts
 * Why the next census and Texas redistricting fight could decide control of Congress and the White House
 * Mihaela’s path from fashion merchandising and small business to policymaking in Austin
 * What it took to beat a $4 million Republican campaign in a suburban swing seat
 * How voting rules, map changes, and ballot design are used to confuse and discourage voters
 * The reality of a “Chamber of Commerce” district and how business and labor both benefit from Medicaid expansion, strong public schools, and economic stability
 * Where she actually agrees with Trump (credit card interest caps, taxes on tips, IVF access)—and why Democrats should own the affordability fight
 * Why down-ballot races (Texas House, school board, city council) are where Republicans are quietly investing big money
 * A call for more Texans to step up and run, especially in tough districts, and to treat taking back the Texas House as a real, achievable goal

Connect with Rep. Mihaela Plesa:
Website & newsletter: plesafortexas.com
Socials: @PlesaForTexas


📲 Follow and share: @MissionTexasPodcast

Ep. 7:  The Elephant in the Room Texas Democrats KEEP Ignoring (Rep. Mihaela Plesa)

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 Tarrant has quietly built momentum, made measurable progress, and become one of the few places where Democrats are actually growing cycle after cycle.

We also discuss how Democratic candidates like Taylor Rehmet are helping to reshape the political map. (This conversation was recorded before the November 2025 special election, where Rehmet went on to advance to a runoff in Texas Senate District 9.)

In this episode, we talk about:

 * Why Tarrant County is ground zero for Texas Democrats
 * The local power players shaping Fort Worth politics, including County Judge Tim O’Hare
 * How data, infrastructure, and long-term investment can rebuild trust
 * How we can include parents and kids in politics 

🎧 Follow us at @MissionTexasPodcast on all platforms.

#MissionTexasPodcast #TexasPolitics #TarrantCounty #Democrats #Texas #FortWorth

Ep 6: The Texas County That Could Save Democrats? (Allison Campolo)

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.

Cliff unpacks what a modern state party actually does — from voter-file data and modeling to the strategy behind local organizing — and why Texas needs less Hulk-smash energy and more Ant-Man discipline.

But the real mission? Killing the meta-messaging spiral — what Cliff calls “political navel-gazing.” Instead of doomscrolling and public self-critique, he argues for message discipline, joy, and momentum: turn down the noise, turn up the volume.

Inside the episode:

 * Why constant self-critique is killing our message 
 * How data and modeling really shape campaigns 
 * Why belief and discipline matter as much as money 
 * How local races create statewide momentum 

Cliff’s challenge: Adopt a candidate. Knock a door. Turn up the volume.
Because Texas won’t flip itself.

Follow Mission: Texas on all social media platforms: @missiontexaspodcast 

Ep 5: Texas, Assemble! (with 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 investments — not bigger ones — could finally flip the state.

🎧 Topics include:
• How much campaigns actually spend per vote
• The ROI of TV vs. field work
• Why Texas Democrats may be having their “Luka moment”
• Building long-term infrastructure that lasts

👉 Follow @MissionTexasPodcast for clips and new episodes every week.
#MissionTexas #TexasPolitics #TexasDemocrats #Fundraising #PoliticalStrategy

Ep 4: How Much Does ONE Vote Cost? (with political fundraiser Alex Andrade)

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 statewide wins and why 2026 might just be the moment to "buy the dip" and believe again.

He also shares what the Attorney General’s office could be doing to protect Texas voters, fight Trump’s overreach, and restore the “white hat” vision of good government. Plus: the truth about gerrymandering, the importance of primaries, and a surprise detour into Dragon Ball Z, composition, and going “Super Saiyan” as a party.

In this episode:

 * Why 2018 still matters
 * Overcoming voter fatigue
 * Why statewide races can’t be gerrymandered
 * Hope vs. pessimism in Texas politics
 * What the AG’s office could do differently
 * How to turn civic despair into collective power

Follow:
@MissionTexasPodcast | @NathanForTexas

Episode 3: From Anger to Hope — Texas Politics Then and Now (ft. Sen. Nathan Johnson)

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 losing a race, getting back up, and finding her voice again at a town hall microphone. From knocking on 10,000 doors to fighting for public schools and working-class families, she shares what it takes to stay in the arena — and why this cycle might finally be the turning point for Texas Democrats.

They discuss:
🎵 Taylor Swift, resilience, and the art of reinvention
🏫 School closures and public education as a lifeline
🚪 Why door-knocking and local organizers still matter
💰 Fundraising myths, recurring donors, and candidate life balance
🗳️ How precinct chairs and everyday volunteers build lasting power

It’s The Life of a Candidate — Texas-style.

Guest: Kristian Carranza — Candidate for Texas House District 118
Host: Kate Rumsey
Podcast: Mission: Texas

Follow Kristian at kristianfortexas.com or on socials @KristianForTexas.

Episode 2: The Life of Candidate (feat. Kristian Carranza)

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 protection, and promoting bold economic populism that reconnects Democrats with working Texans.

This episode covers:

 * Redistricting and why it can’t stop statewide wins
 * How Democrats can overcome turnout gaps
 * The role of the state party in messaging, data, and compliance
 * How to get involved locally and help fund lasting infrastructure

🎙 Mission: Texas explores long-term Democratic strategy, faith, and service in the fight to flip Texas — and with Kendall Scudder’s vision, that mission is just getting started.

Episode 1:  Kendall Scudder on Rebuilding the Texas Democratic Party

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 dive into the electoral future that could disrupt decades of political norms.

We also challenge stereotypes and redefine what it means to be a Democrat. From serving in the military to standing up in court, we explore the patriotic and godly aspects of the Democratic identity. Tune in to see how we're building a coalition that represents the true spirit of Texas. 

Are you ready to join the movement?

Introducing "Mission: Texas"

Mission: Texas is a political podcast about winning Texas by 2032 or else we may lose the White House for a generation.  

(Viewpoints expressed are those of the hosts and not of their employers or of the U.S. Department of Defense)